Next month is pivotal for land protection in the Fox River watershed. Several open space referenda will be on the ballot. On April 17, our collective votes can make funds available to purchase, preserve and manage nearly 10,000 additional acres of open space. When we invest in open space, we: protect high quality natural areas, … Read more
Welcome to the first issue of Friends of the Fox River’s e-News — our monthly hot sheet for Fox River Watershed conservation news. Our quick-reference format highlights news, workshops, events, and other conservation resources (with links leading to expanded text). There’s great things happening throughout our watershed. We urge you to get involved. If there’s … Read more
By Tom Shrader Vice President, Friends of the Fox River Take Action Now Sample letter to U.S. Representatives and Senators Find your U.S. Representatives and Senators As noted in the last newsletter, Friends of the Fox River Vice-President Tom Schrader was invited to serve on the Environmental Task Force (ETF) of the Corridor Planning Group for the Prairie Parkway. … Read more
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois Department of Natural Resources Unveil Illinois River Basin Restoration Proposal The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Rock Island District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently released their proposed 50-year plan to restore the Illinois River Basin. The goals of the Illinois River Basin Restoration project … Read more
By Tom Schrader Vice President, Friends of the Fox River In January 2006, Friends of the Fox River (FOFR) President Chuck Roberts and Vice-President Tom Schrader met with engineers from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Smith Engineering to discuss FOFR’s concerns about the impact of the proposed Prairie Parkway on environmentally sensitive … Read more
2005 Illinois RiverWatch Program Friends of the Fox River was pleased to receive a generous $15,000 grant from Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois River Coordinating Council in May 2005 to administer the 2005 Illinois RiverWatch Program. The grant enabled RiverWatch citizen volunteers previously trained by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ staff to … Read more
Meeting Future Water Needs in Illinois Report Released Water shortages are forecast for at least 22 townships in the Chicago metropolitan area in the next 15 years and many more shortages are expected in the years beyond 2025 states the recently released report “Troubled Waters: Meeting Future Water Needs in Illinois.” The report, produced by … Read more
Summary of IDNR Surveyof Big Rock Creek By Tom Schrader Vice President, Friends of the Fox River In the last issue of The Riffle, the potential impact of the proposed Prairie Parkway on Big Rock Creek was raised as an issue of concern for Friends of the Fox River. In early October, the Illinois Department … Read more
IDOT Announces Public Meetings to Present Recommended Routes for Prairie Parkway The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) recently announced two open houses that the public is invited to attend regarding recommended alternative sites for the Prairie Parkway. At these open houses, IDOT will present their recommended routes for the Parkway which will be subject to … Read more
How Green Is My River? Tom Schrader, Vice President, Friends of the Fox River Anyone living in the Fox River Valley knows what a hot, dry summer season the region has suffered through this year. Similarly, anyone who has fished or canoed or hiked along or even simply driven across the Fox River in recent … Read more
