CEJA Marches Forward

Working to pass in Veto Session:  The Clean Energy Jobs Act

By Connie Schmidt

Across the state, the volunteer lobby team members of Sierra Club are scheduling meetings this fall with IL state legislators to encourage the vote for CEJA during the veto session in November. There are four reasons why this is an urgent need.

In light of the Commonwealth Edison scandal, Utility Accountability is extremely important and has been added to the bill. There are bold new ethics requirements and consumer protections embedded in this bill. Increased transparency with lobby and the legislature will create trust in the job of bringing clean energy to IL.

Illinois and the entire country and world are suffering from economic downturn. Economic Recovery is a cornerstone of this bill providing jobs in the Clean Energy sector as well in energy efficiency. New business opportunity, and boosting energy efficiency jobs, will be a boon for employment in IL for residents and their families.

Our society is facing self-examination of its practices and the need for Racial Justice in providing jobs and opportunities for Clean Energy in disadvantaged communities and those most impacted by the filthy fossil fuel industry. This bill has a workforce hub for fair-wage jobs and business opportunities geared toward providing some priorities to disadvantaged individuals in the population.

Last and most important, this bill is a vehicle to act to mitigate Climate Change through historic new practices. Electrifying the transportation sector is an example of this emphasis. More charging stations in all areas and communities, electrifying public transportation systems, and encouraging ride sharing are all highlighted in this bill. 

The CEJA bill is now over 800 pages long. It provides a roadmap for a carbon-free IL by 2030. We can and must encourage our state to be a leader to move our society forward with energy security, economic recovery, racial justice, and working to mitigate the dangers of Climate Change. Everyone is encouraged to contact their State Representative to either ask or thank them for their current support and to speak out for this issue to be called to question during the veto session. 

 

DuPage Monarch Project Hosts First County-wide Pollinator BioBlitz

 By Lonnie Morris

Photo by Cathy Street

“Milkweed for monarchs” has become the rallying cry for monarchs’ recovery, but having enough energy for completing the autumn migration to Mexico is also critical to their survival. Identifying where monarchs are refueling during migration is an important part of a strategy for their preservation, and a bioblitz is a good way to begin answering that question. 

DuPage Monarch Project participated in the bioblitz Parks for Pollinators to look for answers to that question along with many others. The September timing of this year’s blitz was perfect for capturing monarch flower visitations during peak migration in our area. 

National Geographic defines a bioblitz as “… an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time.”  DuPage Monarch Project’s bioblitz included all of DuPage County and ran from September 12—20, focusing on pollinating insects, hummingbirds, and flowering plants. The free smartphone app iNaturalist, used for photographing and identifying species, provided a technology for conducting the bioblitz remotely.

Photo by Chris Doty

Turnout for the blitz was strong, with 159 participants. Over 880 photographs were taken, with 107 insect and 195 plant species identified. The most frequently observed insect was the common eastern bumblebee, with monarch butterflies a close second. Monarchs were observed on asters and goldenrod, confirming the importance of these species as nectar sources, but also in equal numbers on zinnias, thistles, and native sunflowers.

The diversity of insects identified ranged from skippers, moths, and butterflies to wasps, bees, flies, and beetles. Six ruby-throated hummingbirds, also migrating through DuPage at this time of year, were spotted.

Want to see what’s flowering and their insect visitors? All observations can be viewed on iNaturalist by clicking on projects in the dashboard then searching for Parks for Pollinators: DuPage Monarch Project.

DuPage Monarch Projects hopes you’ll join us for Pollinator BioBlitz 2021 as the search continues for the most beneficial monarch habitat.

Photo by Chris Doty

Parks for Pollinators Bioblitz is sponsored by the National Recreation and Parks Association and Scotts Miracle-Gro. Parks4Pollinators website

DuPage Monarch Project: Communities Protecting Pollinators is a partnership of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Sierra Club’s River Prairie Group, The Conservation Foundation, and Wild Ones Greater DuPage Chapter.  https://dupagemonarchs.com/

Update on the Master Plan for Salt Creek at Fullersburg Woods

By Deanna Doohaluk

Following a number of virtual public open houses to solicit public comments, the DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup (DRSCW) will be taking its Master Plan for Salt Creek at Fullersburg Woods to the FPDDC Board of Commissioners, the site’s owner. The DRSCW will be asking to be allowed to move forward with a detailed design for the project. A vote may occur as early as the FPDDC’s October 6, 2020, Board Meeting. A central part of the master plan is to replace the site’s 1933 dam with a rock riffle, allowing safe passage for paddlers and fish. For these fish species it would be the first time they got to travel the 17 miles upstream of the dam in 90 years.

A total of 172 comments were received during the open houses and their 30-day comment period. 91% of the public comments were supportive of the Master Plan, and 86% indicated strong support. 9% of the comments were opposed to the plan, with 8% strongly opposed.

Please consider reaching out to your FPDDC Commissioner via email or phone, and encourage them to support the Master Plan for Salt Creek at Fullersburg Woods. You can find your FPDDC Commissioner and their contact information at FPDDC Board of Commissioners.

More information on the Master Plan can be found at RestoreSaltCreek.org.

Seeking out those fabulous fall colors

By Ed Max, RPG outings leader

Good luck with that?  Perhaps. With this ongoing drought, fall colors may disappoint a tad in most areas.

But maybe not all.

The one family of trees that rarely disappoint are the maples, sugar maples in particular. Though not found throughout our area, you'll know when you see a sugar maple stand in mid-October, with their fiery red, orange, and yellow foliage.

And such a place can be found off Route 47 near Elburn: Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve.

This unusual geological formation is smothered in Sugar maple, which in itself is unusual. (This species is fond of the rocky gravel and alkaline habitat beneath, as on this kame). Saved from being quarried years ago, this lovely Kane County preserve is thriving and expanding because of untold hours of Forest Preserve and volunteer effort. Johnson’s Mound should be on your radar this fall (and in spring, too, for excellent wildflowers).

There are several hillside trails along with a lovely winding road to the top, where you'll find a fantastic 1930s-era stone shelter (of the CCC Depression era).  Depending on your physical condition, you can hike the slope up to the top from below, or simply drive up to the peak. 

Bring a snack and enjoy the hilltop vistas of surrounding prairie and agricultural fields and, of course, the grand old sugar maple forests that abound here. Other species found in this preserve are oak, hickory, and basswood. Fall-blooming wildflowers, too, such as aster and goldenrod, add great yellow and purple hues to the forest floor.

So, get out and soak up the sounds and smells of fall--it’s here, and peak colors should arrive in the next two weeks!