Grayslake

Libertyville

Lake County Audubon General Meeting
 

Ecologist Ken Klick will present a Power Point program on Biodiversity at Rollins Savanna. All are invited to make an ecological connection by attending this free, hour and a half program.

Since 1995, Ken has worked as the senior restoration ecologist for the Lake County Forest Preserve District, supervising large woodland, wetland, and prairie restoration projects throughout the District’s 26,000 acres of open space.

The 1200-acre Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve is a large-scale wetland, prairie and savanna restoration that provides critical habitat for many grassland and wetland bird species, including state listed Henslow’s sparrow, northern harrier, Sandhill crane, and least bittern; and regional rare grassland birds like the bobolink, eastern meadowlark, and savanna sparrow. Yellow-headed blackbirds, least bitterns, coots, and two kinds of rails are seen there. Short-eared owls have been spotted in the winter. In addition to birds, frogs, turtles, salamanders, and fish have responded well. Natural resource restoration efforts began ten years ago and included the removal of 13 miles of agricultural drain tiles to restore hydrology; control of invasive species; planting of native trees, shrubs, and wetland plants; and seeding of savanna, wetland, and prairie species. Passive recreational trails and a native plant nursery are also part of the scene.

This program will illustrate the restoration and management steps involved in shaping a former corn and bean field in one of our region’s hottest birding locales and Important Bird Area (IBA).

Contact person Chris Geiselhart 847-362-5134.

Zion

Exelon Nuclear Community Information Night

Learn what Exelon wants you to know about the proposed decommissioning process. While the High Level Radioactive Waste will remain onsite, they intend to remove the two reactors, all structures and support buildings, and preparing the site for other undisclosed uses. "Refreshments will be served!!"

Exelon has contracted with EnergySolutions to dismantle the nuclear plant.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must approve the arrangement and the parties are also seeking a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service about the transfer of tax-qualified decommissioning funds.

Zion Nuclear Station sits on 257 acres on the shore of Lake Michigan about 40 miles north of Chicago. It has not produced power since 1997.

EnergySolutions is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company was formed in 2006 by merging BNG America, Duratek, Environcare of Utah and the D&D division of Scientech.

Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities with approximately $19 billion in annual revenues.

Here are some of our concerns:

• There will be an increased risk of a nuclear radiation release during deconstruction.
• Will the public be informed when there is heightened risk?
• They plan to leave behind the High Level Radioactive Waste (HLRW) in casks, so the site will still be dangerous, and far from a "greenfield" that anyone can re-use. Have they fully implemented the Hardened On Site Storage (HOSS) required by law to protect the public from this dangerous material? Will there be ongoing security protection for this material?
• It would be horrible to transport all that LLRW with the possibility of an accident.
• It would be horrible to contaminate some other site in Utah to make way for a new power plant at Zion.
• When they sign the deal they will claim success of having built, operated, shut down, and decommissioned a nuclear plant without a catastrophic accident. That will be powerful ammunition for those who want a nuclear renaissance. Of course, they'll fail to mention the mining, refining, and storage.
• It would be horrible to have Exelon build a new reactor at Zion, even if today they don't think they will.
• That site has access to Lake Michigan for cooling water, and big power lines to carry away electricity. It's hard to imagine that Exelon won't build a new power plant there of some kind - if not nuclear, then coal.
• Even wind energy there would be bad, as it's definitely a migratory bird flyway.
• Exelon has deeper pockets in the event of an accident. If EnergySolutions has an accident, or makes a mistake, they could lose credibility as a nuclear deconstruction contractor, and lose their revenue stream to cover big cost overruns. Then we'll be stuck with it. A single accident could cost $billions.
• In case anything goes wrong, Exelon would be shielded from liability, and litigate rather than clean up. Rather than protect the environment, Exelon is protecting its stockholders. This has been shown time and time again to result in someone cutting corners.
• If ES comes up with a particularly bad plan, we might have less influence over a Utah company than we'd have over Exelon.
• Exelon stands to gain considerable savings by doing this early, that is ratepayer money and should be invested green energy to lower our rates. They also seek a tax dodge from the IRS.
• If taxpayers give Exelon a break, will Exelon donate this Illinois Beach State Park inholding to IDNR?
• Has EnergySolutions done and other nuclear accelerated decommissioning projects? How well have they done? Is Zion a test case?

