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FREP programs are free and open to the public
Reservations are not required
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Wednesday, April 10, 2024
FREP NOON NETWORK; Noon - 1:30 PM
Location: Meadowhawk Lodge at Hoover Forest Preserve;
11285 Fox Road, Yorkville;
Hosted by Forest Preserve Dist. of Kendall County
Program:
Fishes of the Fox River, latest survey results, distribution, trends
By: Tristan Widloe – IDNR Region 2 streams biologist
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Tristan grew up in Shorewood, next to a tributary of the DuPage River. Between exploring the creek for years as a kid bringing home turtles, snakes and crayfish and dozens of family trips to northern Wisconsin, he has always been fascinated by aquatic ecosystems. After spending most of his twenties living and working in Chicago, Tristan had an early midlife crisis, quit his job in insurance accounting and went to grad school at Western Illinois University. There he obtained a master’s degree in biology with an emphasis in aquatic ecology, conducting his thesis research on the Mississippi River. Immediately after his time at WIU, Tristan worked as a biologist for a consulting firm in Aurora where he monitored fish populations in the Fox River for Fox Metro Water Reclamation District. After a couple of years in consulting, Tristan accepted a biologist position with IDNR Division of Fisheries in 2011. His first position with IDNR was with the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Program, monitoring and harvesting Invasive Carp from the Upper Illinois River and Chicago Area Waterway System. In 2018, he left the ANS Program and took his current position as the IDNR River and Streams Biologist for northeastern Illinois, working alongside his mentor, friend, and now semi-retired, Steve Pescitelli. Tristan lives in unincorporated Plano with his wife, Amanda, and their dog and cat, Fergus, and Ophelia.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources conducts fish surveys on the Fox River and tributaries on a five-year rotation, with the last such survey occurring in 2022. More than 41,000 fish of 76 species were collected from 41 sites. The average Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) score for sites on the Fox River was 41. IBI is a means of rating a river or stream segment based on the characteristics of the fish community present, scores range from 0 to 60; 60 indicating an excellent aquatic resource.
Going back to 1996, IBI scores for the Fox River have been steady, with average scores ranging from 38-42. Fox River IBI scores have been historically higher in the lower, undammed portions of the river when compared to the upper river with its multitude of dams. Over the years, dams have been removed from various tributaries of the Fox River. Pre- and post-dam removal fish surveys have been conducted on Ferson, Brewster and Blackberry creeks. Increases in the total number of fish, species richness and IBI scores were observed across all dam removals. Increases in IBI were both biologically meaningful and statistically significant. Similar results were observed from two dam removal surveys in the Des Plaines River watershed.
These findings illustrate the importance of dam removal to improve habitat, water quality and connectivity, thereby restoring natural stream conditions and allowing fish to move freely throughout the waterway.
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FREP Executive Committee will meet at 10 AM prior to the program | |
President's Message from Jeff | |
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Our 12th annual Fox River Summit is already behind us. It is hard to believe that we’ve already done 12 of these Summits, through the pandemic and all. With about 150 people in attendance and a strong program this was hopefully our best yet. Let us know any ideas you have for next year’s Summit and any feedback on how to keep making them better, and useful to you.
Next up is our 8th time participating in the One Earth Film Festival. We have chosen to sponsor and “host” a virtual only screening this year. Please see the announcement in this Downstream and on our web page for more details. View the film from the comfort of your couch or easy chair, but please plan to join us for this annual event that is meant to inspire.
And finally, we will also have our own FREP Noon Network program at Noon on April 10, 2024. Please come on down to the Kendall County part of our watershed and join us at the beautiful Meadowhawk Lodge in Hoover Forest Preserve (former scout camp along the Fox River just west of Yorkville). Our program will be by Tristan Widloe – who is kind of the new Steve Pescitelli. Steve is semi-retired but is still around and has mentored Tristan. Wear your FREP t-shirt with the Pescitelli quote on the back for old-times sake, and maybe Tristan will come up with a new quote for us!
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Jeff Mengler
FREP President
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Wednesday, May 8, 2024
FREP NOON NETWORK; Noon - 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at parking lot for Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve on east side of IL Route 31 just north of St Charles
Program: Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve Restoration
Recent large-scale effort to reclaim this natural area from cattail and brush invasion.
By: Ryan Soloman, St Charles Park District
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Wednesday, June 12, 2024
FREP NOON NETWORK; Noon - 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at street parking area just east of 1450 White Chapel Lane, Algonquin
Program: Dixie Creek restoration highlights
By: Brad Andresen, Ecologist/Horticulturist, Village of Algonquin
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FREP Membership --- FY 2023-24 --- 7/1/23 - 6/30/24 | |
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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 Starting 4/1/24 -- with our Early Bird Membership - join or renew and your membership is good through FY2024-25
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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: | |
Funding Opportunities from Illinois EPA | |
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Illinois EPA Offers Two Funding Opportunities for Watershed Management Projects to Address Nonpoint Source Pollution $4.75 Million in Funding Available Through Section 319(h) Grant Program
LINK to Press Release with details
There are two applications – one (solely) for watershed-based plan development and update, the second is for watershed-based plan implementation and other NPS pollution control activities. Both NOFOs are now in the GATA Portal and applications may only be submitted through the Portal.
Applications for the Section 319(h) Grant program will be accepted March 13, 2024 through 12:00 PM (CST) on May 1, 2024.
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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: hhudson@cmap.illinois.gov 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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The designation of the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail was celebrated at the annual Fox River Summit on March 14th. Karen Miller and Kane County staff are working with marketing consultant, Kim Gilmore, to implement a marketing plan for the Fabulous Fox! Water Trail. A branding and style guide will be available soon to those who would like to promote their projects, events or access as part of the FF!WT. Anyone who would like the guide and/or brochures, please contact Karen Miller.
Hey & Associates has been interviewing landowners along the Fox River in Kane County who are interested in making improvements to or adding non-motorized access sites. This information will be used to prioritize projects that may be funded through Kane County’s American Rescue Plan funding.
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If you would like more information or learn how to get involved, please contact
Karen Ann Miller at: millerkaren@co.kane.il.us.
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Presentations from January 10, 2024
Program: How to Find Funds for your Watershed Projects
Presenters:
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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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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Read their update of the story about bald eagles nesting on the Fox LINK | |
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Recent Message from: Murphy Westwood, PhD
Vice President of Science and Conservation, The Morton Arboretum
Zach Wirtz has been selected as the next Director of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative, effective April 1. Zach succeeds Lydia Scott, who led CRTI for the past 10 years and retired in late 2023.
Zach has been an integral part of the CRTI team, managing community-based programs since March 2021. He has been leading and developing innovative programs such as the Chicago Region Carbon Program, capacity building and training for public landowners, and the tree ordinance builders and advocacy hub. Zach has led the sub-grant process of the Arboretum’s $23 million in Inflation Reduction Act funding from the U.S. Forest Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which will bring significant federal funding to local communities. I invite you to read the full announcement to learn more about his background.
It is a momentous time for CRTI in its 10th year, with increased funding for exponential impact, and now with Zach’s leadership. He is an innovative leader who will bring together CRTI’s diverse stakeholders to create a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.
In addition, Melissa Custic is completing her service as interim CRTI leader and taking a position as Education Manager at the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, a longtime partner of CRTI. Melissa’s 10 years with the CRTI team have been crucial to the success and growth of the program. We thank her for her service and look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role.
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Community Recycling Information | | | |
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Becky Hoag, Communications Manager
Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
info@foxriverecosystem.org
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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