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“If the success or failure of this planet and of human beings depended on how I am and what I do . . .
How would I be? What would I do?” ~R. Buckminister Fuller
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News and Campaigns |
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Last year, we were very concerned when 112 acres of farmland on the north side of the bike path near the Dome went up for sale for development. A huge sign was placed near the Dome promising at least 50 elite homes. The land hugs Kinnikinnick Creek and is home to many birds and animals. Building homes there would seriously compromise the quality of the water and remove the wildlife from the area. Moreover, we were deeply concerned that the little gravel drive that is access to the farm field, as well as our two neighbor’s homes and our own would become a busy thoroughfare for the neighborhood. We called the Natural Land Institute to tell them about this land and were happy to hear that they already had their eyes on it. But, it was an uphill battle. The land was overpriced for development and it was unclear whether the NLI would receive grant money for the land and whether or not that would be enough. Being environmental activists, we aren’t used to hearing good news. However, we are ecstatic to announce that this land will be preserved and restored! The plot consisted of two parcels owned by Roscoe Township and the majority owned by Rubloff Construction Co. The Natural Land Institute and the Winnebago County Forest Preserve used grant money to pay $750,000. Roscoe Township added $12,000. In addition, the village will reduce the parkland dedication fees for Rubloff’s development on Mc Curry Road. The Natural Land Institute is planning many restoration workshops and seed collecting for children and adults in the upcoming year. We are excited to be involved in efforts to restore this land that has been damaged by conventional agriculture.
If you would like to donate money to the Natural Land Institute to support projects like these and become a member, visit their website. For volunteer opportunities, click here. |
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In Memory of Bo who loved the creek |
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Old Stone Bridge on Kinnikinnick Creek |
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE! |
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Did you know the wild buffalo of Yellowstone are being slaughtered each day?
Buffalo Field Campaign’s Mission- To stop the slaughter of Yellowstone’s wild buffalo herd, protect the natural habitat of wild free-roaming buffalo and native wildlife, and to work with people of all Nations to honor the sacredness of the wild buffalo.
Visit the Buffalo Field Campaign’s website to find out more about the plight of the buffalo and what you can do to help! |
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America's wolves need our help! America's wolves were nearly eradicated in the 20th century. Now, after a remarkable recovery in parts of the country, wolves are once more threatened. · In the Northern Rockies… the federal government has put forth a proposal that could lead to the slaughter of hundreds of wolves in Idaho and Wyoming. Even Yellowstone wolves could be shot on site if they wander outside the park's boundaries! · In Alaska… state officials continue to allow airborne gunners to kill hundreds of wolves. Easy targets against the snow, hundreds of wolves have been shot from above or chased to exhaustion and then killed by aerial gunners who land and execute them at point-blank range. · In the Southwest… misinformation and anti-wolf sentiment runs high, with wolf recovery in Arizona and New Mexico limited to a defined area if the wolves set up territories elsewhere, they are captured and returned.
Taken from Defenders of Wildlife Visit savewolves.org for information on how to help the wolves! |
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A Forgotten Midwestern Landscape
Burr Oak groves, or oak savanna, once covered millions of acres of land in the Midwest. It is now among the rarest and most threatened of plant communities on earth. These groves teemed with birds and other wildlife, and possessed a natural beauty that fascinated early explorers who crossed northern Illinois.
The oak groves on the edge of the open prairie attracted the first settlers to the area. They cleared the land and cut the trees for lumber and firewood.
However they missed a spot!
A tiny remnant of an original oak grove is found in a corner of the 60 acres of land the Natural Land Institute recently acquired on the Kinnikinnick Creek east of Roscoe, Illinois.
With your help, we will be able to restore the native oaks and prairie and recreate a forgotten Midwestern landscape— a Burr Oak Grove. |
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NO INDUSTRIAL ZONING ALONG THE KISHWAUKEE RIVER!
OBJECTIVE: Preserve and protect the quality of the Kishwaukee River for the economic and environmental sustainability of the community and the health and welfare of future generations.
