DUAL Legal ACTIONS to REDUCE POLLUTION THAT FOULS ILLINOIS WATER and FUELS Gulf DEAD ZONE

A PUBLICATION OF PRAIRIE RIVERS NETWORK Protecting Illinois’ Rivers for People, Fish, and Wildlife DUAL LEGAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE POLLUTION THAT IN THIS ISSUE // FOULS ILLINOIS WATER AND FUELS GULF DEAD ZONE Greetings from Glynnis ...................... 2 Standing Up for Science Education .. 3 BY GLYNNIS COLLINS & KIM KNOWLES els. A decade ago, Georgetown, Illinois Take Action, Volunteer, Visit Our Rivers .. 4 This March, Prairie Rivers Network had to abandon its drinking water res- 2011 Annual Report Insert joined our Mississippi River Collab- ervoir because of high nitrate levels. Member Profile ................................... 5 orative partners in launching two law- Water suppliers for Decatur, Danville, Board of Directors Update ................ 6 suits against US EPA for their failure and Streator had to install expensive Protect the Shawnee ......................... 6 to regulate nutrient pollution. ion exchange systems costing millions Carp and the Chicago River ............ 7 of dollars to remove nitrate from pol- Too many nutrients - a problem luted reservoir water. Ongoing opera- ties throughout Minnesota, Wiscon- Most people know that nitrogen and tion and maintenance expenses cost sin, Iowa, and Illinois are forced to phosphorus are important nutrients ratepayers tens to hundreds of thou- officially close beaches because of the for plants and animals. At high levels sands of dollars per year. potential presence of blue-green algae in water, however, the beneficial ef- toxins. The toxins can sicken or even fects of these nutrients become prob- In rivers and lakes, nitrogen and phos- kill people, pets, and livestock. lematic, and the nutrients are consid- phorus pollution stimulates excessive ered pollution. growth of algae, creating ugly mats The sources - Illinois is top contrib- or pea-soup scummy water. When the utor of Dead Zone pollution Nitrate, a form of nitrogen, is toxic to algae die, they rot. The bacteria that Most nutrient pollution in Illinois wa- people and other animals at high lev- decompose them use up most or even all of the oxygen in the water, choking ters and the Mississippi River comes We are reducing nutrient pollution aquatic life. An enormous example of from farmland (especially corn and in Illinois despite agency inaction this problem is the “Dead Zone” that soybean fields) and from sewage Although state and federal regula- forms in the Gulf of Mexico every treatment plants. Illinois is the largest tors have been derelict in their du- summer. source of both the nitrogen and phos- ties, we are working with partners like the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra phorus pollution that causes the Dead Club to reduce nutrient pollution by Especially in lakes and reservoirs, Zone. Illinois earns its special status working directly with communities. nutrient pollution can stimulate the partly because of the vast extent of For instance, LaSalle, Plano, Itasca, growth of blue-green algae. This industrialized corn and soybean pro- Mokena, and Sycamore have each agreed to install new technologies “pond scum” is unsightly and smells duction across our landscape. that use bacteria to remove both like vomit when it rots - enough to nitrogen and phosphorus from sew- keep people from enjoying boating age before it is discharged to Illinois We are also home to Chicago’s Metro- streams. The Village of Mahomet and swimming. The algae also some- politan Water Reclamation District; agreed to remove phosphorus and times release toxic chemicals into the its seven sewage treatment plants, nitrogen as well, helping to protect the Sangamon River, a drinking wa- water. Each summer, local communi- including the largest sewage treatment ter source for many Illinois families. continued on page 3 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 1 | S pri N G 2 0 1 2 WWW.PRAIRIERIVERS.ORG PRAIRIE RIVERS N ETWORK GREETINGS FROM GLYNNIS This year we mark the 45th anniver- Illinois’ advocate for clean water and sary of this organization’s founding. healthy rivers Forty-five years ago, in 1967, Patricia Prairie Rivers Network promotes the and Bruce Hannon learned of the restoration of polluted rivers and the and into serious consideration. We’ve plan to build a second dam on the preservation of pristine rivers - with helped residents say no to poorly- the goal of safeguarding resources for Sangamon River near Decatur (Lake conceived factory farms and mines future generations. Decatur had already been construct- that threaten their drinking water and ed in 1922). The proposed dam and quality of life. We’ve worked with pro- BOARD OF DIRECTORS reservoir would displace families and gressive businesses and municipalities JON McNusse N flood most of Allerton Park. The President on new ways to reduce pollution from Committee on Allerton Park, Prairie E ric Fre Yfogle sewage and other industries. Rivers Network’s predecessor, was Secretary born out of the Hannons’ conviction M icHael Rose NTHal As we continue to work toward our Treasurer that the project must be