Why Butterflies Need Volcanoes

 

Join the friends of the DuPage Monarch Project for a virtual program on February 28 at 7:00 pm. This will feature a one-hour presentation from naturalist Emily Stone. Emily traveled to Michoacán, Mexico, in December 2022 to visit the sanctuaries where monarch butterflies overwinter. The temperate fir forests that cradle the butterflies sit atop high peaks of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. In a delicate balance between staying cool enough to conserve fat stores and warm enough not to freeze, the monarchs seek out a variety of microhabitats even as the climate changes around them. The tangle of relationships will astound you. Sign up here for Zoom link.

Emily is an award-winning writer who pens a Natural Connections column for more than 15 local newspapers. She has compiled the best of those articles into two Natural Connections books. The second of those books Natural Connections 2: Dreaming of an Elfin Skimmer, won second place in the Outdoor Writers Association of America 2020 Excellence in Craft Contest.

Emily loves to cross country ski, mountain bike, garden, and paddle (especially in the Boundary Waters). 

Reducing Our Reliance on Plastics to Save the Planet

Presented by Anu Vermu, Accelerate Climate Solutions, Naperville. (Summary by Bonnie Gahris)

On October 25 at our program meeting, Anu Vermu presented an interesting look at the history of plastic use and the dilemma we now face. She said we have been such a large presence on this small planet. In the United States of 200 years ago, we lived mostly on farms, while now we’re mostly urban. Our ecological footprint has grown. We are now using enough resources for five planets. Interestingly, only five percent of families now cook from scratch, which means more trash and waste.

The Anthropocene* markers are nuclear, agriculture, marine pollution, chicken bones, and plastic pollution. On the other hand, there’s no waste in nature. But nearly everything we do creates trash, and plastic is a big part of it. Where do we intervene as consumers? Plastic is moldable and light but breaks easily into very small pieces. Nine billion tons of plastic have been produced to date, including:

• 100 billion plastic bags per year in U.S. alone
• 280 billion beverage containers per year, of which 78 billion are bottled water products
• 56.1 billion individual plastic utensils
• 9.7 billion cigarette butts
• 120-130 billion plastic cups

Recycling is challenging. Aluminum is highly recyclable, but there are many kinds of plastics, #1 to #7, as shown below. Naperville alone uses 55 million bags per year.

There is no producer responsibility. Recycling is a commodity market. Producers promote recycling because it makes us feel better. We’re not recycling, we’re collecting!! Recyclability doesn’t mean anything. Consider that one percent of disposal problem compares to 99% of production/consumption problem.

In short, recycling is a broken system because:

• Low oil prices keep price of virgin plastic very low.
• Countries in Asia don’t take our dirty bales of plastic any more.
• Low weight and low-price packaging are not profitable for recycling.

A DANGEROUS GAME

The idea of a circular economy with plastics is not feasible. Recycling is necessary, but not necessarily ideal. The following illustration shows how waste prevention is best for the environment.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• We need repair shops to fix broken products. Ask your city to open a repair shop.
• Check out Illinois Environmental Council for bills on recycling.  See https://ilenviro.org/waste-reduction/
• We need to revise our concept of reuse.
• Illinois is a pre-emptive state, where you can’t put a ban on a ban. There are ways everyday you can refuse plastic. Think about how we use plastic. Start by doing an audit in your own home of your practices.

 CONCLUSION

Anu made it clear that consumerism is at the heart of the problem. Let’s start by saying “we have enough.”

____

*Period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment.

River Prairie Group OUTINGS Committee

By Connie Schmidt

Outings! The cornerstone of the Sierra Club from its inception. Getting folks outside to experience nature in hopes that they will be:

• Refreshed and invigorated to have a life more connected to the natural world.
• More inclined to want to protect these wild spaces for others to enjoy.

The River Prairie Group of Outings leaders is one of the, no let me correct that, is THE most engaged group in the state! They meet on the first Wednesday of each month. They meet in-person as much as possible and sometimes virtual if that works better because of weather and scheduling. The in-person events are a great bonding opportunity of having a main course dinner provided by the host, with supplemental dishes from some of the members. There could be between 10 and 18 people present at a meeting. The June meeting is especially nice because the River Prairie Group Ex-Com hosts the Outings leaders and provides the meal and listens in on their planning process.

The leaders are a special bunch. They have wilderness first aid training and training on handling group situations. Some of the leaders are secondary and don’t require the specialized training and are co-leaders for the trips. Those leaders who have been active for years are happy to walk new leaders through the training process. 

The purpose of this article is really twofold. We want you, the general newsletter reader, to know that our outings are led by fun, well trained, interesting people who truly love getting others out into the spaces they enjoy. In addition, we welcome new leaders into our fold to come to an Outings meeting to meet the “old timers” and consider becoming leaders themselves.

So, whether you are just interested in signing up for a day hike, a bike ride, or even a cross- country ski adventure, we hope you will come out into the wild with us. And if you have a wild place you love and would like to introduce others to it, we want to train you to become a leader with us to do just that. And maybe….just maybe….you will want to become more active in some of our other programs to help protect the wild places here in DuPage and beyond. Check out the Outings Calendar here for newly added outings.

Contact Connie Schmidt at (630) 234-3029 or Mike Davis at (773) 817-4967 to discuss joining with us.

