Each autumn, eastern monarch butterflies return to Illinois, dotting harvest-ready fields and cornflower blue skies with their iconic, graceful orange and black as they make their long journey back to their winter home in Mexico. Over the past decade, monarchs have become a much rarer sight in Illinois and across the Midwest as eastern monarch populations have plummeted by as much as 80% by some counts. Monarch butterflies rely on various species of milkweed during their 3000 mile migration each year from Mexico across the Midwestern U.S. to Canada, reproducing in multiple generations before a final generation makes its way back south to overwinter in Mexico and begin the cycle anew. Milkweed and other native flowers that monarchs need to sustain their populations are in decline due to habitat fragmentation and aggressive weeding.
PRN Blog
National Park Service encourages removal of Dynegy’s coal ash from Vermilion River floodplain
The Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, one of Vermilion County’s beautiful and best natural resources, is under constant threat from coal ash. Dynegy’s enormous coal ash ponds sit perched on the banks of the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, Illinois’s only National Scenic River. The National Park Service, steward of the National Scenic […]
Solidarity with #NoDAPL
Prairie Rivers Network appreciates being invited to speak at the Native-organized Solidarity with Standing Rock Protectors in Champaign-Urbana! event held last Friday. The event had great turn-out and was inspiring. For those who missed it, here is a transcript of our statements at the event: “Prairie Rivers Network is Illinois’ advocate for clean water and […]
Prairie River Notes – Summer 2016 Newsletter
Read Prairie Rivers Network’s 2016 Summer Newsletter, featuring articles: Averting a Wildlife Conservation Crisis Carol’s Currents Why I Give to PRN Annual Dinner – October 21 River Steward Award Nominations PRN Endowment for Rivers Happy Trails, Tyler! Welcome back, Kim! Events
Annual Dinner – October 21, 2016
Join river enthusiasts and Prairie Rivers Network’s staff and board members for good conversation, food, and fun at our Annual Dinner as we celebrate our rivers and streams. Where: I Hotel and Conference Center, 1900 S. First Street, Champaign, IL 61820 When: Friday, October 21, 2016 Reception – 6:00 pm (art themed silent auction) Dinner […]
