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Thursday, December 1, 2011
Greetings
from FREP! |
| Please visit our
Website
for additional information and updates on activities shared in
this newsletter |
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| FREP ACTIVITIES |
| December Activity |
Since our regular Noon
Network date is so close to
Christmas, we are instead
encouraging you to visit a local Green Drinks
event. These are local groups
that meet monthly to network about environmental issues.
To learn more about Green Drinks -- visit these
websites:
Green Drinks International
Green Drinks Illinois
The following links are to groups in or near our
watershed. See the December date for McHenry
County at the right. Some of the others may not
be as active and have not listed a December
date. But we encourage you to watch for a date
and visit one close to you in the near future,
we know you'll enjoy it.
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McHenry County Green
Drinks
Wednesday, Dec. 7 5-7 PM
Duke's Alehouse & Kitchen
110 N. Main St., Crystal Lake |
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| FREP Membership Meeting |
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 1 PM
Annual Meeting & Election of
Officers
Program:
Grant Writing 101
Presenter:
Nancy Schumm,
Schumm Consulting
Location:
Algonquin Village Hall,
2200 Harnish Drive, Algonquin
The program on grantwriting should be helpful to our
members, especially those who will be pursuing a
grant from IEPA 319, which is the focus of our Feb. 15
Noon Network
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:
For this January meeting we will have the annual
election of officers. The open offices are: President,
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. If you are
interested in filling one of these positions or would
like to nominate someone, please email
foxriverinfo@comcast.net
This will be passed on to Karen Miller, past president,
who is the nominations chair. Our current list of
officers and more information about FREP can be found
HERE |
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February FREP Noon Network to focus on new Illinois EPA 319 Fox
Watershed Grant Package for FY13 |
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Noon - 1:30
PM
Program:
Illinios EPA 319 Grant Workshop
Presenters: Holly Hudson, Chicago
Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)
Deanna Doohalk, Hey & Associates and FREP Water Resources
Committee Chair
Location: James
"Pate" Philip State Park Auditorium
Hosted by Bartlett Park District
2054 W. Stearns Rd., Bartlett 60103
Please note that some GPS systems get
this location wrong, it is located WEST of Rt. 59 and EAST of
Dunham Rd. & Rt. 25
FREP will be offering assistance in preparing a package of grant
proposals for the Fox River watershed for the IEPA 319 Grant
Program. This will be a workshop to help those who are
interested in submitting a proposal.
More details will be posted soon on our
319 Grant Page
Come to our Grant Writing 101 program in January to learn or
refresh your knowledge of the basics, and then come to this
February program to learn about the opportunities and guidelines
of a 319 Grant. |
FREP members, potential members, and the general public
are welcome to attend the FREP Noon Networks and meetings and programs.
Learn more
about activities in the watershed and network with others.
FREP Meeting Minutes can be found
HERE.
Program
Presentations Online: Many past Noon
Network and meeting program presentations can be found in pdf form on the FREP Website
HERE. |
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FREP's Annual Membership Drive -- Call for those who haven't yet
responded |
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FREP hopes to wrap up our annual membership drive and collection
of dues to support the activities of the
partnership. Dues statements were sent in September to exisiting
members, with a response requested by November 15. |
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THANK YOU to all who have
responded to our annual membership drive. New this year, we are
posting our renewing and new members on the
FREP Membership 2011-12 Roll on our website, and share the
current list with you here.
There are links for those members who
have websites. |
If you did not receive a statement in the mail, and/or are new
to FREP membership, please visit our members' page for more
information:
FREP Members Page Members of the Executive
Committee will be making follow-ups to encourage support of
those who have not yet responded. We hope you will support FREP
with your membership.
NEW this year: Pay your FREP
Membership Dues online via PayPal.
Start with the Online Membership Form
HERE,
and after completing the form, you will be taken to the PayPal
payment link.
DONATIONS: As a 501c3, FREP is also
able to accept tax deductible donations. We appreciate any
additional funds that are contributed to the partnership.
The online
FREP Membership Form includes a place to indiciate donations
and they can be paid via PayPal. |
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FREP
Membership Roll, to date, for 2011-12 |
Michael Ander, Friend,
Sleepy Hollow
Paul Anderson, Friend, Geneva
Matt Bardol,
Geosyntec Consultants
Barrington Area Conservation Trust
Barrington Area Council of Governments
Batavia Park District
Cardno ENTRIX
John Church, Friend, Oswego
City of Elgin
City of Geneva
Linda Cole, Friend, Aurora
The Conservation Foundation
Deuchler Environmental, Inc.
