Tuesday,
July 29,
2008
Greetings
from FREP!
FREP Noon Network - please note -
moved to the 4th week of the month |
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Legislative-Budget Update Message from Sierra Club On Thursday, July 24th, cuts proposed by Governor Blagojevich to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources went into effect after the Illinois General Assembly failed to take any action to override the cuts. These cuts may force the closure of state parks, the layoff of scientific staff protecting our water and wildlife, conservation police catching poachers and keeping us safe, and efforts to ensure reliable drinking water supplies - to name a few consequences. There is still time, however. The pink slips don't have to go out to those protecting our resources, our parks don't have to close. Governor Blagojevich can choose to keep the IDNR running, at current funding levels, and commit to passing additional funding with the legislature the next time they reconvene. There is more than enough time to craft a solution, and avoid the unthinkable, if only our leaders will sit down, talk to each other, and work out an agreement. In other words, LEAD. Please Take Action TODAY - urge Governor Blagojevich to stop the IDNR cuts, and do his part to stop the Springfield meltdown that now jeopardizes our parks, wildlife, water, and natural heritage. There is a better way. Thanks, Jen Hensley, Illinois Chapter - Sierra Club CLICK HERE for a paper from Partners for Parks & Wildlife discussing the proposed IDNR cuts Governor Blagojevich's phone number in Springfield: (217) 782-6830 |
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Illinois River
Coordinating Council Meeting Tuesday, August 12, Ottawa Boat Club, Ottawa IL 1:30 - 3:30 PM Lt. Governor Pat Quinn chairs the 13-member Council. The Council is a diverse group of citizens, grassroots and not-for-profit organizations, state and federal agencies, and river enthusiasts, and coordinates private and public funding for river restoration in the sprawling Illinois River Watershed. The IRCC includes six citizen members, five state agency representatives, a representative from the Soil & Water Conservation Districts, and ex-officio representatives of six federal agencies. |
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"Making the Connection"
Watershed Conference
Friday, September 12, 2008
Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewiston, IL Agenda Brochure/Registration The theme of this conference is "Making the Connection" and will give watershed groups and individuals tools and ideas on how to improve their local watershed. The conference includes a tour of Emiquon, a nationally recognized 7,100 acre wetland restoration project. Space limited, register soon. |
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| OTHER NEWS | ||
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Illinois' "It's Our River Day" will be celebrated on
Saturday, September
20, 2008 The Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn with partners AT&T and Friends of the Illinois River is sponsoring the fifth annual "It's Our River Day" celebration, a state-wide event. Many organizations and communities are holding events open to the public that encourage recreation, education and conservation of Illinois's rivers and streams. Illinois is home to 17 rivers that contribute food, transportation, jobs and aesthetic beauty to the Illinois economy. It's Our River Day is a collective action event to involve Illinois residents with the rivers they cherish and depend on. It is our hope that we can coordinate with schools across the state to provide activities for their surrounding area and communities. Please consider joining the event! In the past, activities that emphasized conservation included river clean-ups, invasive species removal, prairie restoration, and tree planting. Educational activities include touring the Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery, the Starved Rock Lock & Dam, participating in water safety classes and showcasing environmental education displays/booths. Recreational activities include fishing clinics, kayaking, hiking, and canoeing trips on Illinois rivers and streams. You are of course, encouraged to develop activities/programs that tailor to your organizations benefit and the conservation, recreation and education of Illinois rivers and streams.
Broad volunteer and
community participation is needed across the state. If you choose to participate, your event will be listed on the official "It's Our River Day" website for the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn. In addition we encourage you to use local outlets to publicize the events you can host and promote such an important day!
If interested in hosting
and event or finding activities in your community please contact the Lt.
Governor's Office: For further information go to www.standingupforillinois.org. |
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EPA
Requests Grant Proposals
to Reduce Hypoxic Zone in the Gulf
of Mexico EPA plans to award up to $4.2 million in targeted watershed
grants to reduce the hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico. EPA is
soliciting proposals that will use water quality trading programs to
reduce nutrient loads, particularly from the Ohio River, the Upper
Mississippi River, or the Lower Mississippi River. These three
sub-basins provide the most nutrients to the Gulf, contributing to the
hypoxic zone, an oxygen-depleted area that cannot support aquatic life.
Excess nutrients come from a wide range of sources, including runoff
from developed land, atmospheric deposition, soil erosion, agricultural
fertilizers, and sewage and industrial discharges.
"This is seed money to grow an innovative solution to nutrient pollution and cut the size of the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone," said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. Market-based approaches like water quality trading that use innovative pollutant cap and trade programs can accelerate the restoration of the Gulf and help achieve major reductions in pollution at lower costs. Setting pollutant reduction targets and allowing sources to buy and sell credits to meet those targets can make it faster, easier, and cheaper to meet water quality goals. Grant proposals must be submitted by Sept. 9, 2008. State governors and tribal leaders nominate proposals for targeted watershed grants. A national panel evaluates and ranks submissions based on criteria outlined in the notice. Selection of the grantees will be announced this fall. The Targeted Watersheds Grants program has awarded nearly $50 million to 61 organizations since 2003. For 2008, the focus is on supporting water quality trading to protect local water resources to reduce the hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico. More information:
Targeted Watersheds Grants program:
http://www.epa.gov/twg
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FUTURE FREP MEETINGS: Wednesday, September 17, 1 PM Location & Program TBA Wednesday, November 19, 1 PM Old Kendall County Court House, Yorkville Annual C2000 Grant - Preliminary Presentations FREP NOON NETWORKS: We are seeking suggestions for programs for 2009. The dates are: Feb. 18, April 15, June 17, Aug. 19. If you have a watershed project to feature, or a topic to discuss, please email Becky. |
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:
http://foxriverecosystem.org
Please use the new link below to be deleted
from the FREP Email list, or to make an Email update.