| Please visit our
Website
for additional information and updates on activities shared in
this newsletter |
| FREP ACTIVITIES |
| FREP Noon Network |
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Noon - 1:30 PM
Program:
Proposed Hackmatack National
Wildlife Refuge
Presenter: Cindy
Skrukrud
Location: Lost Valley Visitor Center,
Glacial Park, Rt. 31 & Harts Road, Ringwood, IL
Maplink
The Friends of Hackmatack was formed to
facilitate the establishment of the Hackmatack National Wildlife
Refuge in the northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.
The refuge will conserve our area’s unique natural landscapes,
plants and wildlife; link existing open space areas; create
recreational opportunities and provide long-term economic
benefits to the residents of our region.
In April US Fish & Wildlife Service approved the study to
determine the feasibility of establishing this new National
Wildlife Refuge.
Come to the Noon Network to learn more about this wonderful
project within our Fox River Watershed.
Friends of
Hackmatack Website
US Fish & Wildlife Service Webpage on Hackmatack |
| Noon Networks are free and open to the public.
Reservations are not required. Bring your lunch to eat during
the program. |
| PLEASE NOTE:
There will
also be two open houses in Illinois sponsored by USFWS that we
urge you to attend and show your support for Hackmatack: |
US Fish and
Wildlife Service Open Houses
on proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife
Refuge
Tuesday, October 12, 4-8 PM
McHenry County Government Center
Administration Building,
667 Ware St, Woodstock IL
Wednesday, October 13, 4-8 PM
Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Harts Rd. & Rt. 31,
Ringwood IL |
****If you cannot attend one of the open
houses, you can email your support for the refuge****
to the USFWS at:
r3planning@fws.gov |
| |
| FREP Membership Meeting |
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
1 PM
Program:
Rain Garden Infiltration
Study & Update on Kane County Rain Garden Initiative
Presenter: Deanna
Douhaluk, Hey & Associates
Location:
Prisco Center, Fox Valley Park District, 150 W. Illinois Ave.,
Aurora
Maplink
Following the meeting we are invited to go across the street to
see the new Fox Valley
Park District administration facility work being completed,
which includes rain gardens,
rainwater harvesting, and pervious paving.
|
FREP members, potential members, and the general public
are welcome to attend FREP meetings and programs. Learn more
about activities in the watershed and network with others.
FREP Meeting Minutes can be found
HERE. |
| Program Presentations Online:
If you missed a recent Noon Network or meeting program, you can
find many presentations in pdf form on the FREP Website
HERE. |
| |
| New FREP Activity |
 |
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for
Planning (CMAP) is the delegated authority for the region’s
areawide water quality management plan.
CMAP recently entered into an agreement with the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency (IEPA) to complete four watershed-based plans
within the Fox River Basin.
Watershed planning commenced in September in Blackberry Creek
and Ferson-Otter Creek watersheds (Lower Fox River, Kane and
Kendall counties) and in Sleepy Hollow Creek and Silver Creek
watersheds (Upper Fox River, McHenry County). Funding for these
projects was provided by the IEPA through Section 604(b) of the
Clean Water Act (CWA).
Read more about the project and information about each of the
four watersheds
HERE. |
| Stakeholder
Watershed Planning Meeting Schedule: |
| Please note: these meetings are open to
the public and anyone interested in learning more about this
project is welcome to attend and participate. |
Blackberry Creek
Watershed Meeting
Monday, October 18, 2 PM
Yorkville/Bristol Sanitary District, 304
River St., Yorkville
For more information, Contact Erin Tuttle at:
etuttle@theconservationfoundation.org
630-428-4500, Ext. 41
Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Meeting
Wednesday, October 20, 2 PM
St. Charles City Hall/Municipal Center
2 E. Main St., St. Charles
For more information, Contact Erin Tuttle at:
etuttle@theconservationfoundation.org
630-428-4500, Ext. 41
Sleepy Hollow Creek Watershed and Silver
Creek Watershed Meetings
Wednesday, October 27,
Time & Location: TBA
check for updates at these links:
Silver
Sleepy Hollow
For more information, Contact Lynn Rotunno at:
watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net
815-338-0393 |
| |
| FREP's Annual Conversations With Our
Legislators |
| Wednesday, September 15 at Lake Front Park Center, Fox Lake,
FREP held its 9th Annual legislative event, co-sponsored this
year by Ingrid Danler and the
Fox Waterway Agency. |
Together our voice will be heard by our legislators in
Springfield. The key is to provide a unified front of all
interested stakeholders and to provide a clear message of what
needs to be done and why this is important.
Twenty-five people gathered to hear Senator Pam Althoff and
Senator Michael Bond remark on the state of affairs in Illinois
and more specifically about environmental issues. The Senators
provided their thoughts and more importantly provided insight on
how to best influence change and get their attention.
Jack Darin, executive director of Sierra Club of Illinois also
participated and shared his insights, as well as a new video
about recently passed legislation to control the use of
phosphorus in lawn fertilizers that will help protect our water.
Due to the economic conditions facing the State of Illinois, all
topics need to be based on financial and economic arguments.
