FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Middle Fork of the Vermilion River Featured at Wild & Scenic Film Festival
Threats to Illinois’ only National Scenic River Highlight Need for Action
Contact: Jeff Kohmstedt, Prairie Rivers Network, jkohmstedt@prairierivers.org, 217-550-1062
NORMAL, IL – Prairie Rivers Network (PRN) will premiere a short film titled Defend the Fork at the Normal Theater (209 N Street, Normal) as part of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on September 19. The film, produced by PRN, outlines the threat to our state’s only National Scenic River, the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River in East Central Illinois.
“The Middle Fork River is a biologically diverse, precious resource that should be protected,” said Andrew Rehn, Water Resources Engineer with PRN. “Dynegy/Vistra’s coal ash pollutes the river and threatens an entire ecosystem, the Danville-area economy, and the recreation opportunities of thousands.”
In May of 2018, PRN and EarthJustice filed a lawsuit against Dynegy, now Vistra, for violations of the Clean Water Act and for polluting the Middle Fork. Coal ash is leaching contaminants, like arsenic, from three unlined impoundments situated on the riverbank. In making this film and showing it at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, PRN hopes to raise awareness of the issue which affects communities all around the state.
“The Middle Fork is one of many rivers in Illinois that face the threat of coal ash contamination,” Rehn said. “This film is just the tip of the iceberg.”
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will feature 11 short films on environmental topics including light pollution, regenerative farming practices, pollution, and threats to wildlife. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was started by the watershed advocacy group, the South Yuba River
Citizens League (SYRCL) in California in 2003. This is the second year PRN has hosted the festival in Illinois with the goal of spreading awareness of environmental issues. PRN will host a second festival in Peoria, Illinois on Thursday, September 27.
Prairie Rivers Network (PRN) is Illinois’ advocate for clean water and healthy rivers and is the Illinois affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. PRN advocates for cultural values, policies and practices that sustain the ecological health and biological diversity of Illinois’ water resources and aquatic ecosystems. It is a member-supported, nonprofit organization that champions clean, healthy rivers and lakes and safe drinking water to benefit the people and wildlife of Illinois.
###