stopped. We goal of clean water and healthy rivers, E lle N Bullock invite you to read an essay by mem- there are several opportunities for you M argaret BruN S ber and 2010 River Steward awardee to help and take action listed in this Scott Hays about the origins of the Clark Bullard newsletter. And we hope to be calling proposed Oakley dam at prairierivers. CHarles Goodall on your support in the near future for org/articles/2012/03/oakley-dam/. We JasoN LI Ndse Y a bill that will revitalize the Illinois De- will feature other historical snapshots partment of Natural Resources’ con- in future newsletters and on our web- servation programs. We are hearing STAFF site throughout the year. rumors from Springfield that lawmak- GLYNN is Colli N S Executive Director ers are working on a bill to generate StepH Adams revenue for the financialy-struggling Communications & Membership Department. Among other duties, the Services Department runs our State Parks and Traci Barkle Y Water Resources Scientist leads the state’s Asian carp monitoring elliot Bri NkmaN and response program. Reasonable Water Resources Specialist - Habitat fees for the many services the Depart- Conservation ment currently provides for free are Robert HirscHfeld certainly long overdue. A severance Coalition Organizer - Invasive Species tax on natural wealth (such as coal, oil, StacY James Water Resources Scientist and forest products) that permanently Forty-five years after we stopped Kim KNowles leaves the state could compensate Il- Staff Attorney the dam, we are strong and growing linoisans for the lost wealth; revenue stronger. Included in this issue of Vickie NudelmaN could support programs to mitigate Operations Manager Prairie River Notes is our 2011 Annual impacts from those activities. briaN perbiX Report. I’m proud to share with you Grassroots Organizer this summary of an organization in Many thanks to our long-time mem- CecilY SmitH good financial health, that is making Water Resources Specialist bers and the growing number of fi- responsible use of our donors’ dollars SaraH Scott nancial supporters who are making Administrative Assistant to improve the condition of Illinois’ our work possible - we truly could not LucY BANNON rivers. We’ve moved the discussion do it without you. Support Staff about stopping Asian carp and other Newsletter design by McKenzie Wagner, Inc. invaders out of the realm of fantasy 2 | 3 STANDING UP FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION BY BrIAN PERBIX professional development retreat for With our partners in the Heartland Prairie Rivers Network was dismayed teachers at Rend Lake Resort where Coalfield Alliance, Prairie Rivers Net- to learn last year that the Illinois agency staff and coal industry repre- work has asked the Governor’s office Department of Commerce and Eco- sentatives sing the praises of coal. to immediately halt the distribution of the state sponsored coal cur- nomic Opportunity (DCEO) is using It may not surprise you that state riculum and to cancel the annual Coal taxpayer money to market a one-sided sponsored coal education materials Education Retreat. So far we have view of coal to students as the safe provide no information about how received no indication that either the and clean fuel of the future. coal mining, burning, or waste dis- DCEO or Governor Quinn will put posal threaten our clean water. Sadly, “From the Coal Mines to the Power our children’s science education ahead the materials also coach teachers to Lines” (tinyurl.com/7y6hk9m) is a of coal industry interests.// question whether human use of fossil K-12 curriculum that offers teachers fuels is contributing to global climate detailed lesson plans to incorporate change. coal into every subject area. Teachers Help Keep Propaganda Out of Our Kids’ Schools are invited to learn how to use this Illinois is one of three states that uses program at the annual Coal Education taxpayer money to produce and dis- Please sign our petition calling on Governor Quinn to stop selling coal Conference (tinyurl.com/7ggklao) tribute coal marketing materials under to our kids: tinyurl.com/7bakdc9 - a state sponsored, all expenses paid the guise of legitimate education. legal ActioN continued from page 1 How will the lawsuits affect pollution? plant in the world, send an average of EPA can unify states behind solutions Standards for allowable levels of nu- 1.4 billion gallons of treated sewage that match the scope of the problem. trient pollution are the necessary start- down the Mississippi River every day. ing point for reducing nutrient pollu- The lawsuits tion. We can’t make progress without Little action from regulators The lawsuits challenge EPA’s refusal establishing a target to aim for. The EPA called on states in 1998 to to address a critical pollution prob- adopt specific limits on allowable lev- lem it has acknowledged for decades. Standards will give us a direct avenue to els of nutrient pollution, and prom- Prairie Rivers Network and our Mis- reduce pollution from wastewater treat- ised to enact its own limits if states sissippi River Collaborative partners, ment plants.

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