Photo by Connie Schmidt: Hike in Naperville Knoch Knolls Park with State Representative Janet Yang Rohr

Dams are Never Good for Rivers

 By Dennis Streicher

In 2004, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) finalized and published its report on whether the three rivers in DuPage County were meeting the goals of the Clean Water Act (CWA). One of those reports was titled “Total Maximum Daily Loads for Salt Creek, Illinois” (TMDL). To anyone paying attention to this report, it was not a surprise that it (and two other reports on the East and West Branches of the DuPage River) declared that Salt Creek was not meeting the goals of the CWA. As part of the mandate from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Illinois had to find a way to bring Salt Creek into compliance with the CWA. The result was that IEPA proposed more strict limitations on publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) on Salt Creek. However, upon reading the report, it was apparent that the largest remaining impairments to the river were systemic, the results of decades of neglect by the communities bordering the river watershed--not an unusual situation in any place that is lucky enough to have a river in the neighborhood.

None of the insults on the river could be solved or removed by the POTWs. We needed a watershed-wide approach instead. At the time, I managed a POTW that discharged to Salt Creek. I and the managers of two other POTWs (one on the East Branch and the other on the West Brach of the DuPage) formed the DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup (DRSCW). We studied the TMDL and took to heart one of the suggestions, that the Graue Dam at Fullersburg was the major cause of the dissolved oxygen (DO) impairment on Salt Creek. Our task was clear: the dam had to be removed if Salt Creek would ever get close to meeting the goals of the CWA.

The next 16 plus years were spent more closely studying all the stressors on the rivers in DuPage County. IEPA measures how close a river is to achieving the goals of the CWA by evaluating the diversity and number of vertebrates (fish) and invertebrates (insects) living in the river. They are, after all, the best indicators of the overall water quality and habitat of the river. Powered by a motivated and highly skilled staff, the DRSCW did habitat assessments and detailed chemical evaluations. Sediment oxygen demand studies were completed, and we made detailed evaluations of the fish and insects. The DRSCW identified several physical projects that would help improve the rivers. Some were completed and resulted in measurable improvements in the watersheds where they were done. Subsequent assessments of the biotic life and of habitat in the rivers also improved.

But on Salt Creek one key project still needed to be done. We had to reconnect the river to the larger watershed downstream. We had to remove the Graue Dam! Our studies show that there are 16 more species of fish downstream that could migrate upstream when the dam is removed. Aside from the physical barrier of the dam, the dam creates an impoundment of water that is in essence a dead zone, having low to no DO. The dam impoundment caused the development of a deep mucky sediment that results in a habitat of such low quality that virtually nothing can survive there, creating an impenetrable barrier to fish migration upstream, even if they could get past the dam. Dams are never good for rivers, and the Graue Dam is no different! The DRSCW has removed dams in other watersheds and monitored the fish movement afterwards. After the dams are gone, the fish reoccupy the new upstream areas surprisingly quickly, sometimes in a matter of weeks. This same scenario has occurred in other parts of the country when dams are removed.

In the end, the project will improve (even create) about 1.3 miles of good- to high-quality river habitat. There will be a pleasant rushing river with its sounds and sights for all to enjoy. In addition, the project will provide a canoe/kayak launch, added hiking trails, a couple of fishing platforms, and even a photography clearing that will allow the historical Graue Mill building to be used as a backdrop for wedding photos (a popular draw for the site). We will do this while honoring the historical nature of the area for the First Peoples who used the site and the European settlers who used the river resource, as well.

As I write this, the DRSCW is nearing the end of an effort that began back in 2007, when the first detailed DO studies were completed, showing just how damaging the dam and its accompanying water impoundment are to the river. The studies are complete, and public meetings have been held with overwhelming support for dam removal. The designs and permits are in place. Bids have been let, and a contract has been awarded. The project begins in late November 2023. It’s time to restore Salt Creek and take a major step to bring the river back to life.

Photo credits: Jeff Gahris and DRSCW

DuPage Monarch Project Recognizes Outstanding Contributions to Pollinator Conservation

By Lonnie Morris

DuPage Monarch Project is pleased to announce that DuPage County, Fermilab Natural Areas, and Darien Garden Club have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to pollinator conservation.

DuPage County was Tree-Mendous in 2023! They increased awareness of how residential landscaping planted with native trees, shrubs, and flowers becomes a solution to pollinator decline by giving away 600 native trees and shrubs to county employees. The 200 white oak, 200 chokecherry, 100 red osier dogwood, and 100 bald cypress will provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and birds for many years to come.

DuPage Monarch Project presented DuPage County with the Jane Foulser Habitat Award at the October 3rd DuPage County Environmental Committee meeting.

The two pillars of pollinator conservation are retaining and establishing habitat and educating the public about the importance of pollinators, their decline, and what is needed to protect them.  Fermilab Natural Areas (FNA) is doing both.

Fermilab Natural Areas is a volunteer group formed to study, restore, and maintain Fermilab’s 6,800 acres of prairie, woodlands, and wetlands and to inform local residents about the site. FNA engages the public throughout the year with volunteer work days, special events like the annual Prairie Seed Harvest, Facebook posts, and videos on YouTube. The Tour of Fermilab Natural Areas video is a stunning visual presentation of the diverse plant communities at Fermilab, the healthy habitat supporting numerous species of wildlife. It is an uplifting and inspiring invitation to be part of saving a piece of Illinois’s native landscape.

Fermilab Natural Areas received the Pat Miller Community Engagement Award for their comprehensive outreach and public engagement about ecology, native plants, and land stewardship.

Garden clubs are moving beyond the garden gate by taking on major environmental issues. Darien Garden Club is an outstanding example of how an environmental sensibility can be woven into programs, events, civic projects, and social activities.

Darien Garden Club’s accomplishments in 2023 include maintaining several native plantings for pollinators, giving away native plants and seeds during Pollinator Week, and their annual OAKtober celebrations and hosting a program by Carol Elkins, the Xerces Society Great Lakes Region Ambassador, on the importance of native pollinators, the primary causes of their decline, and how they benefit from pesticide-free native-plant gardens and landscapes.