Shepherd’s Crook Golf Course Club House

351 Green Bay Road

Zion, IL

Map and Directions

Highland Park

Red Oak School to Sacrifice Wetlands and Woods

Attend the next meeting:

Tuesday, March 18, 8:00 p.m.
 

Send an e-mail to:

• North Shore School District 112 Superintendent Maureen Hager mhager@nssd112.org

• Highland Park Mayor Michael Belsky michael.belsky@fitchrating.com

• School Board Members>>

Ask about:

• Destruction of rare wooded wetlands.
  Wetlands should be avoided, but the new facility (reddish) is planned directly on top of this valuable wetland (bluish).

• Deceptive loss of hundreds of oak trees.
  Is the school exempt from the Highland Park tree ordinance? If so, should that extend to this CFC facility?

• Interpretive trail to be ruined.
  The trail near the Vernal Pool would be ripped up to connect to storm sewer.

• Degradation of Chicago River’s Middle Fork.
  Piping more stormwater runoff from the new buildings (reddish), roads and lots (white) means more pollution into the river.

• Poor stormwater planning impacts Deerfield.
  The homes across Carriage Way will be more prone to flooding of the river. Natural runoff will also occur to the NE into the Skokie watershed.

See more information at Red School.
Contact Victoria Oberman at ww-redoak@illinois.sierraclub.org to help out.

1936 Green Bay Rd.,
in School,
in Board Room or Gym

(Take Rt 22/Half Day Rd W from Milwaukee Ave/Rt 21,
turn north (right) at the first light, then quick left into the Library parking lot.
Map and Directions

Lincolnshire

W&W Public Meeting

Jill Russell and Victor Wolbrink, Wolbrink Architects

Construction and use of homes and other structures has an unquestionable effect on nature, through the use of materials, land and energy. Luckily, there is a trend among leading architects towards sustainable designs and low impact construction practices, including the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program gaining wide acceptance in the industry.

Our speakers, Jill Russell, LEED certified general contractor, and Victor Wolbrink, principal architect, received Mayor Daley’s 2006 Greenworks Award for Market Transformation and designed and built the first Energy Star three-flat in Chicago.

At our March meeting, Russell and Wolbrink will explain environmentally friendly building and industry improvements, much of which can be applied to your own homes and workplaces.

Contact Larry Marvet at 847-537-2083 with any questions.

Help unite members eager to have public meetings. See Help W&W! to join our membership committee.

Vernon Area Public Library

300 Old Half Day Rd

(Take Rt 22/Half Day Rd W from Milwaukee Ave/Rt 21,
turn north (right) at the first light, then quick left into the Library parking lot.
Map and Directions

Grayslake

Taking A Stand On Global Warming
From Conversation To Action!

If you watched An Inconvenient Truth and felt the need to do something…
If you take pride in standing up for your beliefs…
If you want to be part of a community effort that will make a difference…
Then take part in the GLOBAL WARMING CAFÉ.
Because we have a lot to talk about…

Do you know that the typical U.S. household generates 55,000 pounds of CO2 annually… compared to only 27,000 pounds in Germany and a mere 15,000 pounds in Sweden? There are many ways that we can lower our “carbon footprint.” And guess what… it’s easier when we all do it together. Come find out how!

We invite you to join us for an exciting Global Warming Café. It’s a powerful, new social change technology that enables us to experience the power of community. You’ll interact with a broad cross-section of Lake County citizens in frank and open conversation to help us reflect deeply on what global warming means to each of us, individually and as a community. We’ll exchange views, feelings and ideas. Then we will learn about a program, Low Carbon Diet, to help us lower our carbon footprint while saving money and transfer this knowledge to our communities and workplaces.

Are you up for it? Then make this a priority…
because when you know the facts, you know there’s nothing more important.

RSVP by March 13 to Matt Van Slyke.

For more information about the Low Carbon Diet, visit www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd . Help spread the word by posting this flyer.

Co-sponsored with the Lake County Audubon Society.
Door Prizes Donated By: Station Square at Prairie Crossing.

