|
Friday, May 4, 2012
Greetings
from FREP! |
| Please visit our
Website
for additional information and updates on activities shared in
this newsletter |
|
| FREP ACTIVITIES |
| FREP Membership Meeting |
Wednesday,
May 16, 2012
1 PM
Program: FREP’s
Role in Helping MS4 Communities
Address NPDES Phase II Requirements
Presenters:
Matt Bardol, P.E., CFM, CPESC, D.WRE
and Rob Linke, P.E., CFM
Location: Village
of Oakwood Hills Village Hall
3020 North Park Drive, Oakwood Hills 60013
Website |
Matt Bardol, P.E., CFM, CPESC, D.WRE and Rob
Linke, P.E., CFM, members of FREP’s Executive
Committee, will give a joint presentation
highlighting what MS4 communities are, where
they are in our watershed, what
requirements/regulations they have to follow
under the current NPDES Phase II regulations,
and what changes are being proposed by
USEPA/IEPA and how it will affect them when they
renew their existing MS4 permits.
The presentation will also address how MS4
communities can interface with FREP to address
many of the education & outreach requirements of
NPDES Phase II and how FREP can serve as a
network for Fox River Watershed communities to
share their stormwater & floodplain experiences
with each other to raise the local knowledge
base of community staff & officials in the
watershed. |
FREP BYLAWS UPDATE
At the Membership Meeting we will be voting on
updates to the FREP bylaws. These revised
bylaws can be reviewed
HERE |
|
FREP Meeting Minutes can be found
HERE. |
|
|
|
FREP Annual Social |
 Friday,
July 13, 2012
Annual FREP Social hosted by FREP's
Recreation Committee
Kane County Cougars Game
6:30 PM
Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, west of Kirk Road, just south
of Rt. 38, Geneva
Bring your family! $10/ticket for reserved seating
Reservation deadline June 14
Call or email Jason Pettit and then mail in the
reservation
form with your check
FLYER/RESERVATION FORM |
| |
|
| FREP Noon Network |
Wednesday,
June 20, 2012 Noon - 1:30
PM
Program: Jelkes
Creek Watershed
Presenter: Kelsey Musich,
Resource Conservationist, CPESC Kane/DuPage Soil and
Water Conservation District
Location: Otto
Engineering
3rd floor Oak meeting room
11 West Main Carpentersville, IL 60110
|
 |
We will start with a presentation on
streambank stabilization restoration projects from
within the Jelkes Creek - Fox River watershed.
Discussion will include case studies of 4 Winds Way and
Carpentersville Creek projects. An update will be given
on the watershed planning process and also two future
projects will be mentioned. One of our first projects
planned for implementation will be stream stabilization
for the Village of Algonquin and the other will be an
erosion control practice for a farm on the west side of
the Fox River just off of Rt. 31.
There will then be a short drive or walk to
Carpentersville Creek to see a stream restoration
project that was completed in 2011. The lessons learned
from this project will be highlighted in the
presentation and the common mistakes in stream
restoration design will be exposed.
Jelkes Creek Watershed Webpages |
| |
| You
are welcome to bring your lunch to the Noon Network
programs. Reservations are not required. |
| |
|
|
|
FREP members, potential members, and the general public
are welcome to attend the FREP Noon Networks and meetings and programs.
Learn more
about activities in the watershed and network with others. |
|
Program
Presentations Online: Many past Noon
Network and meeting program presentations can be found in pdf form on the FREP Website
HERE. |
|
|
|
Proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge **UPDATE** |
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has completed their two-year study
and have recommended that a new wildlife refuge be established
on the Illinois-Wisconsin border! The
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge will be the closest
refuge to the Chicago, Rockford, and Milwaukee and metro areas,
fitting nicely with the USFWS’s policy to establish refuges
easily accessible to people living in urban areas.
The Fish & Wildlife Service is recommending refuge lands which
would link with and expand on existing lands already protected
by the McHenry County Conservation District (Illinois) and
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources in order to provide large
blocks of habitat for prairie species like Dickcissel, Henslow's
sparrow and short-eared owl, the savanna-loving red-headed
woodpecker, and wetland-dependent species like pied-billed grebe
and the federally endangered Whooping crane.
We are in full agreement with the USFWS, the landscape of the
Hackmatack area IS a national treasure worth preserving for
future generations! The proposed refuge will bring tourism, jobs
and new economic opportunity to our region as well as providing
new educational and recreational opportunities to the citizens
of both states.
Thank you to all who sent comments and
letters of support to US Fish & Wildlife Service by the April 27, 2012
deadline. FREP also sent a letter of support. We will update you
when USFWS announces its final decisions and plans.