The Darien Garden Club has shown what can be accomplished by a group of dedicated conservationists. Their educational outreach, community engagement, and habitat projects are making a difference for pollinators in Darien and the surrounding communities.

DuPage Monarch Project recognized Darien Garden Club as the 2023 Pollinator Protector at the recent OAKtober celebration.

Photo Credit: David DeCuir

Environmental and Justice Update for DuPage County

 By Connie Schmidt

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage, Village of Glen Ellyn, and Midwest SOARRING (Save Our Ancestors Remains and Resources Indigenous Network Group) have signed an agreement for the long-abandoned McKee House in the East Branch Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn to be a Native American Cultural Arts and Nature Center. This is particularly poignant because the mission of Midwest SOARRING is to facilitate repatriation concerns, educate the public about various American Indian cultural issues, environmental issues, and build community among all people.

With gratitude to Joseph Standing Bear Schranz of the Ojibwe Nation, a ceremony was held on the McKee House site on the Fall Equinox 2023. This site hosts burial grounds of original people and was a significant meeting site for various indigenous tribes. Last year, Forest Preserve President Daniel Hebreard hosted a land acknowledgment with Midwest SOARRING at this site, acknowledging the original stewards of these local lands.

The terms of the agreement require a diligent effort by Midwest SOARRING to fundraise. $1 Million must be acquired by January 1, 2026, or the district will demolish the building. The group then will have until January 1, 2030, to occupy the structure. Both the village of Glen Ellyn and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage are behind this effort to offer them success. Now it is up to the people and businesses of local communities to support these fund-raising efforts as well. You may donate to this effort on Midwest SOARRING Foundation's website at https://www.midwestsoarring.org/ Be sure to select "McKee House" when donating.

Photo credits: Connie Schmidt

Chatter from the Chair

By Connie Schmidt

One of my favorite things to do is represent the River Prairie Group in DuPage in a variety of settings and organizations. This Fall I was able to recognize three recipients of the DuPage Monarch Project with their 2023 awards. Read the article here by Lonnie Morris for details on the amazing work being done for the benefit of pollinator species of all sorts. And speaking of DuPage Monarch Project, Lonnie has made arrangements for our February program, which will feature an amazing film by naturalist Emily Stone on “Why Butterflies Need Volcanoes: A Foray into the Ecology of Overwintering Monarchs in Mexico.”

I’ve enjoyed seeing some of our members while attending solstice celebrations over the last year or so at the East Branch Forest Preserve. These special events have been guided by the Midwest SOARRING Association, a Native American group honoring the cultural history of original people of the Americas. A very exciting agreement has been signed with them to begin fundraising for a cultural arts and nature center right in the heart of DuPage. Check out the article in this newsletter for more information.

It requires a network of folks to advocate for policy for clean and healthy rivers and streams.  The River Prairie Group, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage, and The DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup are among those who have worked to encourage the removal of dams along our rivers. Work on the Fullersburg dam in Oak Brook is beginning, which will make a huge difference in the health of the ecosystems along and in Salt Creek. Look for the article in this issue with the latest developments and information on an upcoming program sharing the plans for continued presence of the historical mill along a freely flowing river.

Of course, a backbone of our activities is both the restoration work being done with the guidance of Bruce Blake at the Glacial Ridge Forest Preserve in Glen Ellyn and the amazing trips organized by our outings leaders. Dates and locations for both are found on our activity calendar on our website with some special previews here in this newsletter as well. The Sierra Club was formed by taking folks into natural areas to appreciate their wonder and to work to protect these areas for others to enjoy. I am so proud of the dedicated leaders of the RPG who continue this legacy of taking people into our special places here in the Midwest.

Representing the River Prairie Group is an honor, and encouraging new leaders to join me is important work as well. There is always room for more leaders in committees and our various teams. We appreciate each of you who join us for our educational programs, work on our lobby efforts, or participate in another way such as going on an outing or workday. Thanks so much for helping to make the RPG a vibrant organization that I am so very proud to represent across DuPage County.

Is Now the Time to Electrify My Home?

 By Jeff Gahris

River Prairie Group program meeting, September 27, 7 pm, Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main Street, Glen Ellyn.

Join us as the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) explains our options, the latest federal and state financial incentives, and how to pursue the best strategy for reducing our carbon footprint and managing our utility expenses. We will also view an engaging video that makes a compelling argument for why electrification matters, and share our individual stories about this transition to a healthier lifestyle. 

I have been attempting electrification myself and encountered both challenges and opportunities. This will be a great time for you to learn more and share your ideas and strategies.

Register here!

Chatter from the Chair

 By Connie Schmidt

Summertime is ending. It sure has been one for the books! From this photo you can see a good part of what drives my activism in Sierra Club; my three grandchildren and a tiny bit of my hubby peaking on the side of the shot.  (Yeah, we are not too good with the art of taking a selfie.) With evidence of climate change impacting us here in the Midwest through heat and drought, activism seems more important than ever. In this newsletter we will share some of the work that the River Prairie Group is doing here in DuPage to help mitigate this issue. 

Clean energy is an essential piece of cleaning the air we breathe. We need to switch to electric appliances, so we are not reliant on dirty gas infiltrating our homes. Read Jeff’s article on our upcoming September program with a presentation from Citizen’s Utility Board (CUB) and how we can clean up our home from fossil fuels. In addition, there is an article about members of our RPG leadership who are working to encourage our local school officials to adopt electric vehicles for their fleets. A fact sheet is featured which you are welcome to copy and share.