Prairie Crossing
Byron Colby Barn
Grayslake
Jones Point Road

Turn W onto Jones Point from Rt. 45 at the light a between Casey and Rt. 120 / Belvidere. The Barn and its parking area are on the left.
Map and Directions

Libertyville

Lake County Audubon General Meeting
 

Jeff Sundberg, Lake Forest College will explore how to tell our birds apart.

Contact person Chris Geiselhart 847-362-5134.

Hoffman Estates

Linking Watersheds Conference 2008

Join colleagues for a full-day, interactive conference on issues relevant to the watersheds in northeastern Illinois, northwestern Indiana, and southeastern Wisconsin. Building on the collaborative network of Chicago Wilderness and the ecosystem partnerships, this program will bring together managers, scientists, educators and others to share information, discuss challenges, and promote models to advance cooperative and collaborative watershed projects in our region.

Northern Illinois University Hoffman Estates Campus 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Presentations & Sessions to include the following and more:

• Keynote: Connecting the Dots to Watershed Management: Child’s Play or Advanced Science? Kevin Shafer, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
• The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s Watershed Management Ordinance, Richard Lanyon
• Chicago Wilderness Green Infrastructure Vision
• Northwest Indiana’s Greenways and Blueways Plan
• Brownfields, Re-Development, Retrofits
• Local Watershed Planning
• Economics of Green Development

http://foxriverecosystem.org/conference.htm

Presented by Chicago Wilderness and the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership

Lincolnshire

W&W Public Meeting

David Meyer, President Rainforest Conservation Fund

The Rainforest Conservation Fund (RCF) is an all volunteer organization founded by a small group of Chicagoland residents concerned about rainforest destruction. Since it's beginning in 1988, they've focused their efforts on Peru's one million acre Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu Tahuayo (RCTT), home to the most diverse assembly of primate species on any protected land in the world.

Mr. Meyer will tell us how RCF works with the adjacent communities to limit destructive activities through alternative methods and industries. By protecting the Reserva, the Rainforest Conservation Fund is protecting numerous unique and endangered animals, including jaguar, pink river dolphin, harpy eagle, red uakari monkey, giant otter, and the giant anteater.

Contact Larry Marvet at 847-537-2083 with any questions.

Help unite members eager to have public meetings. See Help W&W! to join our membership committee.

Vernon Area Public Library

300 Old Half Day Rd

(Take Rt 22/Half Day Rd W from Milwaukee Ave/Rt 21,
turn north (right) at the first light, then quick left into the Library parking lot.
Map and Directions

Libertyville

Lake County Audubon General Meeting
 

Sara Surroz, Liberty Prairie Conservancy explains ways that private landowners can benefit from land conservation.

For more information, see description for her W&W presentation.

Contact person Chris Geiselhart 847-362-5134.

Lincolnshire

W&W Public Meeting

Dave Kraft, Nuclear Energy Information Service

As we look for solutions to global warming, some say our choice is to continue with dirty, carbon spewing coal fired power, or sweet and pristine nuclear energy. Is this a true choice, or are there other alternatives that can reverse climate change? We're lucky to have David Kraft of the Chicago-based Nuclear Energy Information Service>> as the speaker at our May 28 meeting. Mr. Kraft will explain the real questions about nuclear energy and it's future.

According to Kraft, what is not well known is that we currently possess a great deal of the technological know-how needed to begin creating an energy future that will be BOTH carbon free, and nuclear free -- and by the year 2050.

This will be our last general meeting until the fall. Please plan to attend to learn more about climate change solutions and nuclear energy.

Contact Larry Marvet at 847-537-2083 with any questions.

Help unite members eager to have public meetings. See Help W&W! to join our membership committee.

Vernon Area Public Library

300 Old Half Day Rd

(Take Rt 22/Half Day Rd W from Milwaukee Ave/Rt 21,
turn north (right) at the first light, then quick left into the Library parking lot.
Map and Directions

Glencoe

Chicago Botanic Garden

The Chicago Botanic Garden has been chosen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the sole North American host for World Environment Day 2008. At the Garden and at venues around the world, events will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation, and eco-friendly consumption

Hear experts on global warming at the International Climate Change Forum>>, learn dozens of fun ways to reduce your carbon footprint at the Knowledge & Action marketplace>>, and enjoy the International Childrenʼs Painting Competition>>.