Dundee Township
Environmental Defenders of McHenry County
Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, Oswego
Fox River Water Reclamation District, Elgin
Fox Valley Park District, Aurora
Geneva Park District
Barbara Gore, Friend, Aurora
Ted Gray,
Living Waters Consultants
John Frerich, Friend, Batavia
Hey & Associates
Fred Houdek, Friend, Elburn
Holly Hudson, CMAP |
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Kane County Development/Community Services
Dept.
Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District
Kendall County Forest Preserve District
Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation
District
Lake County Forest Preserve
District
Lake in the Hills Sanitary District
Kerry Leigh, Village of Oakwood Hills
Rob Linke, Friend, St. Charles
McHenry County Conservation District
McHenry County Conservation Foundation
North Cook County Soil & Water Conservation
District
Oswegoland Park District
Jason Pettit, Friend, Aurora
Larry Rakunus, Friend, St. Charles
Nancy Schumm, Friend, Lake Barrington
Laura Stuart, Friend, Batavia
Tyler Creek Watershed Coalition
Village of Algonquin
Village of Fox River Grove
Village of Lake Barrington
Village of Millbrook
Village of Oakwood Hills
Village of Oswego
Village of Port Barrington
Village of Sleepy Hollow
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New Lower Fox River Land Conservation Planning - Conservation
Opportunity Area (COA) |
At our November FREP Membership Meeting we shared information
about the new project being coordinated by
The Conservation Foundation. This voluntary planning project
will concentrate on land areas along the Lower Fox River (LFR),
its tributaries and the LFR Conservation Opportunity Area (COA),
an area identified as having important conservation value in the
Illinois Wildlife Action Plan.
A strategic land conservation plan will be developed by a
diverse group of local stakeholders in Kendall and LaSalle
County, including private landowners, local municipalities,
counties, agencies, and other groups to help them determine
their priorities regarding natural resource protection. It may
also enable some to qualify for potential funding by complying
with the local and state plan.
What is the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan
(IL-WAP)? Each state is to develop a comprehensive
wildlife conservation plan as a part of federal funding. These
plans, developed with cooperation from conservation partners and
input from the public, will set a course for stewardship of all
wildlife species, with special attention given to species in
greatest need of conservation. More details about the Illinois
Wildlife Action Plan can be found
HERE and
HERE.
How is this project being funded?
The Lower Fox River planning process is funded through a grant
from the
Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to The
Conservation Foundation.
CLICK HERE to read the FAQs about the project.
The Conservation Foundation contacts for this project are:
Dan Lobbes, Director of Land Preservation and John Church,
Project Manager Ph. 630-553-0687 x304 |
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| Fox River Guide & Website |
The Citizen's Guide to
Preserving the Fox River is available at more than 100 distribution points along
the Fox River and in the watershed.
CLICK HERE to find out where you can pick
up your FREE copy.
You can also read the online version of The Citizen's Guide
on the website
HERE.
The companion website
preservethefox.org contains many pages
of information to help you learn about what people can do in
their homes and communities to help preserve and protect the beautiful
Fox.
This publication was produced by
The Conservation Foundation and the Fox River Ecosystem
Partnership.
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| Watershed Planning |
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After 18 months of work, this project is
wrapping up and the development of three new watershed plans.
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for
Planning (CMAP), as the delegated authority for the region’s
areawide water quality management plan, has an agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency (IEPA) to complete watershed-based plans within the
Fox River Basin for Blackberry Creek
and Ferson-Otter Creek watersheds (Lower Fox River, Kane and
Kendall counties) and in Sleepy Hollow Creek and Silver Creek
watersheds (Upper Fox River, McHenry County). Funding for these
projects was provided by the IEPA through Section 604(b) of the
Clean Water Act (CWA).
Read more about the project and information about each of the
three watersheds
HERE. |
| Watershed Planning Meeting Schedule:
Meetings are open to
the public, anyone interested is welcome to attend and participate. |
Blackberry Creek
Watershed Meeting
Tuesday, December 20, 2:00-4:00PM
Waubonsee Community College, Bodie Hall Room
150, 4S783 Illinois 47 Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Contact Tara Neff:
630-428-4500, Ext. 23
tneff@theconservationfoundation.org
Webpage
Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Meeting
Monday, December 19, 2:00-4:00 PM
Village of South Elgin
Municipal Annex,
1 West State Street, South Elgin, IL 60177
Contact Tara Neff:
630-428-4500, Ext. 23
tneff@theconservationfoundation.org
Webpage
Silver Creek & Sleepy Hollow Creek Watersheds Meeting
Tuesday, December 20, 1:30-3:30 PM
City of Crystal Lake, P105/106 Training Room,
100 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake
If you are interested in learning more about current efforts to
establish an ongoing community participation group to support
plan implementation and continue watershed planning efforts,
please Contact Lynn Rotunno at:
watershedinfo@mcdefenders.net or 815-338-0393.
