As we enter the so called “dog-days of summer” we find ourselves still needing to practice social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID19. (FYI - The dog days of summer are the hot, sultry days of summer. They were historically the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius, which Hellenistic astrology connected with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck. They are now taken to be the hottest, most uncomfortable part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.) Many people seem to be “rediscovering” nature and getting outdoors in our preserves and parks. This has created overuse in some areas. Yet it is a good thing for people to be getting outside – it has myriad health benefits for us all. We do need to enjoy nature and reap the benefits in a manner that minimizes the impact to the natural systems and maintains our social distancing. So, I would encourage you all to be mindful of minimizing your impact to nature and others, while getting out into nature.
One question that has come up from this situation is what impacts, both positive and negative, has the COVID pandemic had on wildlife and nature? Early in the pandemic we all saw the reports of reduced air pollution from people staying home and not driving, and videos and photos of wildlife reclaiming park lands and even urban lands while there was less human activity. But now we have some areas with increased outdoor activity by people as they rediscover the outdoors while unemployed or underemployed. Deeper analysis has shown that while car traffic and its pollutants were reduced, other modes of transportation such as trucks, trains, ships, etc. have been largely unaffected and they contribute a much larger proportion of air pollution and green house gases. So, the question is, what has been the net affect positive or negative both globally and locally. I have been asked to speak as part of a panel on this very topic in September in Barrington. I’d love to hear your thoughts and observations, however anecdotal or scientific they might be.
Finally, as we continue to advocate for naturalized open space and stormwater management in our subdivisions, what is the best way to maintain and protect these areas? Please join us for our August 12 Noon Network being held virtually. We will hear about The Conservation Foundation’s Natural Areas Assurance Program and look at a specific example in Carpentersville. If you are involved as a resident or as a member of a homeowner’s association this will be of interest to you. Please make sure you RSVP as indicated in this Downstream in order to receive the link to participate. We’ll have lots of photos and opportunities for you to ask questions.
Please mark your calendars now for September 9th as well. We will offer our planned program on plastics and their impact to the environment, and what you can do to help. It will also be offered virtually and will feature several videos to prime our discussion and thinking about this important issue in our watershed.
Stay healthy and safe. Stay engaged!
Jeff Mengler
FREP President
Photo by Ken Gortowski
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FREP Noon Network
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 Noon to 1:30 PM Via Zoom
Program: Winchester Glen in Carpentersville and The Natural Areas Assurance Program
Presenters: Dan Lobbes, Jennifer Hammer and Taylor Joray
of The Conservation Foundation
containing information about joining the webinar.
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The Conservation Foundation will present their Natural Areas Assurance Program showcasing the Winchester Glen Subdivision in Carpentersville. The program protects and manages 122 acres of natural areas and naturalized stormwater detention through a combination of conservation easement and Homeowners Association funded ecological management.
Dan Lobbes, Jennifer Hammer and Taylor Joray from The Conservation Foundation will share their experiences with getting the program setup through the ACOE permitting process and lessons learned over the last 13 years.
We hope you will join us for this Zoom Noon Network.
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Upcoming:
FREP Membership Meeting & Program
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 1 PM Via Zoom
Program: Plastics in our Watershed - including excerpts from a number of related videos from National Geographic & PBS
Presented by: Jennifer Jarland, Kane County Recycling Coordinator
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FREP Membership & Annual Dues
Current members should have received their annual dues statements by mail.
We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to all who have already sent in their dues.
