Our River Monitoring Project

By Bob Barbieri

The River Prairie Group of the Sierra Club conducts water tests on rivers throughout DuPage County. The River Monitoring Project, launched in January 2000, performs quarterly and monthly testing on a number of sites along the Salt Creek and the East and West Branches of the DuPage River. The river water samples are collected and tested  by local Sierra Club volunteers. The group summarizes the test results on their website to educate DuPage residents about the waterways in their backyards. The test data are also valuable to researchers, educators, and policymakers, and have ongoing value--providing a baseline against which the rivers’ water quality can be analyzed in the future. Of course, we always welcome new volunteers to help with this effort.

River samples are routinely tested for four chemical compounds (phosphate, nitrate, ammonia, chloride), temperature, pH, and in some areas, dissolved oxygen. The first four chemical compounds pose the greatest threat to DuPage County’s watersheds, but it is worth noting that the first two are not toxics – in fact, they are just the opposite. Categorized as “nutrients,” phosphate and nitrate act as fertilizers that feed algae and aquatic plants, and in sufficient concentrations, fuel their overgrowth, suffocating fish and other river life. Ammonia, too, acts as a fertilizer, but in addition, it is highly toxic to aquatic organisms. Besides their use as landscaping and agricultural fertilizers, phosphorus, nitrate, and to a lesser degree ammonia are also present in Publicly Owned Treatment Plants (POTW) discharges. So, too, to a lesser degree, is chloride, but its primary source in DuPage County rivers is road salt runoff in wintertime.

The River Prairie Group is in the process of preparing a report summarizing the results of our water monitoring over the last seven years. We expect it will be available in the next few months. For more information, or to inquire about volunteering, please contact Bob Barbieri at bob-barbieri@comcast.net.

Monarch Documentary to be Shown

"The Guardians" A struggle about preserving Monarch butterflies in Michoacan, Mexico

March 7 at 7:00 PM

Glenside Public Library, 25 E. Fullerton Ave., Glendale Heights

Sponsored by the DuPage Monarch Project, Immigration Solidarity, and the River Prairie Group of the Sierra Club

Movie trailer: https://www.pbs.org/video/dw-guardians-trailer/

In Spanish with English subtitles


A visually dazzling meditation on the balance between human and nature, The Guardians poetically interweaves the lives of the threatened monarch butterfly with an indigenous community fighting to restore the forest they nearly destroyed. Migrating 3,000 miles to hibernate in towering Oyamels, the monarch population faces collapse. When the directors started filming The Guardians in 2014, the monarch population hit an all-time record low of 33 million, down from 1 billion just twenty years prior. In the valley below, the people of Donaciano Ojeda struggle to support their families in their ancestral lands, now part of the protected Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve Santos. A charismatic avocado farmer and Aristeo, a philosophical tree caretaker, are the storytellers of the community as they confront internal divisions, illegal loggers, and their own mortality. Shot over three years, this cinematic journey through the butterfly-dense mountaintops of Michoacan tells an intimate story of a unique community at the front lines of conservation.


"The Guardians" Una lucha por preservar lasmariposas monarca en Michoacán, México.

7 de marzo - 7:00 pm

Biblioteca pública de Glenside, 25 E. Fullerton Ave.,Glendale Heights.

Patrocinado por DuPage Monarch Project, Immigration Solidarity y el Grupo River Prairie del Sierra Club.

Tráiler de la película en -https://www.pbs.org/video/dw-guardians-trailer/

En español con subtítulos en inglés.