Go Green!>>

Chicago Botanic Garden

1000 Lake Cook Rd.

Go S on Rt. 41 or I-294
Go E on Lake Cook Rd.
Garden is on the S side.

Middlefork Savanna

Lake Forest

Lake County Forest Preserves
 

The LCFP is having a BioBlitz on Saturday, June 28th at the Middlefork Savanna. There will be a wide variety of scientists there all day long to research the site; identifying plants, animals, soils, etc. Middlefork Savanna is a very special preserve, there are over 10 different agencies that help fund and care for the site. Many think this is the only Black Oak savanna site left in the state of IL. Apparently all the scientists are thrilled to have this opportunity to research and help educate the public.

A Biodiversity Blitz, or BioBlitz, is a rapid assessment of what lives in a particular area at a given point in time. Biodiversity, the variety of living things, is often discussed in terms of the rain forest or the ocean, not somewhere familiar or local. However, Illinois’ second BioBlitz was held in Chicago when scientists and the public came together for a 24-hour blitz on August 23 and 24, 2002. Organized teams converged on Calumet to conduct an extensive inventory of the surprising biodiversity living within the industrial landscape of landfills, refineries, and abandoned steel mills. Beyond those doing the field work were many community organizations that ensured meaningful participation for the public. (See Field Museum.)

For more information, check back here in April

Contact person Janice Aull,  847-968-9125.

Map and Directions

Eliminating Good Options

Round Lake

Governance Board Meeting
 

In spite of public resistance to plans that would destroy wetlands and Forest Preserves, while radically changing their local communities, the Rt. 120 Planning Committee wants to remove the No Build  and Widening options from its consideration. Improving Rt. 120 in its present right of way was seen by many as less controversial than ripping up wetlands and farmland. The bypass approach also ignores mass transit opportunities. (See Rt. 120 Corridor Land Use Visioning Workshop.)

Come and express your support for the "Widen Existing Rt. 120" option.

From the Agenda:
XI. PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF TWO ALTERNATIVES THAT DO NOT MEET PURPOSE AND NEED STATEMENT – JEFF HALL
    11.1 FHWA/IDOT coordination
    11.2 Relevant Decision Matrix Results
MOTION: Motion to Approve Elimination of
        Alternate 1, No-Build and
        Alternate 2, Widen Existing Rt. 120

Map and Directions

Polluted Runoff
from the
Osmond Sports Park

Libertyville

Stormwater Management Commission

 

At this meeting the SMC Board will decide whether to take Antioch off of probation, and if so, whether to revoke or restore Antioch's certification. Should SMC take over construction stormwater permits in Antioch, or should Antioch be authorized to continue its bad behavior without supervision?

 

Since October 2007, Antioch's actions at the Osmond Sports Park have failed to show that they can follow the WDO. They have allowed persistent sediment control violations at this site. These have included:

1.  Significant and risky changes to the sediment control system without SMC notification or approval required by the Probation terms.

2. Failure to document dewatering of the site on April 16th, 2008.

3. Failure to remedy problems documented in Erosion and Sediment Control Reports, including:

   • insufficient topsoil for stabilization,

   • flattened sediment fencing,

   • broken and faulty filtered risers and missing rip-rap (pictured above).

4. Failure to complete emergency repairs within 10 days in early May 2008 to prevent unmitigated sediment runoff into the Sequoit Creek wetlands and floodplain

To cover their tracks, they have illegally concealed documents from public review, and threatened local volunteer water sentinels.

 

See Antioch OSP Timeline

333 Peterson Rd. Libertyville

Map and Directions

Karen May
vs. Tim Stratton

Deerfield

League of Women Voters of Highland Park

After brief remarks from each candidate, questions from the audience submitted on cards will be put to the candidates.

Bring your environmental concerns: Clean Cars, more efficient buildings, more open space, renewable energy, clean air, better transit, no new nukes, livable communities.