Habitat is drastically impacted by Climate Change as well.  Biodiversity and healthy native ecosystems are essential for species survival. Check out the article that encourages you to register your monarch friendly habitat to be counted as part of the solution. We feature the Monarch as our colorful flagship but realize that in saving it, we are supporting species such as native bees, birds and the many plants that support them as well. This article shows how we here in DuPage can be counted with the statewide and national effort to help our neighborhood ecosystems.

Lastly, please consider getting out to enjoy the wild spaces in our area. We present outings on our calendar which you can find on the RPG website. One upcoming special one is featured in an article included here. Check out how you can take a “Hike with a Representative” and chat about concerns and hear about her work in Springfield. As you walk, paddle, or bike in nature, your spirit is revived. For me as I get out in nature, I gain strength to work more to protect the environment so my family members will have the benefit of these beautiful experiences as they grow older as well.   

Reducing our Reliance on Plastic In Order to Save the Planet: A chat with Anu Verma of Naperville.

There are many issues facing our planet at this moment, including climate change, threatened species and habitat, reliance on the finite resources of fossil fuels, and of course what do we do with our overburdened system of waste. Reducing our reliance on plastics is essential for our planet’s survival. Anu Verma from Naperville is certainly doing her share in getting the message out. She has spoken at conferences in Europe and here in the US, and is now working close to home in Naperville to encourage reuse and innovative practices to eliminate the reliance on plastics and paper products.

Plastics promised us so much!! How can they be so out of control? Anu was raised with the Vedic philosophy of asking oneself to respect what one has, conserve it, and give it back to nature. Surely plastics don’t fit into that profile. Our October program will focus us to work together and engage with the biggest scourge of our times and see what policies and individual actions can do to overcome this problem.

Join us OCTOBER 25, 7:00 pm

Glen Ellyn History Center

800 N Main Street

Register HERE

Anu Verma is co-founder of ACS (Accelerate Climate Solutions), which is an all-women run charitable and educational nonprofit with a mission to create a sustainable future by nudging businesses and community to adopt green and clean energy solutions. ACS collaborates with KidsMatr (KM), another nonprofit in Naperville to develop, publicize, and implement the BLAST program (Building Leadership Around Sustainable Transformation), believing in building resilient kids and families who say yes to endless possibilities.

Anu is also the co-founder of OPA (Organizing for Plastic Alternatives), a small but mighty grassroots organization in Chicago, affiliated with Beyond Plastics and CPR (coalition for plastics reduction), working diligently along with IEC (Illinois Environmental Council) to bring about EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and DRS (Deposit Return Scheme) policies in Illinois.

Take a Hike With a Rep!

Have you ever wanted to share your thoughts with your state representative? Do you like to stroll in nature and visit with other friendly souls? Would you like an expert naturalist to share tidbits about unique plants and trees along the trail? Consider joining the River Prairie Group of Sierra Club outing with Janet Yang Rohr, State Representative from District 41. Janet serves Naperville and parts of Warrenville, including territory in both DuPage and Will Counties, and her office reached out to our leadership to hold a second “Hike with a Rep” this fall. Three Cheers for you, Janet, for wanting to connect with our membership and friends!

Our hike is scheduled for Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 1:00 pm. We will meet at the Knoch Knolls Parking lot (336 Knoch Knolls Road, Naperville) at the trail head. We’ll hike for about 1½ hours, then enjoy a light snack in the parking lot before breaking up. We encourage you to explore the park further if your time allows. This park has so very much to offer: trails, children’s playground, disc golf, a nature center, and the river views and confluence where the east and west Branches of the DuPage River meet. You can read more about the park here. 

Sign up is requested at River Prairie Group’s Calendar.

Healthy Habitats: Essential for Diversity

By Connie Schmidt

Lonnie Morris, our vibrant volunteer coordinator of the DuPage Monarch Project, visited DuPage this summer to photograph some of the waystations established here in our communities. It was an amazing experience to watch her exclaim over the various species of native plants as she discovered them in the prairies and parks we visited. We found thriving areas and some that were being overtaken by encroaching nonnative species. One fact was obvious as we roamed the county: humans will have to lend a hand if these areas are to thrive and support vibrant communities of biodiversity. Weeds easily creep in, and the fragile systems become unbalanced with the native plants withering away.

Coincidentally, I just received my newsletter from Monarch Watch. Within the newsletter was a section dedicated to one of the goals of DuPage Monarch Project, which is to establish Monarch Waystations. These respite areas are essential to connect the green spaces for the weary migrants as they proceed on their long journeys. Below is a quote from the Monarch Watch newsletter imploring that waystations be listed in their registry. Did you know that Illinois has the second largest number of Waystations?! I wonder if we could make it to the top of the list?

“To offset the loss of milkweeds and nectar sources we need to create, conserve, and protect monarch butterfly habitats. You can help by creating "Monarch Waystations" in home gardens, at schools, businesses, parks, zoos, nature centers, along roadsides, and on other unused plots of land. Creating a Monarch Waystation can be as simple as adding milkweeds and nectar sources to existing gardens or maintaining natural habitats with milkweeds. No effort is too small to have a positive impact.

Have you created a habitat for monarchs and other wildlife? If so, help support our conservation efforts by registering your habitat as an official Monarch Waystation today!

https://monarchwatch.org/waystations

A quick online application will register your site, and your habitat will be added to the online registry. You will receive a certificate bearing your name and your habitat's ID that can be used to look up its record. You may also choose to purchase a metal sign to display in your habitat to encourage others to get involved in monarch conservation.

As of 4 July 2023, there have been 44,110 Monarch Waystation habitats registered with Monarch Watch! Texas holds the #1 spot with 3,664 habitats and Illinois (3,381), Michigan (3,205), California (2,864), Florida (2,299), Ohio (2,285), Pennsylvania (1,951), Virginia (1,915), Wisconsin (1,911), and New York (1,441) round out the top ten.