Friends of Hackmatack Website |
|
|
|
EPA 319 Grants FFY13 for the Fox Watershed |
FREP is organizing the submission of a
package of grants to EPA 319 Grant Program for
FFY13. FREP has helped coordinate and assist
with grant submissions every two years for many
years.
Since 1995, the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency (IEPA) has awarded over $8M in
Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Control Program
“Section 319” funds to help support more than 55
implementation and planning projects valued at
over $12M within the Fox River watershed.
Individual project costs, including local match,
have ranged from about $20K to nearly $2M. |
An informational 319 Grant Workshop was
presented at our Feburary 15, 2012 FREP Noon
Network
CLICK HERE for a pdf of the Workshop
Presentation. |
| Details about the grant process is in this
brochure:
FREP 319 Grant Guide for FFY 2013 |
If you are interested
in preparing a grant proposal and have
questions, and/or would like to arrange for a
technical assistance consultation, please
contact:
Deanna Douhaluk
Chair, FREP Water Resources Committee
Hey and Associates
ddoohaluk@heyassoc.com (773)
693-9200 x13 8755 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 835,
Chicago, IL 60631 |
|
 |
| |
| Grant Timeline |
• Feb 15 – July 25,
2012: Technical assistance available from
FREP Water Resources Committee via phone, e-mail
• March 21, April 18, May
16, June 20 2012: Technical assistance
available from FREP Water Resources Committee
members in person following the FREP Membership
meetings and Noon Networks on these dates
Please request consultation in advance for these
meetings OR arrange for another time
• August 1, 2012:
Final applications due at Illinois EPA by close
of business
• August 3, 2012:
Electronic copy of final applications due to
Chair of FREP Water Resources Committee
• August 3 – 20, 2012:
Review by FREP Water Resources Committee,
comments submitted to Illinois EPA
• Early 2013: Grant
announcement by Illinois EPA
• Mid 2013: Grant
agreements signed with Illinois EPA |
| |
| Visit our
319 Grant Page for more information and
updates |
|
|
|
|
|
FREP Membership Roll for 2011-12
THANK YOU, ALL! |
|
New this year, we are
posting our renewing and new members on the
FREP Membership 2011-12 Roll on our website, and share the
current list with you here.
There are links for those members who
have websites. |
Michael Ander, Friend,
Sleepy Hollow
Paul Anderson, Friend, Geneva
Matt Bardol,
Geosyntec Consultants
Barrington Area Conservation Trust
Barrington Area Council of Governments
Batavia Park District
Campton Historic Agricultural Lands,
Inc./Garfield Farm
Campton Township
Cardno ENTRIX
John Church, Friend, Oswego
City of Elgin
City of Geneva
Linda Cole, Friend, Aurora
The Conservation Foundation
Nancy Cox, Friend, St. Charles
Crystal Lake Park District
DeKalb County Forest Preserve Commission
Deuchler Environmental, Inc.
Dundee Township
Engineering Resource Associates, Inc.
Environmental Defenders of McHenry County
Flint Creek Watershed Partnership
Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, Oswego
Fox River Water Reclamation District, Elgin
Fox Valley Park District, Aurora
Geneva Park District
Barbara Gore, Friend, Aurora
Ted Gray,
Living Waters Consultants
John Frerich, Friend, Batavia
Adam Hansberger,
Alpine Landscape
Hey & Associates
Fred Houdek, Friend, Elburn
Holly Hudson, CMAP
Kane County Development & Community Services
Dept
Kane County Farm Bureau
Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District
June Keibler, Volunteers for Dundee Township
Open Space |
|
Kendall County Forest Preserve District
Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation
District
Lake County Forest Preserve District
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission
Lake in the Hills Sanitary District
Kerry Leigh, Village of Oakwood Hills
Rob Linke, Friend, St. Charles
Julie Long, Friend, St. Charles
McHenry County Conservation District
McHenry County Conservation Foundation
North Cook County Soil & Water Conservation
District
Oswegoland Park District
Jason Pettit, Friend, Aurora
Pizzo & Associates, Ltd.
Larry Rakunus, Friend, St. Charles
River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles
St. Charles Park District
Nancy Schumm, Friend, Lake Barrington
Kent E. Sims, Friend, Bolingbrook
Laura Stuart, Friend, Batavia
Tyler Creek Watershed Coalition
United City of Yorkville
Village of Algonquin
Village of Fox River Grove
Village of Lake Barrington
Village of Millbrook
Village of Oakwood Hills
Village of Oswego
Village of Port Barrington
Village of Sleepy Hollow
Village of South Elgin
West Chicago Park District
Nancy Williamson & Steve Byers, Friends, Village
of Lakewood Hills
Witness Tree Native Landscapes, Inc.
