This year has seen progress on several issues of great concern to Prairie Rivers Network and our members. Together, we can protect water, heal our land, and inspire change across Illinois.
Protect Water
After years of work, advocacy, and grassroots organization, the Illinois General Assembly passed, and the governor signed into law, landmark legislation that will help protect the rivers and water of our state from coal ash.
The Illinois General Assembly passed a state budget with $300,000 for crop insurance rewards for farmers who plant cover crops. This is a significant advance for conservation and ensures the budget includes an important way to build healthier soil, reduce runoff, and protect our rivers and drinking water from harmful nitrates.
In April, the Upper Mississippi River was designated as one of the ten Most Endangered Rivers in America. The designation affords the river much needed attention and resources, providing PRN and its partners with assistance in our advocacy efforts.
Heal Land
In February, Congress voted to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a goal PRN has worked towards for years. This bipartisan legislation helps communities in Illinois and across the country protect and conserve national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, and critical habitat.
PRN has led the charge in building awareness of the threats posed by volatile herbicides through our Tree and Plant Health Monitoring Program. We plan to issue a summary of the findings this winter.
PRN worked with farmers and landowners to promote and protect pollinators. This spring we installed plantings of native flowering plants on four farms, and we will be working with additional farms this fall.
Inspire Change
PRN is a proud partner in the IDEA Farm Network. What began in February 2017 with about 45 farmers, today has over 425 farmers participating in the online discussion group with expanded reach in West-Central Illinois, Northeastern Illinois, and Southern Illinois.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act is legislation that will put Illinois on the path to 100% renewable energy by 2050, and PRN worked with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition around the state to hold community conversations, town halls and press conferences; gather petitions; issue action alerts; and meet with legislators.
In May, we helped turn out more than 500 people to Clean Energy Lobby Day in Springfield.
PRN released the first stories in a podcast series entitled Stories from the Floodplain, compelling stories focusing on the equity and environmental justice implications of some of our country’s flood control policies.
Read More
The 2019 Annual Report is here. More on our accomplishments can be read in our Fall/Winter 2019 Newsletter.
