For thousands of years, humans have been able to live sustainably without technological aids. To do this required an intimate understanding of the local natural systems, probably much trial and error, and the passage of information from one generation to the next. Reverence and gratitude for the resources provided, the strong incentive to find food … Read more
The State of the Fox River 2025 is an annual presentation delivered in January to the public by Friends of the Fox River. It reflects the past year’s impactful activities, celebrates achievements, notifies of challenges, and guides actions to consider for the year ahead. For this article, it is presented as a list of significant … Read more
Join us at the next level of Being a Better Friend. Thank you again to all our Friends who offered generous financial support at the end of the year. That has given us some great momentum going into 2025. We intend to maintain all of our services and programming with plans to continue to grow. … Read more
The winter solstice marks a turning point from darker times into more light. For many, it is a time to reflect upon the past and move away from negative situations into a future of growth. This year on the solstice, I took a stroll at the Fox River location of the former Carpenter Dam which … Read more
Every year brings Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) challenges, surprises, and new opportunities to fulfill our mission. Bringing New Life Coming onto the Board of Directors was Cynthia Kanner. Cynthia was previously a FOTFR educator. Currently, she is serving as the first Executive Director of the Prairie State Conservation Coalition. She has already brought new … Read more
All 1.5 million residents of the Fox River Watershed are friends of the Fox River. The relationship may only be through drinking water, waste water, and/or stormwater management. Including folks that work and visit the Fox Valley, that’s a lot of friends and impacts. But not everyone is a good Friend (of the Fox River), nor … Read more
Order our 2025 calendar HERE. Most of the photos in this article are from our calendar. Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) has so much to be grateful for — including you! As a subscriber to the Watershed Weekly, you’re part of a community that receives regular updates, insights, and stories from us. We hope … Read more
Our lives are full of choices. Two things that we had no control over: who our parents are and where we were born. Those two factors are very significant in determining our future. Often, we can overcome cultural and geographic obstacles and forge a life for ourselves where we are primarily in control of our … Read more
When humans alter or try to improve natural systems, problems are likely. During the days of autumn, nature is preparing trees for winter by conserving chlorophyll and storing the green for use in the spring. Colorful leaves fall from branches and cover the ground. In nature, this serves to:~ Insulate roots from frigid temperatures~ Conserve … Read more
Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) is dedicated to building a watershed community of caretakers. This goal involves educating the public and empowering them to advocate for the health of their community. One of our major challenges is that the Fox River Watershed spans 200 miles, crosses a state line, and includes 15 counties and … Read more
