In our watershed, climatic seasons drive activity for plants and animals, including humans. Currently, the prairies are in their colorful glory, and the birds and restoration folks are out collecting seeds. In the woodlands, you can hear dropping nuts – possible future saplings but more often future means for the animals that store them. The winged ones like Monarch butterflies and most bird species are lining up for their migration routes. September is usually a Goldilocks moment with temperatures in the seventies. This year, we experienced unusually high temperatures, and the river remained at unusually low flows of continuing drought conditions. The water temperature even reached the high 80s this past month. Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) know this season as a very busy time.
The Magic of Field Season
The beginning of the school year is also the beginning of the fall field season for stream monitoring. It began with McHenry Community College’s field biology class. We met them at LeRoy Oaks Forest Preserve to sample life in Ferson Creek. Big score of the day was the rare Dobsonfly larvae. That was followed by a new group from South Elgin High School biology students. We had the opportunity for a day in class before and after the field experience. Those two days reminded us of how exceptional the field time is for students and instructors. Coming out and stepping in a stream ignites students’interest and promotes consequential learning. To handle the larger than normal group size, we teamed up with Kane County Forest Preserve staff to add three experiences in addition to their time in Tyler Creek. The South Elgin High School principal came along and was as excited as any of us at the learning taking place. He said that Tyler Creek might be their most valuable classroom. How’s that for an endorsement?
This past week ended with all of Otter Creek Elementary 5th & 6th graders, a full day with Dundee Crown High School students, and Algonquin Middle School’s Science Club. In addition, I am working with a Jacobs High School student on his dam-related research project and was interviewed by an Elgin Community College reporter for her story on different perspectives on local dam removals.
Teaching and Learning
At the same time, we had the opportunity to be students ourselves as we worked for two days with the Illinois Natural History Survey team on a mussel survey. Sampling was done below and above the former dam location. It was a good lesson in the complicated ecosystem dynamics of a restoration situation. The good news is that the river that was submerged for 150 years is working away at reestablishing itself. The second day we worked at another location downstream that yielded notable abundance and species diversity. Even in drought conditions, the collection was impressive. A big take away for me is that finding a mussel shell (non-living) is not a clear indicator of its recent life. A shell can resist deterioration, especially if it is buried under sediment in anaerobic conditions. So, a found shell could be from a living mussel many decades ago, and that mussel may have lived in a different location as the shells can tumble along downstream for long distances. Those empty mussel shells are much more of a mystery than an animal’s track in the mud.
Power of Paddling Experiences
Johnsburg Junior High School Outdoor Club on Fox Lake.
This is also still the season for paddling. The removal of the Carpenter (not Carpentersville since it was named after the village’s founder) dam has attracted many paddlers to enjoy the longer free flowing stretch. My observation is that the number of kayaks on the Fox River in that area is rapidly growing.
FOTFR works to connect people to nature, and helping community members make this connection by canoe has been a staple for us. Over the four weeks around the autumn solstice, we will have hosted six trips. The stretch from Buffalo Park Forest Preserve to the Carpenter Dam Forest Preserve travels through two other Forest Preserves. The serenity is incredible as is the display of Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Green Herons, Kingfishers, Cormorants, and a variety of ducks. Most folks are in awe after their experience. This form of indirect education is as powerful as our direct approach in classrooms, the stream, and at our Schweitzer Environmental Center (SEC) presentations.
Speaking of SEC, folks attending the coyote event were delighted to see our new entry way planting by Green Guerrilla. If you join us on October 12th for the Oaktober program by Pete Jackson you may have to pardon our dust. We have benefitted recently from several donations that will help us better serve our community. Thanks to grant funding, we will be adding new lighting and ventilation to improve our presentation space.
Generous Friends
Our van will also be getting a new look . Two generous Friends from Geneva, David and Alexie Monaco offered to up our look and promotion capacity with the donation of a wrap for the van. Very generous! We also just received our largest donation to date from an estate bequeath from a long time Geneva resident who spent a lifetime enjoying family camping and fishing along the Fox River. As a non-profit, we must invest time and energy into asking for financial support to drive our operations, but we try to do it appropriately and with a fun flavor. Last week, the successful kayak raffle concluded. Thank you to all of you ticket purchasers that earned our education programming nearly $4000. And thank you for the surprise gifts that came to FOTFR unsolicited.
A Big Showing
If all that wasn’t enough, we had a successful It’s Our Fox River Day (IOFRD). This is our largest watershed event. It only happens through partnership with municipalities, agencies, businesses, organizations, and individuals. Reports and photos are currently rolling in from the hosts. We do know that IOFRD covered all 200 miles, had 16 proclamations from towns, 20+ cleanup sites, five educational presentations, and hundreds of participants showing their love for the Fox River.
What Autumn Brings
Enjoy this time of year as summer wanders toward winter. The birds will be flying high and the deciduous plants will be offering their palettes of color. Know that we have much to celebrate as an organization and that “Together, WE will keep on fixin’ the Fox.”