STEP 1. Remove acreage designated as commercial and industrial because increasing impervious surfaces causes more runoff, erosion, flooding and pollution that will damage the watershed. Set the area aside as a conservation/agricultural/existing rural residential/ protection area. STEP 2. Relocate the acreage designated commercial and industrial to West State, South and North Main, Kishwaukee, and 11th streets within the City of Rockford. STEP 3. Make the River Corridor Protection Overlay consist of a 1-mile buffer zone centered on all rivers, to include a county-wide and all municipalities ordinance banning construction in flood plains and hydric soils adjacent to rivers. STEP 4. Adopt stringent and consistent storm water management ordinances in the county and all municipalities to preserve water quality. STEP 5. Require any acreage developed for industrial to be designed according to conservation design principles. STEP 6. Require ordinances for roadway construction and design that protect and enhance the quality of the watershed and river. STEP 7. Adopt the Kishwaukee River Watershed Strategic Plan for Habitat Conservation and Restoration STEP 8. Promote eco-tourism.
Please phone the mayor and the aldermen this week and tell them you want the Kishwaukee River protected, NOT zoned industrial!
MAYOR LARRY MORRISEY’S OFFICE: (815) 987-5590, Lawrence.Morrissey@rockfordil.gov CITY OF ROCKFORD ALDERMEN: First Ward: Joe Sosnowski (R) 815-739-0772 (mobile) Joe.Sosnowski@rockfordil.gov Second Ward: Patrick Curran (R) 815-398-7504 (home) Pat.Curran@rockfordil.gov Third Ward: Douglas Mark (R) 815-962-2058 (home) Douglas.Mark@rockfordil.gov Fourth Ward: Carl R. Wasco (D) 815-282-1635 (home), 815-639-3727 (work) Carl.Wasco@rockfordil.gov Fifth Ward: Victory Bell (D) 815-963-1075 (home) Victory.Bell@rockfordil.gov Sixth Ward: Leonard J. Jacobson (D) 815-874-9299 (home) Leonard.Jacobson@rockfordil.gov Seventh Ward: Ann Thompson-Kelly (D) 815-968-8389 (home) Ann.Thompson@rockfordil.gov Eighth Ward: Nancy L. Johnson (D) 815-226-0673 (home) Nancy.Johnson@rockfordil.gov Ninth Ward: Bill Timm (R) 815-962-7592 (home) Bill.Timm@rockfordil.gov Tenth Ward: Franklin C. Beach (R) 815-399-3737 (home), 815-874-7212 (work) Franklin.Beach@rockfordil.gov Eleventh Ward: Jeff Holt (D) 815-967-0542 (home) Jeff.Holt@rockfordil.gov Twelfth Ward: John C. Beck (R) 815-961-1954 (home ) John.Beck@rockfordil.gov Thirteenth Ward: Linda McNeely (D) 815-987-9978 (home) Linda.McNeely@rockfordil.gov Fourteenth Ward: Daniel P. Conness (D) 815-209-8073 (mobile) Daniel.Conness@rockfordil.gov
FOR MORE INFORMATION: EMAIL SAVETHEKISHWAUKEERIVER@GMAIL.COM AND VISIT OUR CAUSE PAGE ON FACEBOOK
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"Due to geology and geography, the Kishwaukee River has avoided the fate of most other rivers in northern Illinois. It is still one of the most pristine rivers in the state, providing hours of enjoyment for fishing, canoeing, hiking, bird watching and other recreational activities. It flows from its headwaters in Woodstock and DeKalb County to the confluence of the north and south branches in Cherry Valley to where it empties into the Rock River south of the airport. During the past 100 years, local park districts, forest preserve districts, conservation districts and private organizations and landowners have created a greenway along much of the river, protecting its beauty and thousands of acres of wetlands and wildlife habitat. But now the land within the watershed has become an important logistics corridor, and has been identified on county and municipal plans for industrial development. This puts the water quality of the Kishwaukee River in jeopardy as polluted runoff from roads, rooftops and parking lots increases, and more effluent from sewage treatment plants is poured into the river. It threatens the integrity of the parks and preserves along the river by more noise, lights, traffic and erosion. And it has the potential to destroy prime farmland, wetlands and important wildlife habitat in the process." ~ Jerry Paulson, Natural Land Institute
Please join us in this cause! We need to stand up to help preserve the integrity of our local resources. |