Illinois Appellate Court Agrees MWRD Waste Water Permits are Illegal By Kim Knowles In a much-welcomed decision, the Illinois Appellate Court handed clean water advocates a victory by declaring that three very significant waste water permits do not comply with the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. The three permits under challenge were issued to the Metropolitan […]
IL Farm Bureau commits money to reduce nutrient pollution
The Illinois Farm Bureau is committing $100,000 to a new grant program to help county Farm Bureaus implement strategies next year that will improve soil health and water quality and reduce fertilizer runoff in their area. The grant program is designed to engage county Farm Bureaus in the effort to increase nutrient stewardship practices by […]
Floodplain Managers Urge EPA to Stop the New Madrid Levee
Today marks a significant victory in Prairie Rivers Network’s campaign to stop the New Madrid Levee project and protect the people, wildlife, and wetlands of southern Illinois. The Association of State Floodplain Managers is now publicly urging EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to veto the levee project, which would destroy wetlands and wildlife habitat and put communities […]
Livestock waste spill into Stony Creek results in fish kill
Last week, concentrated livestock waste from a nearby cattle operation spilled into Stony Creek and the Vermilion River. Inspectors observed pollution impacts several miles downstream from the site of the spill, including in the Salt Fork of the Vermilion River. The Oakwood public water supply, located seven miles from the livestock facility, was identified as […]
Senator Kirk Joins the Dark Side
Well, Senator Mark Kirk is clearly no Jedi warrior. Last week he co-sponsored Senator John Barrasso’s dirty water bill, a bill that would kill EPA’s new Clean Water Rule. We love the Clean Water Rule, because it protects our smallest, yet most important streams and wetlands. These waters are currently providing drinking water for 1 […]