Webpage
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| Additional Watershed Planning Groups |
There are other active watershed groups
involved with planning and implementation activities. Visit our
Subwatersheds page for more information or these specific
Websites/Webpages:
Tyler Creek Watershed
Meeting, Wednesday, December 21, 4:30 PM,
Judson University, Linder Tower, 2nd Floor Conference Room,
Elgin, IL
Jelkes Creek Watershed Meeting,
Thursday, February 2, 2012, 2-4 PM, Location TBA
Spring Creek Watershed is creating a plan.
Website |
| EPA Website that
should be helpful to all the planners:
Healthy Watersheds |
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| Other Activities & News of Interest |
| If you have an
activity or event you'd like FREP to share on
our Website or in the Downstream, please email
the information to Becky at:
foxriverinfo@comcast.net |
Saturday
April 5, 2012 |
Annual Northeastern
Illinois Envirothon
Danada House, Wheaton
Link to Details at KDSWCD |
Friday & Saturday
May 4 & 5, 2012 |
Elgin's Green Expo
-- Watershed Wanderings
A program designed to update
legislators, municipal boards and staff,
engineers, developers, and citizens
about the Fox River Watershed, its
threats, and proposed projects to
restore the watershed. |
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Job Opportunities |
Resource Ecologist
III
Job Description
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
Sustainable
Landscapes Coordinator
Job Description Deadline
12/9/11
Liberty Prairie Conservancy |
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Funding Opportunities |
USEPA Requests
Proposals for Urban Waters Small Grants
EPA will award at
least $1.8 million in funding for
projects across the country to help
restore urban waters by improving water
quality and supporting community
revitalization. The goal of the urban
waters small grants are to fund
research, studies, training, and
demonstration projects that will advance
the restoration of urban waters by
improving water quality through
activities that also support community
revitalization and other local
priorities such as public health, social
and economic opportunities, general
livability and environmental justice for
residents.
Examples of projects eligible for
funding include:
· Education and training for water
quality improvement or green
infrastructure jobs
· Public education about ways to reduce
water pollution
· Local water quality monitoring
programs
· Engaging diverse stakeholders to
develop local watershed plans
· Innovative projects that promote
local water quality and community
revitalization goals
Information about urban waters small
grants including the Request for
Proposal (RFP) and registration links
for the webinars is available at
http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/funding.
Questions can be submitted in writing
via e-mail to
urbanwaters@epa.gov and addressed to
Ji-Sun Yi, by January 16, 2012.
EPA expects to award the grants in
Summer 2012
SCALE Grant from
IEPA to support Stream Cleanups
It’s easy and with the SCALE grant from
IEPA, you can get funding for supplies!
Stream clean ups are a great way to get
your community involved and invested in
improving water quality. Pick a day,
get some people together, and pick up
some trash!
Details HERE
Illinois
Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program
Application deadline: January 31, 2012
The Illinois
Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program
provides funding for teachers to
organize field trips to visit the
natural wonders of Illinois. Teachers
may apply for up to $500 to be used for
transportation and substitute teacher
costs. Complete instructions and
application form are available
HERE.
The IEPA is accepting IGIG Program grant
proposals through December 15th, 2011
for the 2011 Illinois Green
Infrastructure Grant (IGIG) Program
For the
implementation of stormwater management
practices or techniques that help
preserve, restore, or recreate natural
hydrology. These green infrastructure
practices include things like
bioretention areas, bioswales, green
roofs, permeable pavement, and rainwater
harvesting systems.
Details
Grants from the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR) Division of Education
The IDNR Division of Education is
working in partnership with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for
Fish and Wildlife Program and the
Illinois Conservation Foundation to
expand the Schoolyard Habitat Action
Grant program. The maximum available
funds per Schoolyard Habitat Action
Grant application increased to $1,000!
The Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant
program provides funds to establish or
enhance wildlife habitat on the school
grounds or other public place and is
available to teachers, youth group
leaders and nature center personnel.
Butterfly gardens, rain gardens, prairie
plots and wetlands are just some of the
projects that qualify.
Click
HERE
for details
Deadlines in November & January
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Becky
Hoag,
Communications Manager, Fox River Ecosystem Partnership
630-482-9157
foxriverinfo@comcast.net Please
Email me if you have an Email to add to our mailing list.
FREP WEBSITE:
foxriverecosystem.org
This newsletter is posted on the FREP Website on the
Downstream Newsletter Archives Page |
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