Meetings, Activities & News
FREP Meeting Programs & Noon Networks
FREP programs are free and open to the public. Reservations are not required, unless there are space limitations.
A FREP Membership Meeting now held annually, just one membership meeting a year on the 2nd Wednesday of January, .from 1-3 PM,
This Annual Meeting will include election of officers and a program.
FREP special activities include: the March Fox River Summit with our Wisconsin watershed partners; a July is a FREP gathering/picnic and program; and a. December social gathering.
The FREP Executive Committee will meet throughout the year and their schedule will be publicized here and in the Downstream e-newsletter.
This Annual Meeting will include election of officers and a program.
FREP special activities include: the March Fox River Summit with our Wisconsin watershed partners; a July is a FREP gathering/picnic and program; and a. December social gathering.
The FREP Executive Committee will meet throughout the year and their schedule will be publicized here and in the Downstream e-newsletter.
FREP Noon Networks held the 2nd Wednesday of the month from
Noon - 1:30 PM, at different locations in the Watershed. Most months, weather permitting, Noon Networks are outdoor field tours of different projects throughout the Watershed, and hosted by FREP members.
Noon Networks will now be held in February, April, May, June, August, September, October. and November.
FREP Membership Meeting Minutes are posted on our About Us Page
Noon - 1:30 PM, at different locations in the Watershed. Most months, weather permitting, Noon Networks are outdoor field tours of different projects throughout the Watershed, and hosted by FREP members.
Noon Networks will now be held in February, April, May, June, August, September, October. and November.
FREP Membership Meeting Minutes are posted on our About Us Page
Our Next Activity:
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 FREP NOON Network Noon - 1:30 PM
Topic: Kane County 2024 Open Space Referendum and other area referenda
Presenters: Brook McDonald, Dan Lobbes, The Conservation Foundation
Location: Peterson Lounge, Main Level, Baker Community Center, 8 North Ave., St. Charles, IL
The Conservation Foundation will be supporting and working to pass each of these referenda in DuPage and Kane Counties. Brook McDonald, President and CEO of The Conservation Foundation, and Dan Lobbes, Director of Land Preservation, will be on hand to discuss the DuPage and Kane referenda. Kane Forest Preserve Executive Director Ben Haberthur (or his staff) and Elizabeth Kessler (or her staff) from the McHenry County Conservation District will also be on-hand to explain and answer questions about their referenda.
Presenters: Brook McDonald, Dan Lobbes, The Conservation Foundation
Location: Peterson Lounge, Main Level, Baker Community Center, 8 North Ave., St. Charles, IL
The program will focus on the proposed Kane County referendum, with a discussion of related ballot items in DuPage and McHenry counties. Some history of open space referenda in our watershed/region will be shared.
The Chicago Wilderness Region is blessed with a rich tapestry of open and green spaces— parks and forest preserves, and other protected natural areas—that encompass more than 250,000 acres. These mostly public lands enrich our quality of life and provide outdoor recreation areas for citizens to relax, unplug, and enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of nature. The public has consistently voted to support the expansion of forest preserves and other public lands. In fact, over the past 25 years, voters in the region have supported dozens of conservation ballot measures totaling more than $2 billion to preserve and protect 40,000 acres of land and improve our quality of life.
On November 5, 2024, voters again will be asked to support forest preserves in DuPage and Kane counties, as well as similar measures in McHenry and Lake Counties. Each forest preserve district will ask for a small increase in taxes to preserve more land, maintain and restore existing forest preserves, and add recreational amenities such as trails and improve public access.
The Conservation Foundation will be supporting and working to pass each of these referenda in DuPage and Kane Counties. Brook McDonald, President and CEO of The Conservation Foundation, and Dan Lobbes, Director of Land Preservation, will be on hand to discuss the DuPage and Kane referenda. Kane Forest Preserve Executive Director Ben Haberthur (or his staff) and Elizabeth Kessler (or her staff) from the McHenry County Conservation District will also be on-hand to explain and answer questions about their referenda.
On July 9, 2024, the Kane County Forest Preserve Commission voted to put a referendum on the November ballot. On Nov. 5, 2024, the residents of Kane County will be asked to vote on a referendum authorizing an increase to the limiting rate for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. Funds would be used to:
- Preserve and maintain forests and natural lands
- Acquire additional lands from willing sellers
- Plant trees
- Protect rivers and watersheds
- Protect and improve wildlife habitat
- Enhance flood control and drainage
- Maintain and improve forest preserve woodlands, wetlands and prairies
- Provide nature education for all ages
- Increase forest preserve access and safety
- Improve recreational amenities such as hiking and biking trails, camping and fishing
- And other forest preserve purposes
More information on Kane County at this link
McHenry County will vote on a proposition to increase the limiting rate to:
Protect WATER QUALITY
Preserve WILDLIFE HABITAT
Improve OUTDOOR RECREATION ACCESS FOR ALL
More information on McHenry County at this link
Protect WATER QUALITY
Preserve WILDLIFE HABITAT
Improve OUTDOOR RECREATION ACCESS FOR ALL
More information on McHenry County at this link
Upcoming Activities:
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 FREP NOON Network Noon - 1:30 PM
Topic: Reintroducing American bison as large grazers in our local preserves
Presenters: Michelle Blackburn, Kane Co FPD, Brenna Ness, McHenry County Conservation Dist.