Wills Burke Kelsey Associates
|
|
|
|
FREP Annual Membership Drive |
The new FREP fiscal year starts July 1,
2012. For the past few years the annual membership drive
and mailing of dues statements was not conducted until
September. The FREP Executive Committee discussed this timetable
and determined that it would be best to send out notices in
June, in advance of the new July 1 fiscal year, to enable better
financial and budget planning.
Please watch for your dues statements in
June. We thank all of you who continue to support FREP through
your dues and membership.
New this past year, there is an online membership form and dues
can be paid via PayPal. We will be updating this form for FY13
and feature it in the June Downstream. |
|
|
| Watershed Planning |
|
A number of Fox River subwatershed groups are in various stages
of developing, completing, and implementing plans for their
watersheds. FREP continues to be a central source of information
for these activities and will post meeting dates and
information, and news of new planning here in the
Downstream and on our website
HERE. |
The following Watersheds are having regular meetings.
Please check the links for information about meeting dates: |
Tyler Creek Watershed
Webpages
Jelkes Creek Watershed Meeting TBA
Webpages
Woods Creek Watershed Study Stakeholders
Website
Silver & Sleepy Hollow Creeks Watershed
Coalition
Webpage
Spring Creek Watershed
Website |
| EPA Website that
should be helpful to all the planners:
Healthy Watersheds |
| |
| 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 |
Friday & Saturday
May 4 & 5, 2012 |
Elgin's Green Expo
-- Watershed Wanderings
Website
A program designed to update
legislators, municipal boards and staff,
engineers, developers, and citizens
about the Fox River Watershed, its
threats, and proposed projects to
restore the watershed. |
Sunday
May 20, 2012
11 am - 4 pm |
Garfield Farm
Museum's 26th Annual Rare Breeds
Livestock & Poultry Show and Sale
Rt.
38, west of Geneva
The show highlights the need to preserve
rare domesticated animals from
extinction. It also provides Rare Breed
enthusiasts with an opportunity to show
off their favorite animals to the
general public and to interact with
other exhibitors and prospective buyers.
Website
FEE |
Sunday
June 3, 2012 |
Mid-American Canoe
& Kayak Race
St. Charles to Aurora and Batavia to
Aurora, on the Fox River
Sponored by Fox Valley Park District
Website
FEE |
Sunday
June 10, 2012 |
Annual
Pedal-Paddle through the Prairie
Sponsored by McHenry County Conservation
Foundation
Website
FEE |
Friday
June 15, 2012
11:00 am-2:00 pm |
Conservation
Community Day for Algonquin
Woods Creek Path
“Leave No Child Inside”
Website
FREE |
Friday
July 13, 2012
6:30 pm |
FREP goes to a
Kane County Cougars Game
Fifth Third
Bank Ballpark, west of Kirk Road, just
south of Rt. 38, Geneva
$10/ticket Bring your family!
Reserve by June 14
FLYER/RESERVATION FORM
FEE |
|
|
Of Special Interest |
Project WET -
Worldwide Water Education
Website
Educate. Empower. Act. The mission of
Project WET is to reach children,
parents, educators and communities of
the world with water education. We
invite you to join us in educating
children about the most precious
resource on the planet — water.
|
From Geneva Park District:
Island Park Bridge
Construction Requires Park Closure in
June The Geneva Park District
received an Illinois Transportation
Enhancement Grant to replace the north
bridge at Island Park. Island Park and
the Fox River Trail will remain open
through June 11, 2012, with construction
beginning and complete park closure on
June 15, 2012, concluding in late fall
2012. In the interest of safety, the
construction will necessitate the
re-routing of the Fox River Bike Trail
as well as complete park closure,
including the pavilion, playground and
restrooms. Detour of the Fox River Trail
will be clearly marked and a map of the
detour is available online at
www.genevaparks.org.
|
The Citizen's Guide to
Preserving the Fox River is available at more than 100 distribution points along
the Fox River and in the watershed.
CLICK HERE to find out where you can pick
up your FREE copy.
You can also read the online version of The Citizen's Guide
on the website
HERE.
The companion website
preservethefox.org contains many pages
of information to help you learn about what people can do in
their homes and communities to help preserve and protect the beautiful
Fox.
|
|
|
|
Funding Opportunities |
SCALE Grant from
IEPA to support Stream Cleanups
It’s easy and with the SCALE grant from
IEPA, you can get funding for supplies!
Stream clean ups are a great way to get
your community involved and invested in
improving water quality. Pick a day,
get some people together, and pick up
some trash!
Details HERE
|
|
|
|
|
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
This newsletter is posted on the FREP Website on the
Downstream Newsletter Archives Page |
|
|