You can view the complete listing and a map of approximate locations via https://monarchwatch.org/waystations/registry "

Note: There is a nominal fee to help offset processing costs and support Monarch Watch's conservation efforts.

Friends of the Forest Preserves

By Jeff Gahris, with contributions by Jeannine Kannegiesser and Audra Bonnet, Forest Preserve District of DuPage

The Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing ways for you to help care for our forest preserves. While the Forest Preserve District was created over 100 years ago, the Friends was incorporated as the District’s philanthropic partner in 2010. Many visitors who enjoy the preserves look for a way to give back by supporting various projects and initiatives. Perennial favorites for philanthropic support are care for the injured and orphaned native animals at Willowbrook Wildlife Center and forest preserve greatest needs, including habitat restoration, wildlife preservation, green energy development, and environmental sustainability.

On July 25, 2023, Brook McDonald, CEO of The Conservation Foundation, presented a donation to the Friends for restoration work at the West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve, honoring the legacy of the West Chicago Prairie Stewardship Group. The Conservation Foundation had been the fiscal agent of the volunteer stewardship group, which was founded in 1982. This is an outstanding example of volunteer support and involvement that supports our fabulous green spaces.

The 358-acre West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve was purchased in 1979 by West Chicago and the Forest Preserve District, with additional acreage added in later years. Here you will find 600 species of native plants and animals. It includes the Truitt-Hoff Nature Preserve. Nine areas in DuPage forest preserves are dedicated as either an Illinois Nature Preserve or Illinois Land and Water Reserve by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, adding extra protections for these high-quality natural areas.

Join the Friends of the Forest Preserve District at some of their upcoming events, including:

• Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. – First Friends Forest Tour at Danada Forest Preserve
• Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. – Duck Race at St. James Farm Forest Preserve
• Sept. 14 at 5:30 p.m. – Night for Nature at St. James Farm Forest Preserve
• Oct. 7 – Visit the Friends at the Fall Festival at Danada Equestrian Center
• Nov. 14 – Annual meeting and reception at The Preserve at Oak Meadows
• Nov. 28 – Giving Tuesday Online Giving Day

The Friends’ volunteer board of directors generally meets bimonthly on the fourth Tuesday. Current members are Chair Diane Addante, Vice Chair Bob Watt, Treasurer Ashley Guest, Secretary Carl Schultz, Ex-Officio Member Jeff Gahris, and members Brian Battle, Penny Chanez, Karyn Charvat, Mike Dyer, Larry Larson, David Stang, and Joseph Suchecki.

Additional information about the Friends is available at dupageforest.org/friends.

Clean Air for our School Children - Electric School Buses in our Future!

By Connie Schmidt

Janice Guider of the Executive Committee of the River Prairie Group has led the charge for advocacy of replacing our dirty aging diesel school bus fleets with modern clean electric buses. She is working with the Environmental Law and Policy Center as well as a myriad of other Electric Vehicle (EV) fans who are helping to bring new technology to the suburban streets of DuPage.

Janice states: “…We must intentionally discover ways to link arms to protect our children from diseases interfering with their learning ability. While causes for poor academic results are multifactorial, we seek out multi-remedy opportunities, and one remedy that we can't ignore is improving air quality.

Exposure to airborne pollutants, particularly ozone and PM2.5 (particulate matter), is undermining the education of our children because they lead to a wide range of noncommunicable diseases. Asthma arguably tops the list but comes with significant complications: insomnia, fatigue, physical inactivity, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and, unavoidably, adverse effects of the medicine (usually steroids) to treat the disease. In most instances, that adversity is agitation that triggers disruptive behaviors in the classroom.”

In every meeting, Janice can be heard speaking up for the most fragile in our school systems because their health is the most easily compromised from these dirty behemoths. She has crafted relationships with elected officials, the regional superintendent’s office of education, bus manufacturers, and schools in Illinois that have already adopted this new technology. 

RPG has assisted with several meetings held virtually where the superintendents of DuPage have been invited to learn of funding for the electric bus transition. Currently there are both federal funds and statewide funds available for our districts to apply for. At least one district in DuPage is on board and has applied for multiple grants. Parents and teacher organizations should contact their school boards and district leaders to take advantage of these opportunities.

If you want to be more active with the Electric School Bus campaign, contact Connie Schmidt at cschmidt527@gmail.com or 630 234 3029.  Together we can do more! 

Chatter From the Chair

By Connie Schmidt

I hope by the time you read this, the lilacs will have withered and the pollinators will be busy around your yards. Perhaps the birds will be stealing serviceberries from a nearby tree. The River Prairie Group has been busy like those native bees, as well. We had an amazing trivia night thanks to our membership committee volunteers who planned and executed a very fun event where new members signed up to get our newsletter and possibly join in our advocacy work.  There is something for everyone as most of you know: habitat restoration, water monitoring, pollinator protection, lobby and political work, so definitely give me a call if you want to learn how to channel your passionate interests. Cschmidt527@gmail.com or (630) 234-3029.

This issue brings you a variety of interesting material. Local lobby friends have been meeting with legislators here in our DuPage districts and down in Springfield. A synopsis of some of the priority bills follows in an article. The Forest Preserve of DuPage has fabulous remodeling going on with Willowbrook Wildlife Center. The RPG hosted a program with Jeanne Kannegiesser and Jeff Gahris presenting the upgrades to both animal care and energy net zero improvements. One aspect of this presentation at the Glen Ellyn History Center was that it was co-sponsored by Sustain DuPage and Go Green Glen Ellyn. Working with fellow organizations with similar missions helps us both to extend our reach to our memberships, and we make some new friends!

