The Fox River Summit, first held in 2013, has become an annual event with our fellow Fox River stakeholders in Wisconsin,  Unfortunately, the 8th annual Summit in March 2020 had to be cancelled. Our 9th Summit for 2021 was held virtually as part of the Wisconsin Water Week event. We look forward to planning  an in-person event for March 2022. 

Chloride levels in groundwater are rising and are reaching problematic levels of concern in many areas.  Though there are many causes, road salt is the major factor in many aquifers in Wisconsin and the northern tier states.  This presentation will discuss the magnitude of the problem and the limits in the current level of monitoring.  The long term consequences will be discussed with potential opportunities to reduce the impacts.​John has a B.S. in Geology and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Geological Sciences with an emphasis in hydrogeology and geophysics, all from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  He is a Senior Geophysicist and Hydrogeologist for Collier Geophysics. 

John works on a wide variety of ground water projects around the country specializing in high capacity wells, aquifer recharge, and groundwater resource management.  He received the NGWA Keith A Anderson Award in 2012 for service to NGWA and the groundwater industry and was the NGWA McEllhiney Distinguished Lecturer in Water Well Technology in 2013.  John was an invited speaker at the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers at their annual convention in Barcelona in 2018, the Keynote speaker at the Symposium on Geophysics to Environmental and Engineering Problems in 2013, and a guest lecturer on managed aquifer recharge and groundwater geophysics for the Geoscience University of China in Beijing in 2018.

This presentation will provide information on US Army Corps’ Authorities that support non-Federal ecosystem restoration planning, design and implementation. Elements covered include types of projects and examples, qualifying partners, cost sharing requirements, time frames, and project initiation. The presentation will also give a brief update on the Section 519 Fox River Connectivity & Habitat Study.​

Frank received his Bachelor’s in Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution (EEE) from University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in 1998, with a focus on ichthyology. That same year he began working for the USACE, Chicago District as an Invasive Species Technician. In 2000 Frank took on the role of restoration ecologist for the planning, design and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects. In 2016, Frank was selected as the USACE Lakes & Rivers Division Regional Technical Specialist for Ecosystem Restoration, where he supports the Great Lakes and Ohio River Corps Districts in their mission to implement ecosystem restoration programs.

• Southeastern WI Fox River Commission Update Jim Pindel, Secretary SEWFRC
• Fox River Study Group Update Cindy Skrukrud, Chair, Fox River Study Group
• The Fox Chain O’Lakes Health Report for 2014
  Kathleen Paap, Water Quality Specialist, Lake County Health Department’s Environmental Services Unit
• Using Geomorphology in Stream Assessment and Restoration Andy Selle, Inter-Fluve
• Nippersink Creek Watershed…Getting projects done! Randy Stowe, Nippersink Watershed Association
• Fox River Water Action Volunteer Monitoring Program on the Wisconsin Side
  Jayne Jenks, Program Coordinator, Waukesha County Parks and Land Use
• Meeting Municipal EPA Responsibilities With Students & Social Media
  Gary Swick, Friends of the Fox River & Deb Perryman, Elgin High School Teacher
• The Rock River Trail Initiative: Its History, Vision and Goals Frank Schier, Founder and Coordinator of the Rock River Trail Initiative
• Establishing and Promoting a System of Recreational Trails for the Rock River
   Greg Farnham, Coordinator of the Rock River Trail Initiative
•  USEPA 9-Element Watershed Management Planning
    9 Key Elements Andrew Craig, WDN
    Watershed Planning in Northeast Illinois, Holly Hudson, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)
    Watershed Guide Andy Yencha, UW-Extension
• How to Talk To and Engage Farmers in Watershed Planning Buzz Sorge, Program and Policy Analyst, WDNR
• Clear Choices Clean Water Jill Hoffmann theWhiteRiverAllliance.org
• Conserving Cranes, Waters, Landscapes and People Worldwide Jeb Barzen, International Crane Foundation, Director of Field Ecology
 
Article about the 2015 Summit in Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine

• Summit Overview Tom Slawski, SE WI Regional Planning Commission, Southeast Fox River Partnership
• FREP Presentation Elizabeth Hagen-Moeller, President
• How Green Infrastructure Can Protect Water Quality Tom Price, Conservation Design Forum
• Kane County Green Infrastructure Plan  Karen Miller, Kane County & Dennis Dreher, Geosyntec Consultants
    Miller Link     Dreher LINK
• Streambank Stability & Riparian Buffer Inventory and Prioritization on the Middle Fox River Geoffrey Parish, GRAEF
• Fish Populations in the Lower Fox River Steve Pescitelli, Region II Stream Specialist with the IDNR
• Nutrient Reductions and Dam Removal: Developing an Implementation Plan to Address Dissolved Oxygen and Algae Problems in the Fox River Rob Linke, P.E., Fox River Study Group, Inc. Board of Directors
• Habitat Management Guidance for Amphibians and Reptiles Bruce Kingsbury, Indiana-Purdue University
• National Water Trail Systems & technical program assistance to help communities develop water and land trails  Part 1   Part 2
   Angie Tornes, National Park Service, Rivers & Trails Program
• USGS' WaterSMART initiative program Eric Evenson Coordinator, USGS National Water Census LINK