Watershed Panel: Fox River Ecosystem Partnership

1
Connecting Illinois Watersheds

• Watershed PanelFox River Ecosystem Partnership

Becky Hoag, Communications Manager
2
(No Transcript)
3
Watershed Statistics

• 1,720 square miles
• 130 miles in length
• Covers portions of eight counties
• Over 90 communities
• Over 400 lakes
• 15 dams on the mainstem
• 214,000 people depend on the Fox for drinking
  water

4
Vision Statement

• Our vision for the Fox River Watershed is to
  balance all the uses and demands on our natural
  resources while preserving and enhancing a
  healthy environment

5
Structure

• FREP incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit
  organization in 2000Officers (President,
  Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate
  Past President) and Chairs of committees serve
  as Executive Committee,which meets on a
  bi-monthly basis and as needed

6
Committees

• Agriculture
• Conservation Design
• Education
• Government Relations
• Habitat
• Lakes
• Recreation
• Water Resources

7
Staffing Funding

• FREP received grants to hire Communications
  Manager to market the Integrated Management
  PlanAll other participation is volunteer

8
Integrated Management Planfor the Fox River
Watershed

• Developed in 1998 through a year-long
  facilitated planning process involving six
  citizen-based teams and over 100 volunteers
  focusing on six areas of concern.

9
Elements of theIntegrated Management Planfor
the Fox River Watershed

• Water Quality
• Land Use
• Education
• Recreation
• Stormwater
• Habitat 

10
Marketing Activities

• Distribution of a Tool Kit for theIntegrated
  Management Plan to governments and organizations

11
Communication Tools

• Comprehensive websitefoxriverecosystem.orgFox
  River News quarterly newsletter to 700
  constituentsDownstreambi-monthly membership
  newsletterEmail Communiqués

12
Activities

• Bi-monthly FREP Noon Networks (alternates
  months with FREP Membership meetings)
  Informational programs and a time for
  networking for all FREP members and interested
  persons within the watershed  

13
FREP Noon NetworkTopics
How to Get Your Project StartedFish Dam
Issues Within the watershedFox River
Watershed Monitoring EffortsRecreation in
the watershed
14
FREP Noon Networks Topics
Wetland Mitigation Bank Otter Creek Stream
Restoration ProjectIEPA 319 Grant
ProgramAgricultural Conservation Easements
Farmland Protection Program
15
Projects
3-Year Strategic Work Plan2002-2005 Developed
in 2002 resulting in Work Plan with Goals and
Action Steps assigned to specific committees
16
Projects

• Grant ReviewC2000 GrantsSince 1997 38
  projects1.66 M funding, 6 M matching
  fundsIEPA 319 GrantsIn 2001 8 projects, 3.4 M

17
Key Marketing/Outreach Efforts

• Bi-monthly Noon Networks
• Comprehensive Website
• Quarterly Community Newsletter
• Grant Process for EPA 319 C2000
• Yearly meeting with a legislative focus
• 3-Year Strategic Plan 

18
Questions Answers