Meditación visualmente deslumbrante sobre elequilibrio entre lo humano y la naturaleza, The Guardians entrelazapoéticamente las vidas de la mariposa monarca amenazada con una comunidadindígena que lucha por restaurar el bosque que casi destruyen. Al migrar 3,000millas para hibernar en los imponentes Oyamels, la población monarca seenfrenta al colapso. Cuando los directores comenzaron a filmar The Guardians en2014, la población de monarcas alcanzó un récord histórico de 33 millones,menos que los 1.000 millones de los veinte años anteriores. En el valle deabajo, la gente de Donaciano Ojeda lucha por mantener a sus familias en sustierras ancestrales que ahora forman parte de la Reserva de la Biosfera de laMariposa Monarca protegida. Santos, un carismático productor de aguacates yAristeo, un cuidador filosófico de árboles, son los narradores de la comunidadcuando enfrentan divisiones internas, madereros ilegales y su propiamortalidad. Filmado durante tres años, este viaje cinematográfico a través delas densas cimas de las mariposas de Michoacán cuenta una historia íntima deuna comunidad única en la vanguardia de la conservación

West Chicago to Celebrate the Monarch Butterfly through Art, Film, and History: Yearlong schedule of events and activities to bring awareness, education, and beauty to the community and beyond

By Rosemary Mackey

West Chicago, Illinois: February 1 , 2019 – Frigid temperatures notwithstanding, West Chicago is embracing 2019 with sights set on celebrating the beauty and wonder of a small winged creature which will shortly be waking from its months-long hibernation in warmer climates and begin its journey to the western suburbs.

The Monarch butterfly’s wondrous migration and subsequent transformation has become something of a metaphor for the diverse community of West Chicago itself, which will be celebrating The Year of the Butterfly through an exciting calendar of programs and events. Thanks to the support of the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission, the West Chicago America in Bloom committee, and the many community partners including the West Chicago Garden Club, People Made Visible, the Green Disciples of the First United Methodist Church of West Chicago, Community High School District 94, the DuPage Monarch Project, Community School District 33, residents and Master Naturalists Michael and Judith Horsley, and many others, the City will provide education, art, and greater awareness for Monarch conservation.

The cross-pollination of these group efforts will yield the following for the enjoyment of everyone in the community and beyond:

• A free public screening of The Guardians, a Spanish-language documentary film with English subtitles, will be available on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at Gallery 200, 103 West Washington Street, as part of Artéculture.  (See “Monarch documentary to be shown” elsewhere in this issue for a description of the movie.) Additional showings at Gallery 200 of The Guardians may be arranged for interested groups over the course of the year. Also, the film will be made available to students and faculty of Community High School District 94, as they explore the subject in related science classes, as well as at an evening showing for the general public on a date and time to be announced.

• Blooming Fest, scheduled on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in downtown West Chicago from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., will feature several opportunities to learn more about the Monarch from various environmental groups which will have booth spaces. Also, a special craft for children to create their own paper butterfly will be available at the City table on Main Street, and people of all ages will delight in becoming the center of larger-than-life butterfly wings. The photo opportunities of these interactive activities will provide great memories of The Year of the Butterfly.

• The opening of a citywide public art project that celebrates the Monarch will  also take place in May.  Its chosen title, The Butterfly Effect, is a reference to chaos theory and the phenomenon that occurs when a minute localized change in a complex system has large effects elsewhere. The concept holds a special significance for the Cultural Arts Commission, which sees a strong symbolic connection between Monarch migration and the migration of diverse immigrant populations that traveled to West Chicago, adding beauty, value, and history to the community. Through a collaborative effort between the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission, the West Chicago Garden Club, People Made Visible, and the West Chicago America in Bloom Committee, 29 artfully designed wooden butterflies will be installed in public gardens throughout the City, with an additional seven at the Kruse House Gardens. The butterflies, approximately three-feet high by four-feet wide, will be designed by local artists and members of the Garden Club. An interactive map will be designed for use in locating each installation, making it easy for residents and visitors to spend a delightful afternoon visiting each site from May through September.

• Community arts not-for-profit People Made Visible will be coordinating a residential component of The Butterfly Effect for those wishing to create their own artful butterfly for use in the home garden. Smaller templates, priced at a reasonable amount, will be available for purchase at Gallery 200, 103 West Washington Street, during normal hours of operation, Thursdays from noon to 6:00 p.m.; Fridays from noon to 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m.
• A new exhibit titled Home, which is scheduled to debut at the City Museum, 132 Main Street, on Saturday, May 18, 2019 and run through Saturday, April 18, 2020, will focus on an exploration of community, specifically as told through histories of people who currently call, or who have at one time called, West Chicago home. Additionally, select artifacts from the Museum’s collections will be incorporated in the exhibit. Chosen artists will work with Museum Director Sara Phalen and exhibit co-curator Anni Holm to create compelling original artwork that will be inspired by the stories of those journeys to and in the community. Like the indelible imprint of the Monarch population on the West Chicago environmental landscape, the unique stories of people who made a home in West Chicago will illustrate the profound ways in which they have contributed to the cultural landscape.