Of course, we have articles on renewable or Clean Energy issues. Read the synopsis from Dan Schmidt of an Agrivoltaics Conference he attended in the Chicago area. In addition, we are supporting CUB (Citizen’s Utility Board) and MREA (Midwest Renewable Energy Association) to spread the word with Grow Geothermal. We are hoping that this issue hits your mailbox before June 1 because that is the date of the DuPage Monarch Project training on using the iNaturalist App on your phone to work as a citizen scientist gathering data on plants and animals sighted in our preserves and natural areas.

So please, get out into the wild and enjoy nature, and feel free to contact me if you want to be more involved. 

Trivia Madness at Noon Whistle

By Jeff Gahris

Our recent Trivia Night at the Noon Whistle Brewery in Lombard was, simply put, a blast! Over 50 guests attended to enjoy the brews, fun, and fellowship, and of course, the competition. Eight teams competed under the names The Belafontes, Busy Bees, DuPage River Rats, Easy Being Green, River Valley, Sustain DuPage, and Wildlife Warriors. The clear winner was Easy Being Green, with River Valley and Wildlife Warriors tied for second place. Sustain DuPage came in third.  Already people are asking when we will have the next Trivia Night!

 

Update Presented on Willowbrook Improvements

By the staff of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

On April 6, the River Prairie Group of Sierra Club, Go Green Glen Ellyn, and Sustain DuPage welcomed speakers from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County who provided an update on the District’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center Phase II Master Plan implementation. Commissioner Jeff Gahris and Jeannine Kannegiesser, Chief Partnership and Philanthropy Officer, shared information and answered questions from the audience of nearly 30 interested community members.

The importance and scope of this project:

The Willowbrook Wildife Center has not kept pace with animal care needs, and has outgrown its existing clinic. The current Willowbrook project will construct a 27,000-square-foot new wildlife rehabilitation clinic and visitor center, designed as the District’s first net-zero designed building, which means the energy produced from renewable resources exceeds the energy consumed by the building. New outdoor and indoor animal rehabilitation areas will support animal care and recovery and help ensure each species continues to receive appropriate medical care. Visitors will be able to view animals as they're examined, treated, in surgery, being fed, and rehabilitated behind one-way windows from the visitor center into the clinical areas. Existing non-releasable resident animals, most of which are geriatric, will be housed in specially designed enclosures appropriate to their needs to allow them to live out their lives as humanely as possible. Video monitors will showcase select animals and animals in the rehabilitation enclosures.

Interactive educational exhibits on the wildlife rehabilitation process, an outdoor classroom, an interpretive trail with wildlife observation areas, and outdoor activity spaces will help demonstrate how to attract and live in harmony with native wildlife. A wildlife garden and an interpretive trail will allow the public to see wildlife in natural settings at the forest preserve. Programming to support public engagement will focus on the importance of wildlife conservation for healthy ecosystems and healthy communities.

This project was begun in 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2025. It is supported with a combination of Forest Preserve District funds, grants, and donations. More information about the project and how to get involved is available at https://www.dupageforest.org/what-we-do/projects/willowbrook-master-plan. 

Featured Sierra Club Outings

Aldo Leopold Center Outing

By Judy Fulmer

The River Prairie Group of Sierra Club will be leading a day trip on June 9th to the Aldo Leopold Center. We will take a tour, explore, and visit the Aldo Leopold Center. If time allows, we will go to the International Crane Foundation.

Please sign up and see more information on our website, https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/river-prairie.

Aldo Leopold (January 11, 1887 – April 21, 1948) was an American writer, philosopher, naturalist, scientist, ecologist, forester, conservationist, and environmentalist. He is best known for his book A Sand County Almanac (1949), which has been translated into fourteen languages and has sold more than two million copies.

Leopold was influential in the development of environmental ethics and in the movement for wilderness conservation. His holistic ethics regarding land emphasized biodiversity and ecology, which had a profound impact on the environmental movement. He was a founder of the science of wildlife management.

Berrien Springs Wildflower Hike - Love Creek

By Sarah Hutchinson

RPG leaders and participants were pleasantly surprised by an array of early wildflowers in full bloom last Saturday! Our small group hiked 3.75 miles to discover Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Wild Geranium, Wild Blue Phlox, Prairie Trillium, Spring Beauty, Squirrel Corn, Violet, Marsh Marigold, Wild Ginger, May Apple, Skunk Cabbage, Hepatica, Wood Poppy, and Large Flowered Trillium in the beautiful woods of Love Creek Nature Center in Berrien County, MI.

Unique opportunities like this one and many others can be found at River Prairie Group’s webpage. Consider joining a local group outing for fun all year round, including hiking, biking, kayaking, tours, winter activities, workshops, and more. All are welcome! Review full descriptions and register via this link, https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/river-prairie.

Solar Farm Summit

By Dan Schmidt

The following article is part 1 of a two-part series on Agrivoltaics. Dan Schmidt, a local solar installer working for Rethink Electric, wrote this article (and part two in our next issue) after attending a local Conference.

I took some vacation days to attend a conference that I'd like to share with you. The first North American Agrivoltaics Conference, Solar Farm Summit 2023, was an amazing display of what is happening and what is possible around the world. There are two broad categories of Agrivoltaics: Solar First and Food First.

