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FREP programs are free and open to the public
Reservations are not required, unless so stated
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Welcoming in the new year 2024
What can we do in 2024 for our Fox River Watershed?
Join us for our programs this year to see.
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024
FREP Annual Meeting, Election of Officers & Program
1-2:30 PM
Location: The Centre, Ballroom, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin
Parking in public lot across street at Kimball & Grove Ave.
The Ballroom is at west end of building/ground level
Program: How to Find Funds for your Watershed Projects
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Panel/Speakers:
Jeff Edstrom, Team Leader, Environmental Protection Specialist, Nonpoint Source Unit, Watershed Management Section, Bureau of Water,
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Nancy Williamson, Friends of Hackmatack, Former IDNR Grants Administrator
Michele Zimmerman, Assistant Public Works Director, Village of Algonquin
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Learn about state, federal, and private dollars that may be available. Bring your ideas and questions for our panel.
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FREP Executive Committee will meet at 11 AM
Slate of Officers for Annual Election:
Jeff Mengler, President
Nancy Williamson, Vice President
Lucas King, Secretary
Sue Glavan & Eva Kiss, Co-Treasurers
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If you are interested in serving as a FREP Executive Committee officer or have a nomination for an office, please email
[email protected]
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Fun was had at our Annual Holiday Gathering on December 12th!
Nighttime hike at Campton Township's Grey Willows Farm,
good food & fellowship followed.
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President's Message from Jeff | |
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I want to thank everyone who got their 23/24 membership dues paid and/or made a special donation to FREP in 2023. The vast majority of FREP’s funding comes from these donations and membership dues and we are very appreciative to all who contributed. We’ve had our best year of donations/dues which gives us a strong base for moving into our new 2024 program year.
As I explained in my last message, we are changing the timing and format of our meetings a bit in 2024. After the January 10, 2024 annual meeting which begins at 1pm, all programs will start at noon. They will be in our Noon Network format. We hope this will enable more of you to participate.
January 10, 2024 will be our annual membership meeting with elections for FREP officers. Our program will be on funding sources for your watershed projects. This will include learning about state, federal, and private dollars that may be available. Bring your ideas and questions for our panel.
Then in February, we will go virtual to save on winter travel risks, and learn about the bats of the Fox River valley. Invite your friends and colleagues to this program by Tara Hohoff, Project Coordinator for the Illinois Bat Conservation Program. RSVP to [email protected] to receive the Zoom link.
Finally, plan ahead for our 12th annual Fox River Summit on Thursday, March 14th at Veterans Terrace in Burlington, Wisconsin. The registration link is live at Southeast Fox River Partnership, where more details will be posted as the program is confirmed. Topics will include the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail, accessibility for paddlers, water quality, keeping salt out of our river, beaver management, and more.
Let’s have a great 2024 as stewards of our watershed.
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Jeff Mengler
FREP President
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Tara Hohoff is a bat biologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey. Tara co-leads the Illinois Bat Conservation Program which conducts statewide bat surveys using an array of techniques including mist netting, acoustics, emergence counts and genetic sampling. All About Bats of Illinois will cover the local species and some of their relevant life history information.
The research goals and sampling strategies used by the Illinois Bat Conservation Program will be discussed as well as how landowners and managers can best help to conserve bats.
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Mark your calendar for our upcoming Summit in Burlington, Wisconsin:
Thursday, March 14, 2024
program details coming in future Downstreams
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Watch for news of FREP
co-sponsoring a virtual screening for the One Earth Film Festival
in March
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If you visited the FREP website in the past couple of weeks and saw that our upcoming programs were on Thursdays, those were errors. Just the Summit is scheduled for a Thursday. Our regular programs are on the 2nd WEDNESDAY of the month. My apologies for the errors. They have been corrected!
Becky
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FREP Membership - FY 2023-24 7/1/23 - 6/30/24 | |
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We greatly appreciate all who have responded to the renewal statements.
