Mike Clifford Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 If anything good is to happen to the river, it will be after Illinois takes a very firm stand against Indiana's management of the river. I think most elected officials are beginning to get the message that flood protection begins upstream and not by dumping it on the neighbors downstream, but it isn't good enough. Please share this with those you feel are concerned with the health of the river. Maybe we can nip this in the bud before it gets going. What: Legislative Field Day Where and When: Wednesday July 23, 2008 10:00 am CDT approx. 2 hrs Pavilion west of SR 39 and SR 8 Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area Near the intersection of Hwy 8 and 39 From the intersection of State Road 8 and State Road 39 go ¼ mile west and turn north into the Park area. Reason: A group of farmers from LaPorte and Starke Counties have come together with the purpose of getting the Kankakee River regularly maintained for an unobstructed water flow. All legislators with districts that are within the Kankakee Watershed are going to be invited for a 2 hour tour and briefing. The Spokesmen for the group is: Dick Welsh 3011 W 900 S Union Mills, IN 46382 219-716-6300 cell 219-767-2900 home The reason we are focusing on this now is because the destruction from flooding and poor drainage is on peoples minds. If you believe the Kankakee needs [to be] cleaned out and maintained now is the time to take action. Let's work together to prevent a tragedy in the future. Sincerely, John Newsom John Newsom Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc. Regional Manager jnewsom@infarmbureau.org (574) 274-6144 The real tragedy is occurring every single day on the Illinois side of the state line as we bear the burden of all that unmitigated Indiana sediment. We can put up all the signs we can muster, educate people about poaching and pollution issues....but the real problem here is pollution of another kind: Non-point source. The quality of fishing we are accustomed to is surely and progressively declining as spawning habitat is suffocated. Sediment is a pollutant in its own right, causing turbidity in the water that limits light penetration and prohibits healthy plant growth on the river bed. Sediment also covers much of the river bed with a blanket of silt that smothers life. By covering up gravel and cobble, sediment destroys the spawning grounds and habitat of desirable fish species such as bass, walleye, pike, catfish and panfish. Instead, less desirable species such as carp are favored by the sediment-enriched habitat. Finally, sediment is an important carrier of a critical pollutant: phosphorus. This nutrient stimulates excessive algae growth in the water column. When the algae decomposes, it depletes dissolved oxygen from the water, reducing the quality of life forms that are able to survive. This group is our first line of defense in Illinois. BE SURE to let them know you intend to see them in attendance at this quorum. KANKAKEE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION 685 LARRY POWER RD BOURBONNAIS, IL 60914-4070 Phone: 815-937-8940 x3 OR 815-932-8341 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rich mc Posted July 6, 2008 Report Share Posted July 6, 2008 that is very encouraging . rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 7, 2008 Report Share Posted July 7, 2008 Mike , Have it duly noted , are you going? Rich, Does the ISA have a representative on the KRBC ? I know we used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rich mc Posted July 7, 2008 Report Share Posted July 7, 2008 norm, i dont know of anyone that is officially a rep there. unless mike has been . who was the rep before? rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Clifford Posted July 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2008 Norm was the rep before, we have nobody on their board currently. No, I cannot make it to the meeting. Those meetings are purposely scheduled when all of them are on the payroll, as the rest of us are working our real jobs as well. Drastically cuts down on dissenters that would mob the place if it was in the evening. The KRBC should have a representative attending, as they are the watershed group here, and if they do not there is something seriously wrong with that picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 8, 2008 Report Share Posted July 8, 2008 Right now it looks real good for me to make it. Maybe I'll run into JR from the NIAA or Rich from the Soil/Water Conservation Dept there. You think I should wear the ISA shirt or go undercover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Clifford Posted July 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2008 Represent the ISA...loud and proud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Well I may be on the list of known troublemakers like you Mike but I'll fly the flag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Clifford Posted July 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Well I may be on the list of known troublemakers like you Mike but I'll fly the flag. Try not to turn over (many) cars, or set anything on fire, Norm. If you really feel as though you're gonna snap..... call me. We'll do it together and trash everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Dig it, guerrilla theater man. Yip, Yip, Yippee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim J Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 The Kankakee Mafia or Radicals for a Free Flowing River Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 The Kankakee Mafia or Radicals for a Free Flowing River Radicals for a Free Flowing River would be more like it . We don't have the muscle or the organization needed to be any thing close to a Kankakee Mafia., remember which two yahoos you're talking about. Besides I think you have to be way too conservative and cut your hair too short to be a Mafia type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Bump up, Anyone else thinking about going ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Well it still looks good for me to go. I'll take notes and report back. Any one else that may come , I going to bring the gear with and fish afterwards. I've got the Indiana Atlas and Gazetter in the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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