It was very cool to hear many of the federal and state agencies and advocacy groups discuss ongoing programs from NREL (National Renewal Energy Laboratory) and the DOE (Department of Energy), as well as some of the individuals who worked on CEJA in Illinois. I learned that all 131 gigawatts of the 55 community solar sites being built in Illinois have recently decided to follow guidelines to define themselves as agrivoltaics through choosing pollinator-friendly seed mixes. The vegetation management company that Sunvest contracts for all its sites was present at the conference, as well as other regional leaders in the space. These sites are producing environmental benefits to the surrounding farmland through the ecological health of biodiversity of plants, insects, and improved water table health.

By planting native plants that are pollinator friendly, ideal forage is created for grazing livestock such as sheep. Over the life of the project, the health of the soil on site will improve greatly and the surrounding farmland will see the benefits of a healthier ecology. This approach is considered solar first because it prioritizes maximum solar production and employs no modifications to existing solar installation methods. Across the country, the management of sites up to 1,300 acres is being aided by the grazing of sheep, with no real limit on how large a site can be. Silicon Ranch is among the largest operations, as well as Gary's Lambscaping. Apparently, there is also a high demand for sheep in the US that is being met by imports of meat products. Solar grazing can meet that demand while being a source of local employment for new farmers shepherding sheep and providing local food security to rural areas that mostly grow inedible corn and soy. Sheep produce fiber and dairy, as well.

Food first projects can offer better solutions to other agricultural needs than currently exist.

Active projects around the world are showing that solar can benefit crops growing below them. Many high-value market garden crops like grapes, tomatoes, fruit trees, berries of all kinds, lettuce, and more, face heat stress without additional costs to protect them from the sun during the peak heat of the day. Single axis trackers run north-south and are well suited to allow enough light to reach these crops while benefiting them with cooler temperatures that promote healthier growth. This shade also helps to retain moisture and forms the basis of a symbiotic relationship that also benefits the solar production. The microclimate created by the plants and the solar panels is cooler because of the transpiration of water through the plants that then is retained by the solar modules above. The solar array also produces more energy in these cooler temperatures. Jack's Solar Garden has received the most attention for their project in Boulder, Colorado, with a community garden below their community solar site. Solar Farm Summit also featured several startups that have developed agrivoltaic projects across the country using specialized racking structures that allow more light to pass through and are mounted higher than a typical ground-mounted solar project.

One speaker presented their work with rural communities in India who face water shortages in their rice crops. Elevated solar installations improved their rice yields while using less water and producing more power from the same solar modules installed in more conventional systems over bare land.

The American Farmland Trust was there speaking to the benefits of Agrivoltaics for solar development in the US. Many farmers are actively fighting projects they see as encroaching on their rural character, seeing solar as an industrial development. But with the perception (and reality) that solar actually improves farmland, which can continue to be agriculturally productive, farmers are more likely to embrace projects in their community, rather than obstruct their construction.

For more information on this topic, check out North American Agrivoltaics Conference, Solar Farm Summit 2023, here. Dan Schmidt can be contacted at: daniel.schmidt1089@gmail.com

2023 Springfield Lobby Update

By Connie Schmidt

Our lobby efforts this year were rushed into action because the calendar date for their presentation was moved to earlier in February. Nevertheless, our activists’ response across the state roared into action, and by lobby day in mid-April there were over 500 caring residents from a myriad of environmental and justice organizations who convened at the capital. The rally was staged on the steps as the statue of Lincoln stood in the background. The following is a brief description of our top bills presented to the legislators with whom we met.

Polystyrene Phase Out HB2376:  Also known as the “single-use” plastics phase out, this is an effort to ban the foam food ware frequently used by restaurants for carryout, by 2025. It applies to larger businesses. The bill passed the House and is now moving in the Senate.

Clean Car and Truck Standards SB2050 and HB1634:  To increase electric vehicle use, this bill improves the clean car and truck standards and thereby decreases climate and air quality impact. The request to the legislators included asking them to sign on to a letter to the Governor asking him to use his office to increase standards as appropriate. These two bills are in the early stages of advocacy and may not move forward until next year; however, there is hope for the letter to the governor reaping some support.

The Environmental Justice Act HB2520:  The bill was presented last year, but it didn’t get over the finish line, so we are back at it again. The same bill is in both the House and the Senate. It works to require that local hearing and impact studies are done at the site of developments when they are in an Environmental Justice community. Some legislators voice concern over the definition of EJ community out of concern for fairness.

Coal Ash or Protecting of Lake Michigan Shores SB1578 and HB1608:  Again, a bill from a previous era.  SB9 was passed prior to Covid, and it declared that “polluters should pay” for their clean-up when plants are shuttered.  Well, that didn’t happen at the Zion plant near Waukegan, so these efforts work to put some teeth into the earlier law. This effort is precarious right now, in that it has been punted from House to Senate and back. We are dependent on leaders speaking up to bring this bill forward to fruition.

Carbon Dioxide Transport and Storage Protections Act HB3119:  This may end up being our “star of the year” if we are able to get it passed. I have noticed articles in a variety of newspapers on this effort.  Currently CO2 pipelines are not regulated by our state government, and the wild west of rush to develop infrastructure for carbon sequestration companies is underway. This bill sets safety standards for the industry, communities, and landowners. Our local leaders seem in favor of this bill, but convincing legislators from downstate may be a bigger lift. There is a competing industry bill that we hope will fail.

Working on political efforts through the River Prairie Group and the Illinois Chapter is some of the most valuable volunteer time you can offer. If you are interested, please contact Connie Schmidt to discuss details of our work. Cschmidt527@gmail.com

Meet Jenny Whidden, The Daily Herald's Climate Reporter

Interview by Connie Schmidt

Jennifer Whidden started her tenure as staff writer for the Daily Herald last summer, June 2022.  After some experience with the Chicago Tribune, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and the New Jersey State Ledger, she landed here in Northern IL reporting for the Daily Herald with a focus on local impacts of climate change. Hidden works in tandem with reporters across the country focusing on local issues through philanthropically supported “Report for America”. She has written on a plethora of issues including protecting Lake Michigan, electrifying our school buses, the dangers of gas stoves and utility rate increases. Meet Jenny!

