Thank you to everyone who submitted watershed news for this e-News issue.

Sue Bennett, Communications Committee Chair
815-356-6605 - sbennett@friendsofthefoxriver.org

• Successful passage of open space referenda can preserve nearly 10,000 acres throughout the Fox River watershed. Vote 'Yes' on April 17! See links below for info on each referendum.
  Kendall County     McHenry County     Kane County      Nunda Township     Village of Lake Barrington
• Report on Condition of Streams and Other Aquatic Resources in Kane County Forest Preserve Parcels, released Feb. 7, 2007, Dr. R. Edward DeWalt, Illinois Natural History Survey, Campaign, IL Full Report
• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) announces 2007 Household Hazardous Waste Recycling dates/locations (Note - Recycling date/location for Fox River Watershed: May 19, 8:00AM-3:00PM, Kane County Fairgrounds) Dates & Locations   List of Acceptable/Unacceptable Wastes
• Updated (Feb. 2007) Northeastern Illinois Water Trails Map now available. Call Openlands at 312-863-6253 for copies. Visit Openlands web site for original version (Jan. 2004) of map.
• Recent Chicago Wilderness Reports:
  Water: The Quality Test - Is our water clean? What does "clean" mean? Improving water quality is a complex and urgent goal. Report
  Water: Demand & Supply - The water supply of the Chicago region is not infinite. How can we preserve this vital natural resource? Report
• New conservation books by Fox River watershed authors:
  Challenges: A Trip to Remember, by David Rigby (Friends of the Fox River Monitor), Johnsburg, IL
  Design Your Natural Midwest Garden, by Patricia Hill, Elgin, IL

Workshops/Events back to top

April

• April 13 & 14 (Fri. & Sat.) - Stream Monitoring Training - Learn how to monitor the water quality of the Fox River or one of its tributaries. Join Friends of the Fox River's Monitoring Network and help Friends of the Fox River keep a watchful eye on water quality within our watershed. Time: 9:30AM-2:30PM; Location: Prairieview Education Center, Crystal Lake (both days); Fee: None. more info/additional workshops
• April 14 (Sat.) - Schoolyard Habitat Development Workshop (for educators) sponsored by IDNR's ENTICE program. Time: TBA; Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia; Fee: $10. more info
• April 21 (Sat.) - Sierra Club-Valley of the Fox Group's Fox River Rescue Cleanup in Aurora. see description below
• April 21 (Sat.) - City of Batavia's Enviro Expo 2007 - Free event showcasing ideas about conserving energy, water and resources. Over 55 exhibitors will demonstrate conservation ideas and products. Time: 10:00AM-4:00PM; Location: Batavia City Hall, Batavia; Fee: None. more info
• April 21 (Sat.) - Earth Day Celebration - Join the McHenry County Conservation District and the McHenry County Defenders in an Earth Day Celebration for the whole family. Indoor/outdoor, rain or shine event features music, storytelling, nature walks, environmental exhibits, and more. Time: 11:00AM-4PM; Location: Prairieview Education Center, Crystal Lake; Fee: None. more info (see page 15 of link)
• April 28 (Sat.) - 'Meet the Macros' Workshop - Great workshop for stream monitors, fishermen, and anyone interested in stream ecology. This workshop will be part refresher and a whole lot of getting up close to the benthic macroinvertebrates of the watersheds of McHenry County. Restoration Ecologist John Aavang will lead us on an armchair/electronic tour that will hone aquatic macroinvertebrate identification skills and review their adaptations. Time will also be spent in a stream sampling macroinvertebrates. Time: 1:00-4:00 PM; Location: Glacial Park, Conference Center/The Lodge, McHenry; Fee: None. To register: Contact Mary Kozub, McHenry County Conservation District at 815-479-5779 or mkozub@mccdistrict.org. more info

May

• May 4 (Fri.) - Fox River Watershed Monitoring Network Student Conference (for middle & high school teachers & their students). - This one-day conference will feature a fish census (electroshocking) demonstration and hands-on water quality monitoring and GPS tracking/GIS mapping activities. Time: 8:00AM-1:00PM; Location: LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, St. Charles; Fee: $20/school. For more info and to sign up, call Gary Swick at 847-426-1322 or gary.swick@d300.org. more info
• May 9 (Wed.) - Stream Monitoring Training - Learn how to monitor the water quality of the Fox River or one of its tributaries. Join Friends of the Fox River's Monitoring Network and help Friends of the Fox River keep a watchful eye on water quality within our watershed. Time: 4:00-7:00PM; Location: Red Oak Nature Center, North Aurora; Fee: None. more info/additional workshops
• May 13 (Sun.) - Fox River Watershed Monitoring Network 'Monitor With Your Mother' Event - Family event on Mother's Day features conservation-focused educational activities & demonstrations, canoe & kayak paddling, food & music - all free. Time: 10:00AM-2:00PM; Location: Fox River Shores Forest Preserve, Carpentersville; Fee: None. For more info, contact Gary Swick at 847-426-1322 or swick@mc.net. more info
• May 16 (Wed.) - Birding by Boat - Join world traveler and bird watcher Jack Pomatto on a bird watching trip on the Fox River. Board the paddle boat at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles and cruise for waterfowl, shorebirds and spring migrants. Bring binoculars. Time: 5:30-8:00PM; Location: Pottawatomie Park, St. Charles; Fee: $15. Program #595. For more info, call 630-584-1885. For registration info, call 630-513-6200. more info
• May 19 (Sat.) - Friends of the Fox River's Spring Fox River Rescue - To date, cleanup events have been set up in Aurora, Algonquin, Batavia, Carpentersville, Elgin, Geneva, Montgomery and Oswego. see details below
• May 19 (Sat.) - IEPA Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Time: 8:00AM-3:00PM; Location: Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles; Fee: None. (Sponsored by IEPA, Co-sponsored by Kane County Department of Environmental Health.) Other Dates/Locations    Recyclable Items
• May 24 (Thurs.) - Stream Monitoring Training - Learn how to monitor the water quality of the Fox River or one of its tributaries. Join Friends of the Fox River's Monitoring Network and help Friends of the Fox River keep a watchful eye on water quality within our watershed. Time: 4:00-7:00PM; Location: Old Kendall County Courthouse, Yorkville; Fee: None. more info/additional workshops

April 21 (Sat.) - Aurora - Join Sierra Club Water Sentinels (Valley of the Fox Group) on Earth Day as they continue their annual Fox River Cleanup along the Fox River from 9:00AM-Noon in Aurora. To volunteer, contact Cindy Skrukrud at 815-675-2594, cindy.skrukrud@sierraclub.org or Jen Hensley at 312-251-1680x3, jennifer.hensley@sierraclub.org. more info