Through a generous grant from Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois River Coordinating Council, Friends of the Fox River continued its water willow planting initiative. Through a partnership project with the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, Oswegoland Park District and Friends of the Fox River, volunteers planted over 2,000 water willow plants at Violet Patch Park in Oswego on July 15, 2006. The following Saturday, Friends of the Fox River volunteers planted over 1,000 water willow plants in West Dundee.