What in your background brought you to reporting on environmental issues? And why here in Northern IL?

I was ushered into environmental reporting by Northern Illinois itself, a region I am grateful and proud to call my home. I grew up in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and I left my previous position with the intention of moving back to the area to be with family and friends.

In searching for a new reporting job around this time last year, I stumbled across the Daily Herald’s open climate change position through Report for America. I felt the ask — to cover climate change issues with a local focus — was something important that I could do for my community.

Where do you get your inspiration for the topics you cover? Can you give us some examples of stories that gave you great satisfaction to highlight?

Many of my articles come from readers who reach out to me via email, such as my Jan. 10 article on how idling our cars contributes to global warming.

Other times, my inspiration comes from conversations in my everyday life, such as when my roommates asked me whether real or fake Christmas trees were better for the environment (the answer, in my Nov. 25 story, turned out to be real!).

Finally, I often attend meetings not with the intention of covering them but to gather story ideas and to meet new folks who are active in the local climate scene. For example, I recently sat in on a Go Green Illinois monthly meeting on a whim, and out of it came my Jan. 28 article on electric school buses.

The most satisfying stories for me are ones that look at a national problem through a local lens and provide solutions to it. I think it’s important to show readers how an issue as vast and global as climate change affects them and their local environment, how their community is stepping up in response, and how they also can respond.

For instance, I did a story on monarch butterflies in July that summarized why the insect was recently declared critically endangered, how local efforts like the DuPage Monarch Project are supporting the critters, and what individuals can do in their own backyards to help.

How do you collect your information for your articles: are you in the field, researching on the web? What seems to be most rewarding for you?

I start most articles with online research, which allows me to begin learning about whichever topic I’m covering. Once I’ve gained some context, I use my new knowledge to reach out to the right sources — scientists, politicians, business owners, community leaders — and conduct interviews.

I aim to have every piece of information in my stories come from a person. If it has to come from the internet, I try to link to as credible a source as possible, such as a scientific journal, a university, or a relevant government organization like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is putting down the phone and knowing that I’ve just had a really good interview, that I prepared well for it through my research, and that I’ll be able to share what I’ve just learned with our readers.

Do you get feedback from readers for your articles? Is it primarily positive, or evenly divided with doubters of climate change concerns? (Our readers are pretty much in sync with the idea that “climate change is real and a real concern for our planet.”)

I do get feedback, which is something I will never take for granted. Whatever sort of response I receive, I am always grateful that someone took the time to read what I’ve written and reach out to me with their thoughts.

The messages I get are pretty evenly split between “positive” and “negative,” though I will say the negative comments are more frequently by the same people who revisit my inbox every couple of months.

Some of my favorite types of feedback are when readers ask follow-up questions, send suggestions for further reporting, or share personal experiences with the topics I cover.

I read that you brought a cat (Princeton) with you to this assignment and that you would like to “go on a few hikes.” Have you been out to some local DuPage open spaces, and if so, where are some favorites? In addition, let me invite you to check out our events calendar that features hikes with experienced leaders across the region!

I love camping and backpacking, though I can’t say the same for Prince, who lives up to his name every day and enjoys the pampered indoor life.

However, I can’t say I’ve been hiking in DuPage! I’ll be glad to check out your calendar, and would also be glad to receive any suggestions for some nice hikes.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to chat with us in this way. We look forward to reading many more important articles in the Daily Herald with your byline.

Thank you for this opportunity and thank you, sincerely, for reading my work. I’ve had an incredible start in environmental reporting over the last nine months, and I hope to continue expanding my coverage of climate change in the Chicagoland region for several years to come.

Chatter From the Chair

By Connie Schmidt

It’s coming folks, I promise—spring will be here in no time.  I always look forward to my first bloomers, the yellow aconite. Yes, I know they are non-native, but they do provide nectar that I have seen the pollinators craving in the early warming days of spring. Speaking of “craving,” don’t you just want to get out and start hiking?! Let me begin by highlighting three brief articles in this newsletter that invite you to join our experienced leaders in the field on local hikes: here. If these dates don’t work for you, please visit the RPG website frequently to check out our calendar for outings, programs, and best of all, workdays with Bruce at the Glen Ellyn Glacial Ridge Forest Preserve: here. What a great way to hang with like-minded folks, help the environment, and learn how to better care for your own personal property. 

Leaders of the River Prairie Group are beginning to work on clean transportation issues here in DuPage. In January, a “Listen Lead Share” event was held on the dangers of diesel pollution and what activists can do to help the transition to electric vehicles. Read on about this issue and what you can do.

The DuPage Monarch Annual report is on their website: here. Over the last year, we had several new signatories, and already in 2023, we have another in Naperville ready to sign on. In addition, I must mention, many of you may have attended the documentary sponsored by DMP at the Bloomingdale library in February. What a treat to see how a local IL church answered the call to “Plants, Pollinators and Prayers.” See a trailer for the film if you missed it: here.

Many of us are members and supporters of the Prairie Food Co-Op. Well, if you are not “under a rock” you must have heard, THEY HAVE A BRICK AND MORTER LOCATION! Read about this exciting news in the article included in this newsletter: here.

And finally, with news in mind, the Daily Herald added to their staff last year a writer specifically calling attention to the effects of climate change on the northern IL region. In an interview, writer Jennifer Whidden shares her thoughts as the author of these important features: here.