For example, in order to obtain funding for preserving,
protecting and restoring the natural environment in our region,
we need to show why this is valuable beyond natural ecosystem
functions. Stakeholders ranging from boaters, fisherman, hotel
owners, retailers, restaurants, environmentalists, and
municipalities to name a few, need to show how they all benefit
from the local pristine natural areas. The benefits include
safe, clean drinking water, recreation, sales tax revenue, and
more. Illinois has invested millions of dollars in the area
over the years, why would the State now turn it‘s back on an
economic engine?
The message needs to be clear and concise and brought in person
to the legislators in Springfield.
The audience in attendance was fired up and motivated by the
presentations. The need to be better informed of proposed
legislation, to share the victories of passed bills, and to
gather support to lobby for specific causes was discussed. FREP
can share information through the Downstream newsletter and/or
set up an email blast list for late breaking news. In order for
this to be successful, everyone will have to tune in to the
proposed legislation and share the concerns or highlights, and
to form partnerships. |
***The FREP Government Relations
Committee would like feedback and participation from those who
would like to participate in organizing a future lobbying day in
Springfield, as well as increasing the communications we have
with our legislators. FREP is in a unique situation, as we
represent a great number of organizations and entities in the
Fox Watershed. Our combined voices can help make a difference.
Our legislators are encouraging us to do this.***
If you are interested in working on this
Government Relations Committee effort, please email Becky at:
foxriverinfo@comcast.net. |
| |
| FREP Annual Membership Dues |
FREP's new fiscal year began July 1. Dues statements are being sent
out this week and are due by the end of November. If you are new to
FREP and would like to support us through membership, please use
this form:
2010-11 FREP Membership Form.
|
| |
| Grant/Funding Opportunities |
Park and
Recreational Facility Construction Grant Program Accepting
Applications
$25 Million Available For Park and Recreation Projects Through
Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Program. For the current Fiscal Year
(FY) 2011, a total of $25 million in grants are available
through funding provided by the Illinois Jobs Now! capital
program. The maximum grant award for qualifying projects for
FY11 is $2.5 million.
The IDNR will accept applications from qualifying units of local
government from Oct. 15 through 5 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 29, 2010.
DETAILS |
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today
(10-6-10) announced that Illinois has been awarded a $525,250
federal grant for the new Illinois
Recreational Access Program.
The Conservation Congress made this one of its priority
recommendations, the development of a new access program to make
more land and water available for hunting, trapping, fishing and
other recreational purposes. Governor Quinn – in his Executive
Order last spring – called for the creation of programming to
increase access that meets the growing demand for outdoor
recreation. This program will help accomplish those goals.
A news release with the announcement and some program details can be found
HERE |
| |
| Other Activities & News of Interest |
| If you have an
activity or event you'd like FREP to share on
our Website or in the Downstream, please email
the information to Becky at:
foxriverinfo@comcast.net |
Thursday,
October 7, 7-9 PM |
Fox River-Jelke
Creek Watershed Stakeholder Planning
Meeting
Location:
Sleepy Hollow Village Hall
1Thorobred Ln. Sleepy Hollow, IL 60118
|
Tuesday & Wednesday
Oct 12 & 13
|
US Fish and
Wildlife Service Open Houses
on proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife
Refuge
Website
Tuesday, October 12, 4-8 PM
McHenry County Government Center
Administration Building,
667 Ware St, Woodstock IL
Wednesday, October 13, 4-8 PM
Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park
Harts Rd. & Rt. 31,
Ringwood IL |
Wednesday
October 13
10:30 AM - 1 PM |
CMAP Go to 2040
Comprehensive Regional Planning
Launch of the Implementation Phase
Rooftop of the Harris Theater at
Millennium Park, Chicago
Weblink
RSVP to:
info@cmap.illinois.gov |
Tuesday, October
19
11:30 AM - 2 PM |
The Conservation
Foundation's Fall Luncheon
Le Jardin, Cantigny, Wheaton
Website
Building Green Tollways, Kristi Lafleur,
Executive Director, Illinois Tollway
Fee Reservations
Required |
Fridays,
Oct 22 & Nov. 5
8 AM - 3:30 PM |
Winter Snow & Ice Workshop
Fee
Flyer & Registration Form
Location: TBA |
Thursday,
October 28
9:30 AM - Noon |
Fox River Study
Group Annual Meeting
Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Avenue
Presentations: 10 - 11:30 AM
Displays 9:30 AM - Noon
If your agency or group has a project
underway in the Fox River Watershed
which protects water quality and you
would like to bring a display about it
to the annual meeting, contact
cskrukrud@foxriverstudygroup.org |
Thursday, Nov. 4
9 AM - 6 PM |
Chicago Wilderness
Congress 2010
7th Biennial Congress of the Chicago
Wilderness Alliance
University of Illinois at Chicago
Fee
Register Here |
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|
Becky
Hoag,
Communications Manager, Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
630-482-9157
foxriverinfo@comcast.net Please
Email me if you have an Email to add to our mailing list.
FREP WEBSITE:
foxriverecosystem.org |
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