See LWV of HP Calendar

375 Elm St., Deerfield

Map and Directions

Lincolnshire

W&W Public Meeting

Linette George, President, Get Organized by George

How do you personally and at home do the “right thing” for the environment with all the confusing and overwhelming information available to us? At Sierra Club's first meeting of the new season, we'll hear from Linette George, President of Get Organized by George, who has been dealing with other peoples’ stuff since 2003.

After seeing first hand how over-consumption can mess-up her clients lives, it became her passion and goal to help people live and work better with less… and go green. Linette is a Certified Professional Organizer®, Certified GO System Trainer, proud member of Co-op America's Green Business Network™ and was recently featured on Ideal Bite.

Ms. George will discuss recycling of common household and electronic items, composting, cleaning products and conscientious consuming. If you ever wondered how to green your day-to-day life, this will be a great opportunity to find out!

Vernon Area Public Library

300 Old Half Day Rd

(Take Rt 22/Half Day Rd W from Milwaukee Ave/Rt 21,
turn north (right) at the first light, then quick left into the Library parking lot.

Map and Directions

Click, Open, Save to your calendar:

ics
vcs
rtf

Mark Kirk
vs. Dan Seals

Deerfield

League of Women Voters of Highland Park

After brief remarks from each candidate, questions from the audience submitted on cards will be put to the candidates.

Bring your environmental concerns: Global Warming, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Higher MPG, Wetland Protection and Recovery, Clean Air, Better Transit, No New Nukes, No OCS or Arctic Drilling.

See LWV of HP Calendar

1959 N. Waukegan Rd.
Deerfield
(South of Rt.22 & North of Deerfield Rd)

Map and Directions

Bill McKibben

Evanston

Northwestern University

Bill McKibben, the prominent environmental journalist, author of twelve books including "The End of Nature", and professor at Middlebury College, Vermont.

Carbon, Oil, and the Next Economy: The Local, the Global, and the Path Ahead

Free

Questions? Contact J. Michael Brod, (262)853-5274

See Chicago Wilderness

2145 Sheridan Road

Map and Directions

Libertyville

Lake County Audubon General Meeting

Libertyville Village Hall
Second Floor Meeting Room
118 W. Cook

Map and Directions

Lincolnshire

W&W Public Meeting

Dr. Jim Angel, State Climatologist for Illinois

We hear about global warming every day. We know that oceans and world temperatures will rise and severe weather will increase, but effects won't be the same everywhere. How will we, in Northern Illinois, be affected? To find out, we've invited the State Climatologist Dr. Jim Angel to speak about climate change specifically in Illinois. As the primary scientist covering issues of global warming for the State, Dr. Angel is the best source of information on this important subject.

Jim Angel has been the Illinois State Climatologist since 1997 and holds a Ph.D. (1996) from the University of Illinois in the Department of Geography. Since 1984, he has worked at the Illinois State Water Survey as a researcher on projects that examined droughts, floods, rainfall patterns, extreme rainfall events, storms, El Niño, La Niña, and climate change.

Vernon Area Public Library

300 Old Half Day Rd

(Take Rt 22/Half Day Rd W from Milwaukee Ave/Rt 21,
turn north (right) at the first light, then quick left into the Library parking lot.

Map and Directions

Restore Good Options

Hainesville

Open House
 

In spite of public resistance to plans that would destroy the large open space shown here in green (Big Sag wetlands, Squaw Creek and nearby Forest Preserves), while radically changing their local communities, the Rt. 120 Planning Committee voted to remove the No Build and Widening options from its consideration. Improving Rt. 120 in its present right of way was seen by many as less controversial than ripping up wetlands and farmland to build the route deceivingly shown here as a thin white line. The bypass approach also ignores mass transit opportunities. (See Rt. 120 Corridor Land Use Visioning Workshop.)

Come and express your support for restoring the "Widen Existing Rt. 120" option to the study.

From the Rt. 120 CPC Website:
This is your opportunity to provide input and get updates on: Roadway characteristics, Roadway alternatives, Land use in the corridor, Recent traffic studies.

Map and Directions

Mundelein

Wauconda

Village of Deerfield

Winthrop Harbor

Lindenhurst

Round Lake Beach

Round Lake

Vernon Hills

Deerfield

Between Rt. 22 and Deerfield Rd.

Map and Directions