Highlights and News

Birds, Bales and Waters of the United States

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When Illinois became a state in 1818, 8 million acres of wetlands or 23% of the state’s land area provided critical habitat for a wide variety of mammals, birds, fish, mussels, amphibians, and insects. Today only 1.2 million acres remain. 90% of Illinois’ wetlands have been destroyed! The new administration’s attempt to roll back the … Read more

WATERSHED WATCHDOGS EXPAND TO AURORA AND CRYSTAL LAKE!

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by Gary Swick Since the beginning of Friends of the Fox River, students have played a lead role in water quality protection. Citizen scientists have voluntarily collected data from over 100 monitoring sites throughout the watershed. In 1999, the Fox River Monitoring Network was established which through federal, state, and county funding. The network grew … Read more

Craft Beer Selected Just for You

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No clean water, no good beer. By Eric Pepa It’s not just a cute tag line; it really is a profound statement We do take clean water for granted, especially here near the great lakes, where fresh water is abundant. But in few arenas is water quality more important than in the brewing of beer. … Read more

Help Friends – Drink Beer?

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How on Earth does having a beer party help Friends of the Fox River clean up the river?!? Friends of the Fox River President Gary Swick explains: “Our annual fundraiser is a reminder that without protecting the Fox River we’d lose many of the things we enjoy and take for granted, including recreation on the … Read more

A Storm Drain Is Not a Garbage Disposal

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From our President, Gary Swick ~ That hole in the street with the metal grate that is next to the curb is a “storm drain.” Its intended purpose is to prevent flooding in streets during storm events. It must not be used as a disposal of anything. Most manufactured now are stamped with “Dump No Waste, Drains to … Read more

Proposed Toll Bridge – REFERENDUM Passed!

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Friends of the Fox River is pleased to announce that on Tuesday, April 13, the citizens of Dundee Township voted to add a referendum to future ballots regarding the proposed Longmeadow Toll Bridge. The bridge proposed to cross the Fox River for the Long Meadow Parkway could cause a severe disruption and destruction of habitat. It … Read more

The Year of the Smallmouth Bass by Pat Kirmse

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A warm March rain raised the temperature of the Fox River to 47 degrees and the 15″ Smallmouth Bass started to stir. She was 5 years old and had survived another Illinois winter, the coldest and snowiest in her life. Fortunately there were no heavy midwinter rains that would have blown her out of her … Read more

Victory for the Watershed as Lawsuit Is Dropped!

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Contacts: Jan Strasma, Citizens Against the Sprawlway 630-863-6669 Dave Jakubiak, Environmental Law & Policy Center 312-795-3713 Gary Swick, Friends of the Fox River 815-370-0026 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITHDRAWS PRAIRIE PARKWAY APPROVAL, ENDING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE HIGHWAY PROJECT The federal government has rescinded its approval of the proposed Prairie Parkway which would connect I-80 and I-88 in Kane, … Read more