Fox River

snapping turtle

Meet Your Neighbors: Turtle Power!

By Jack MacRae The eggs have all been laid.   Many thousands of the white spheres are now buried in our parks and gardens.  They look like ping pong balls.  The eggs were deposited in subterranean nests by our largest local reptile, the common snapping turtle. Common snapping turtles are truly common.  They live in all permanent bodies of water … Read more

fireworks and flag

Dam Removal as an Act of Patriotism

By Gary Swick, President July is a time for celebration because July 4th is Independence Day for the United States of America. This holiday is not religion-oriented, nor a family-centered time for gathering. It doesn’t involve greeting cards or dressing up. But it does involve decorations with flags and some extravagant performances in the form … Read more

Elgin Love Our River Day volunteers

It Takes A Community

By Gary Swick, President Remember Hilary Clinton’s 1996 book, “It Takes a Village,” and her 2016 Democratic National Convention speech reminding us that alone we can neither rear a healthy family, build a business, heal a community, or lift a country by ourselves? Collaboratively, we do better when we pool our skills, talents, perspectives, and … Read more

Tyler Creek Wing Park Pool

Harmony

By Gary Swick, President Lying in a hammock feels like harmony to me. It’s the cradled feeling of being safely supported while swinging in suspension. It’s peaceful and joyous. May brings about an incredible demonstration of nature’s harmony, with many factors playing into a unified production. Can you imagine trying to orchestrate spring: arranging the … Read more

Fox River Midge in Blue

Those Dam Flies

By Art Malm, P.E., FOTFR Director It’s that first warm, wonderful day of spring. The breeze is light; you feel the sun’s radiant energy through your light jacket. A perfect day to be paddling, or biking, or hiking, or just hanging out along the river.  But ugh! Nasty swarms of bugs seem to be everywhere … Read more

Jelkes Creek

Meet Your Watershed Neighbors: Jelkes Creek-Fox River Watershed Coalition

By David Poweleit, President JCFRWC Our Mission: Improve surface water and groundwater quality through outreach and implementation of best management practices. The Jelkes Creek – Fox River Watershed (JCFRW) Coalition, along with sister watershed organizations upstream and downstream of our watershed, is focused on protecting and enhancing water quality within the Fox River Valley. The … Read more

fox river by gm

State of the Fox River Report

By Gary Swick This year’s State of the Fox River Report is a celebration of things gone well and progress that deserves recognition. But this is an interactive report and celebration! So whenever you see a 👏, please celebrate by standing and yelling, politely clapping, smiling & nodding, or shouting out: “Hell, Yeah!” Ready to … Read more

Dams, Clams, and the Fox River

Please register at programs@kaneforest.com or call 630-444-3190 $20 per person Does our society have a moral obligation to return the Fox River to the health the first European settlers found when they arrived in the Fox River Valley? Professional Engineer and Friends of the Fox River Director, Art Malm provides a brief history of the Fox … Read more