It has been said that June is one of two months that people in our watershed don’t complain about the weather. Cold temperatures are now behind us and the heavy heat has not arrived. Vegetation is lush and the bugs are not yet the main topic of discussion. Now is a great time to get out to visit public parks, the many creeks, and the river itself. Go enjoy your Friend the Fox River Watershed. What a perfect time to celebrate Father’s Day with “Old Man River.” And it’s National River Month. So, lets commit to a few better Friend practices.
In The Home
Do your part to make wastewater easy to treat. In summer months, nearly half of the Fox River has passed through a municipal treatment plant. Avoid pouring into a drain: toxic substances, prescription drugs, and grease. Realize that “flushable” wipes will flush away but clog up the whole process and are the nightmare to treatment operators. Use a trash receptacle for the previously mentioned items.
Selecting local food sources, eating a more plant-based diet, and composting food waste can all help reduce water use and the production of greenhouse gases. Climate chaos does have local impacts in our watershed. Avoid retail shopping bags and single use water containers. These are the two most common items collected on shoreline litter clean-ups.
Around the Home
If your street has storm drains, please protect them. Only water from the sky is legal to go into them, not grass clippings blown into the street, not litter, nor lawn chemicals that end up on sidewalks and driveways, then washed into the street.
Make an effort to build habitat and to replace turf grass with native plants that serve the ecosystem by supporting pollinators and the birds who feed upon them. Habitat loss is the largest threat to these two animal groups. Also consider other turf venues for native plantings, like churches, schools, and places of employment. A Doug Tallamy video series guaranteed to inspire this practice is available now. Sign in at Homegrown National Park and go to the recorded talk page to watch. Better still, have a watch party or attend an upcoming video event for What’s the Rush at a local library.
Be a Watershed Watchdog
The Fox River Watershed has over 80 municipalities. Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) is looking for volunteers to watch what is happening in each community relative to plans for development. There is a strong negative relationship between increasing impervious surfaces and lowering local water quality. Once zoning is changed and plans are approved for development, it is nearly impossible to stop it. We need folks to read agendas and minutes of zoning committees and city council meetings. Catching things at the concept stage is essential. If we know what may be coming, we can mobilize to defend our watershed. Our local, state, and federal representatives need to hear from us. They represent us but need to know what we want individually and collectively. Help us be the voice by being the local eyes and ears.
FOTFR Needs More Friends
June – We always have a lot going on and our capacity is limited by our personnel. We have a beautiful environmental center in West Dundee that needs habitat maintenance in the summer months. We also have various equipment like canoes that could use some handy hands.
Our new EL CARDUNAL paddling event on June 22nd will require an army of volunteers. Please visit our website FOTFR.org to register to help us make it a success.
July – This year our annual boat raffle will not feature a premium canoe, but a pair of kayaks! We could use assistance with marketing this fundraiser. Tickets will be available soon, with the drawing being connected to It’s Our Fox River Day (IOFRD). Can you help us sell some tickets?
August 4th is the date for our largest fundraiser, No Clean Water No Good Beer. Currently, we could use assistance with obtaining items for the raffle and auction. Do you have an interesting item or wine to donate, could you provide a unique experience, or do you have some connections with a donor of something like a weekend getaway? Please contact us at info@FOTFR.org Plan to join us for complimentary beverages and food along with some great items to win.
September – It’s Our Fox River Day is rapidly approaching on September 20th. Currently, we are looking for individuals like you to organize an experience to be included in this event that spans 200 miles, with an expected 70+ hosts, and well over 1000 participants. Contact us at IOFRD@ FOTFR.org to discuss how you can be a host of a neighborhood clean-up or any event that celebrates our Fox River. You can see a list of the 2024 events for inspiration at FOTFR.org under the calendar and events tab. What can you host?
Help Us Build a Watershed Community of Caretakers
As a Watershed Weekly subscriber, you are already a good Friend. Our mission is only limited by our capacity to do the work necessary. Please consider how you can be a better Friend. Be it with your personal practices or offering you time and skills for organizational work. It’s not the time of year to be using the term “donate,” but that button on the website is always open and for some, the best option. Together, we keep on fixin’ the Fox.
The Big Beautiful Bill Is Bad News for Our Watershed
Congress has already passed the proposed budget that will cripple environmental protection on many fronts. There is still time to give the Fox River Watershed your voice to our Senators. Proposed cuts to the National Park Service could impact our Fabulous Fox! Water Trail’s plans and the National Wildlife system may impact the continued expansion of our Hackmatack NWR.
Contact your Senator today!
National Park Service
https://act.npca.org/page/81246/action/1?_ga=2.188236776.1769335947.1749434064-1376465675.1749434064
National Wildlife Refuge Association
https://act.refugeassociation.org/a/fy-26
US Senators
Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin
https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact/contact-tammy
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/contact
Dick Durbin, Illinois
https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/connect/email-tammy