With new members and donations, FREP has surpassed the number
and dollar amount received last year.
This is fantastic!
If you aren't on our 2023-24 Membership Roll, we hope you will respond and renew, or join. Please help us make FY24 the best ever!
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Membership can be initiated or renewed online and dues paid via PayPal at: FREP Membership Form.
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Fox River Subwatershed News: | |
Indian Creek Watershed-based Plan | |
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A final draft of the Indian Creek Watershed-based Plan and an executive summary was submitted to Illinois EPA. We will be posting the final, approved documents on the Indian Creek webpage on the FREP website as soon as they are available.
Thanks to all who have participated in making this plan possible.
If you have any questions about the project, or would like to discuss plan implementation ideas and opportunities, please contact Holly Hudson at CMAP: [email protected] or 312-386-8700.
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It's official -- The Fabulous Fox! Water Trail - is now a National Park Service Water Trail
After several years of dedication by the Core Development Team to make this possible, the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail has been designated a new recreational water trail by the National Park Service's National Trail System.
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As we approach the New Year, still on a high from the designation on June 3rd, Kane County is excited to announce contracting with Hey & Associates to assist with the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail Access Infrastructure Project. Work with Hey & Associates will include outreach, data gathering, feasibility and prioritization of potential access site improvements along the Fox River in Kane County utilizing “Universal Design Guidelines.” Suitability factors to be used for site identification and prioritization will include:
- Public owner interest and involvement
- Functionality of current access facilities including accessibility constraints
- Permitting complexities
- Proximity to important supportive services for visitors
- Proximity/connectivity with other historical/ecological/cultural and/or recreational features
- Estimated construction cost
- Long-term costs of maintaining the proposed site access infrastructure
Funding for the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail Access Infrastructure Project is provided by the Kane County American Rescue Plan Fund and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Engineering Design, Permitting, Bidding and Construction of the potential access site improvements will be determined once the first phases of the Project are complete.
Waukesha County, Wisconsin is looking forward to constructing accessible improvements and a fishing pier at Fox River Park.
The FF!WT Core Development Team continues to meet monthly. Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 4th at 1:00 PM via Microsoft Teams. All are welcome. Please reach out to Tom Slawski for an invite. [email protected]
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If you would like more information or learn how to get involved, please contact
Karen Ann Miller at: [email protected].
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Now Posted: Presentation from November 8, 2023
Program: Equity in Nature Access and Environmental Justice
Presenters: Alison Paul and Kyla Muhammad, The Conservation Foundation
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November 10, 2021 FREP Presentation by Art Malm:
Freeing Our Fox! - a discussion of dams on the Fox River in Illinois
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21st Annual Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
8 AM - 1 PM $35 Elgin Community College
Topic: Dewatering. Serious Stuff.
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You can be a Watershed Warrior
A documentary called "Watershed Warriors," produced by RiversAreLife (RaL), offers an intimate look into the profound impact of FOTFR's mission of protecting, preserving, and restoring the Fox River watershed. Watershed Warriors embody the spirit of FOTFR. The film showcases the efforts of FOTFR President Gary Swick and FOTFR Education Operations Director Jenni Kempf, who both exemplify a commitment to the river's well-being.
The film highlights their journey as they tirelessly work to protect the Fox River and its watershed, making it a must-watch for all who share their passion. It's because of those who share their passion that participation in the event has grown every year. "It is exciting to see the growing and widespread support for It's Our Fox River Day," shared Gary Swick, President of Friends of the Fox River. "We extend an invitation to all who are passionate about the river to sign up and be a part of this extraordinary day of appreciation and stewardship."
FOTFR invites everyone to also experience RaL’s compelling Watershed Warriors film, which offers an illuminating perspective on the organization's mission. The film can be viewed at https://youtu.be/0GEAAvrEdzE.
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Community Recycling Information | | | |
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Becky Hoag, Communications Manager
Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
[email protected]
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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