For more information about any of West Chicago’s The Year of the Butterfly events, programs, or activities, please contact Rosemary Mackey at rmackey@westchicago.org, or (630) 293-2200 x139.

Say "Hello" to Our New Forest Preserve President

By Jeff Gahris

Daniel Hebreard, formerly a Park Ranger with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage, has been elected President of the same organization. Recently, President Hebreard kindly agreed to answer a few questions about himself and his new role. Here are his responses.




Please describe who you are and what you are about.

Husband, father, son, brother.  Those are the most important pieces of who I am.  I have worked hard in the environmental sector to become an eco-leader, as well.  I believe in education and supporting environmental issues, and have lived it as a Park Ranger.  I have also practiced this in my personal life by having extra insulation put in my attic, using a rain barrel, utilizing LED lighting, purchasing an electric car, and having solar panels installed on my home to make it 100% renewable-energy powered.

What are your favorite moments as a Park Ranger?

As a Ranger, I have great memories from enjoying a hot day teaching archery to enjoying a fresh snowfall while grooming a trail for skiers. But the best memories would be doing the high-quality natural resource work the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is known for.  Nothing builds teams better that working with other staff on a prescribed fire, knowing you can count on the highly trained professionals by your side to quickly use nature’s tools to help restore an area to native glory.

Now that you are here, what are your priorities as President?

As President of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County I hope to continue our excellence in environmental stewardship and expand it to include climate leadership by doing more solar projects and looking for more ways to be innovators.

Free March 30 Seminar in DuPage County to Highlight Clean Energy Opportunities for Communities of Faith

By Connie Schmidt

  

Solar panels installed on the roof at the
DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church

People across DuPage County and Illinois are excited about saving money and decreasing their carbon footprint with energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities. The Future Energy Jobs Act of late 2016 (FEJA) offers myriad incentives for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Houses of worship are known for their fiscally conservative budgets and desire for social consciousness. This makes for a perfect audience for an upcoming FREE seminar organized by three DuPage-area organizations: Faith in Place, Congregations Collaborating for Sustainability, and the DuPage Clean Energy Coalition.

All communities of faith are welcome to this event, titled “Pathways to Clean Energy for Faith Communities.”  It will take place on Saturday, March 30, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.  Speakers will present on the need to act now to preserve the planet, the economic benefits of energy efficiency, and funding options for clean energy upgrades through FEJA. The event will also feature case studies from fellow DuPage-area congregations who have made the switch to clean energy or who have active Green Teams carrying out projects. The location is the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church at 1828 Old Naperville Rd. in Naperville. Their solar panels, installed in 2018 at nearly no cost to the church, will be one of the topics for discussion!

Pastor Scott Oberle, Senior Pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, will open the event. He believes that climate change is the number one justice issue confronting our generation and that it is inextricably linked to our economics. Cynthia Thomas of Commonwealth Edison will follow him with remarks on energy efficiency programs. ComEd now offers a number of free upgrades for lighting, occupancy switches, and other savings available through evaluations with a specialist. Lastly, Dan Huntsha of Faith in Place will give an overview of options for solar installations and the benefits and incentives provided under FEJA for solar power. 

Installing solar panels and making energy-efficient improvements is now more affordable and accessible than ever. Come learn about how your faith community can save money, act locally on climate change, and continue down the path of stewardship together by being part of the clean energy transition. To register:

https://www.faithinplace.org/events/pathways-clean-energy-faith-communities

For additional information contact Connie Schmidt, twnstr111@msn.com

Hold “No to Low Waste” Events

By Connie  Schmidt

Put as little as possible into the landfills and lead by example! With the convenience of paper, plastic, and the dreaded Styrofoam, this may seem like a tough goal, but not necessarily. Several years ago, our son decided to have his wedding in our backyard and in true “Hippie-Child” fashion, wanted a no-waste event. Serving 120 folks vegetarian meals, having a friend with an antique shop who loaned linens, using rented plates and mason jars, and a plethora of wildflowers in various containers provided the essentials for this memorable event. 

