Start a local river conservation organization

When historians look back on this particular time period, a great deal will be written about the resource that we value and cherish - water - and how we confront the problems of scarcity, sustaining the diversity of life, or the very chemical quality of our waterways.

One of the most effective ways to address these problems and protect a local stream is to have local watershed group. Made up of ordinary citizens, who care about rivers and wildlife, a local watershed group can make a great difference by participating in local decisions and take actions, like river cleanups, to ensure that your stream is clean and healthy.

There are many areas in Illinois that unfortunately do not have a local group to protect their hometown streams. We at Prairie Rivers Network would like to increase the number of voices and organizations representing rivers and streams, and we are available to help.

We can connect volunteers willing to create such organizations, and then offer technical and organizational assistance to build the local group's capacity and strategic plan.

If you are interested in joining an existing group or in helping to start a local watershed group, please contact our Watershed Organizer, Kim Erndt, at 217/344-2371 or by email at kerndt@prairierivers.org.