We are listing our latest 2020-21 paid members here, and also have them posted on the:
Membership can be initiated or renewed online and dues paid via PayPal at:
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2020-21 Dues Paid for these members
(as of 8/3/20):
Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD
Edgewater by Del Webb Community Association
Forest Preserve Dist. of Kendall County
Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation District
Lake County Forest Preserve District
Oswegoland Park District
Pizzo Native Plant Nursery
The Conservation Foundation
Village of Millbrook
Village of Round Lake
Friends:
Paul Anderson
Dr. Thomas Berres
Nancy A. Cox
Bill Donnell
Laura Stuart
Kathleen Hamill & Teece Bowman
Julie Long
Edith McDonald
Jason Pettit
Jack Shouba
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Indian Creek Watershed-based Planning |
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August 2020 Update
Preparation of the watershed resource inventory (WRI) is ongoing. CMAP is documenting existing conditions in the watershed including local governments and districts, population and demographics, physical and natural resources, land use and land cover, water quality, pollutant sources, and land and water management practices. To provide the pollutant load modeling requirement of the WRI, thanks to support from the Fox River Study Group (FRSG), CMAP subcontracted with Geosyntec to update and apply the FRSG’s Fox River Watershed HSPF (Hydrological Simulation Program – Fortran) model to the Indian Creek watershed. Geosyntec is currently updating the model with the latest land use, topography, soils, and storm water drainage data for the planning area. A draft WRI is due to Illinois EPA at the end of August, with a final WRI due at the end of November.
Public engagement activities will be planned following the completion of the draft WRI to gain additional insights into watershed conditions and learn about opportunities for water quality and habitat protection and restoration in the watershed.
For project updates, documents, maps, photos, and announcements, please visit https://foxriverecosystem.org/fox/indian-creek. If you would like to be added to the contact list for Indian Creek Watershed-based Planning news and events, or have any questions about the project, please contact Holly Hudson at CMAP:
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Other Subwatersheds News:
Lots of great information in the Flint Creek/Spring Creek newsletter sent out 7/30/20:
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FREP has joined with the Southeast Wisconsin Fox River Partnership and the Village of Waterford, Wisconsin, to pursue the designation of all or portions of the Fox River in Wisconsin and Illinois as a National Water Trail through the National Park Services' National Water Trail System. Technical assistance from the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program has been awarded and planning is now proceeding.
The Core Development Team (CDT) of the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail has not met recently, but work continues! Karen Miller, Illinois co-chair, has been working with Kane County staff from the Development Department, Department of Transportation and the Forest Preserve District on a series of five articles in Kane County Connects to encourage recreation on the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail and the land- based trails as well as patronizing local businesses. Portions of these articles were also published in the
You can find the articles by following these links:
The newest article:
Karen is also developing a series of itineraries for the Illinois portion of the Fox River. Itineraries for Wisconsin can be found at: Itineraries
Sigrid Pilgrim is updating the list of entities that rent canoes and/or kayaks.
The Coronavirus pandemic has eliminated, hopefully temporarily, tourism funding to pay for the printing and distribution of FF!WT brochures this paddling season. Karen does have some brochures. If you would like brochures please contact her at millerkaren@co.kane.il.us.
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Other Watershed News & Activities |
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Fox Valley Sustainability Network Webinar
Thursday, August 6, 11 AM to 12 Noon
Building a Local, Resilient and Equitable Food System
Friends of the Fox River sponsors Fox River Fridays on Facebook
Toast the week's end as you sit back, chill, and learn fun facts about our river (and FOFR)
Friday, August 7: Meet The Fox River - A Virtual Tour!
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The Fox River Study Group (FRSG) is funding a water quality study this summer upstream of the dam in Carpentersville. The white floats with blue stripes are part of a program to document river water and biological quality prior to the scheduled removal of the Carpenter Dam in 2021. Please avoid and do not disturb the buoys.
Readings are being taken of the levels of oxygen, algae, salts, and nutrients in the river as well as the river water's temperature and pH.
The study runs through October of this year and will be repeated after the dam is removed to document changes in river conditions.
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Another study is underway downstream of the Stratton Dam in McHenry. At that location USGS is conducting the study for the FRSG, and the data are reported continuously online. This study began in 2018 and is collecting data during the six-month growing season through 2021. The aim of the USGS study is to understand the quality of the water at the upstream boundary of the length of the river which the Fox River Study Group is studying. The group's study area runs from below the Stratton Dam to the mouth of the Fox River in Ottawa. View the USGS data to get a sense of the data being collected at both study sites.
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Becky Hoag, Communications Manager
Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
Please email Becky if you have an email to add to our mailing list or content to add to the next monthly Downstream.
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