• Since that time, I have hosted numerous other events with this goal in mind: put as little as possible into the landfills and lead by example. It is not that hard to do, and you can surely create a classy and creative look at the same time. Here are some tips to make it happen at your next event.

• Consider your menu carefully with the thought of what serving pieces and utensils will be needed. Finger foods such as appetizers, small sandwiches, and cookies or brownies provide the perfect choice and can be eaten without silverware, eliminating that need.

• Not enough friends? Chat with a local banquet hall, scour resale shops, or frequent a local restaurant. They may be happy to loan equipment for a mention at the event or just to be nice. A local banquet hall loaned me 25 beautiful tablecloths for a half-day seminar on creating healthy habitats that hosted over 100 people and served a light breakfast. 

• Asking your attendees to bring their own water bottles, coffee cups, and even re-usable plates, silverware, and napkins can be as common as bringing your own pen and paper to take notes when holding an event such as a meeting. In some areas, such as Texas, a rain barrel provides water for an outdoor event. 

• Get creative if decorations are needed. Rocks, fall leaves, wild flowers, figurines, a collection of pitchers, a stack of books, and framed or loose photographs all can provide an interesting centerpiece. 

• Plan your pick-up and clean-up process. Have a prominent recycle container for empty wine bottles, beer cans, and pop liters (of course, you are using a Britta pitcher for your fresh water needs or water from the tap if appropriate so there will be no plastic water bottles littering your recycling).  

• Stage a tray, empty box, or plastic tub for stacking of used dishes to be washed following the event. 

• Have a compost bucket for food scraps (excluding any meat products). 

• Involve others in your planning, set-up, and clean-up process. They will feel involved and offer great suggestions, and they will lessen your workload. 

There are tons of ideas that may not be included here, and you will no doubt personalize this list with your own fabulous suggestions. The point is, it is possible to minimize our use of paper and plastic and for goodness sake eliminate any Styrofoam from consideration. In doing so, you too will be putting a dent in our bulging landfills and the wasteful production of those products as well. In working on this goal, your circle of new friends, community spirit, and joy for your effort will be contagious.

Total Waste from a music concert where wine, beer, soft drinks, 

appetizers, and desserts were served for 65 attendees.

The no-waste vegetarian wedding with borrowed linens 

and rented glassware.

 Fabulous sisters and hubby to help with clean-up at the outdoor wedding.

Healthy Habitat Seminar with loaned linens and glass plates. Remember those wine glasses? They served water along with borrowed mugs for donated coffee.

  

Modern Day Voyagers in our Midst!

By Connie Schmidt

On March 5th at 7:30 pm at the Glen Ellyn History Center (800 N. Main Street), we have an amazing adventure program planned for you. A member of our neighbor Valley of the Fox Sierra Club Group, Charlie Zine, will present an exciting journey beginning at the headwaters of the Fox River. 

Chuck and Charlie finish Day 8

The confluence of the Fox and Illinois Rivers

Last summer, Charlie Zine and Chuck Roberts, two local Fox River advocates, completed an 8-day kayak paddle of the entire 223 miles of the Fox River from its humble beginnings in Colfax, Wisconsin, to its dramatic conclusion at the confluence with the Illinois River in Ottawa, Illinois. Along the way, they experienced its evolution as it passed through natural areas and woods to golf courses and airports, and from small towns to small cities. They witnessed the impacts of 18 manmade dams (plus two beaver dams) and the restorative effects of three dam removals. They camped along the river and ate in riverfront bars, diners, and restaurants. Join members of the River Prairie Group of the Sierra Club as Charlie Zine shares his memories and photos of this remarkable trip. For additional information, contact Connie Schmidt twnstr111@msn.com or 630-234-3029.