Location: Nature Center of Crystal Lake Park Dist.
330 N Main St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Presenters: Michelle Blackburn, Kane Co FPD, Brenna Ness, McHenry County Conservation Dist.
Location: Nature Center of Crystal Lake Park Dist.
330 N Main St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Reintroducing American bison
Tallgrass prairie once covered much of Illinois in an ocean of grass. These diverse and productive prairie ecosystems persisted until around 1837 and the invention of the steel plow. Prairies were rapidly plowed into rich agricultural fields, ultimately leaving Illinois with less than a tenth of a percent of its original 22 million acres of prairie.
American Bison are already present at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (US Forest Service) and Nachusa Grasslands (The Nature Conservancy).
Michelle Blackburn, Agricultural Coordinator for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, and Brenna Ness, Agricultural Ecologist for McHenry County Conservation District will present how their agencies are progressing on re-introducing American bison into some of their preserves.
Restoring tallgrass prairie has been one of the primary goals of both McHenry County Conservation District and the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. These agencies now manage several thousand acres of grasslands/prairies. Key to the historic management of these grasslands was disturbance, primarily driven by two factors: fire and grazing. Fire has been reintroduced across the landscape by staff, but the grazing component is still missing.
Conservation efforts to preserve the North American bison have been wildly successful in the west, and more recently, conservation agencies within Illinois have started to reintroduce bison herds within their properties.
Conservation efforts to preserve the North American bison have been wildly successful in the west, and more recently, conservation agencies within Illinois have started to reintroduce bison herds within their properties.
American Bison are already present at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (US Forest Service) and Nachusa Grasslands (The Nature Conservancy).
Michelle Blackburn, Agricultural Coordinator for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, and Brenna Ness, Agricultural Ecologist for McHenry County Conservation District will present how their agencies are progressing on re-introducing American bison into some of their preserves.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 FREP NOON Network Noon - 1:30 PM
Topic: A vision for FREP into the next 30 years
Presenter: Lucas King
Location: TBD
Presenter: Lucas King
Location: TBD
Visioning for FREP's next 30 years
FREP was organized as an ecosystem partnership in 1996. Our membership includes watershed communities, agencies, municipal governments, forest preserve & park districts, water reclamation districts, soil & water conservation districts, businesses, consultants, environmental organizations, and individuals.
Over the past 28 years we have accomplished much, and a lot has changed. Many other organizations and rules exist now that were not present in 1996 when we started.
Over the last 18 months or so, the FREP executive committee embarked on a visioning exercise to examine the goals and objectives in our original Integrated Management Plan for the Fox River Watershed in Illinois for current relevancy to help define FREP for future years.
Lucas King led us through this visioning process to evaluate where we are as an organization, where we want to go, and what our priorities should be. He will present the results of this process to our members and friends for their consideration at this November 2024 Noon Network. All who have an interest in FREP and our watershed are welcome to attend and participate.
Over the past 28 years we have accomplished much, and a lot has changed. Many other organizations and rules exist now that were not present in 1996 when we started.
Over the last 18 months or so, the FREP executive committee embarked on a visioning exercise to examine the goals and objectives in our original Integrated Management Plan for the Fox River Watershed in Illinois for current relevancy to help define FREP for future years.
Lucas King led us through this visioning process to evaluate where we are as an organization, where we want to go, and what our priorities should be. He will present the results of this process to our members and friends for their consideration at this November 2024 Noon Network. All who have an interest in FREP and our watershed are welcome to attend and participate.
Many of our past Noon Network & Membership Meeting presentations are available in pdf form HERE
FREP is happy to offer Professional Development Hour (PDH) certificates for our Noon Networks and Membership programs.
If you'd like to host a FREP Noon Network, or have a program topic/speaker to suggest, please let us know.
Email: info@foxriverecosystem.org
FREP is happy to offer Professional Development Hour (PDH) certificates for our Noon Networks and Membership programs.
If you'd like to host a FREP Noon Network, or have a program topic/speaker to suggest, please let us know.
Email: info@foxriverecosystem.org
Other News of Interest Around the Watershed:
It's Our Fox River Day
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Friends of the Fox River is coordinating the day and looking for groups to host activities to celebrate throughout the watershed LINK
Save the Date
Illinois Lake Management Association annual conference,
March 17-19, 2025, at the Northbrook Hilton in Northbrook, IL.
Illinois Lake Management Association annual conference,
March 17-19, 2025, at the Northbrook Hilton in Northbrook, IL.