Bart Durham

Here is update on petition drive with now over 10,000 signatures: PETITION UPDATE 10,000 Huge milestone today. We reached 10,000 signatures in 20 days. That’s pretty amazing. The fight isn’t over, but we are making great progress. We simply want the IDNR to acknowledge that the river is navigable and available for the public to use. Isn’t that why they already have dozen of “Public” launches all along the River? Keep on sharing and thank you so much for your support. ♥️� � � � � � �...

We're looking forward to the ISA Picnic this Sunday at the Glenwood Forest Preserve Shelter on the Fox River just south of Batavia. The weather is looking great and we're hoping to have our biggest Picnic turnout ever. As part of the Picnic festivities we will be conducting our Membership Drive Rod Raffle live at the picnic and will be giving away 3 custom made Chippewa River spinning rods and a Chippewa River Fly Rod amongst other prizes. You have to have renewed your membership to qualify to win a rod so make to renew your ISA membership before Sunday's picnic. If anyone is interested in fishing, the Fox river is only a few feet away from the Picnic Shelter and some good smallmouth holes are located nearby, so feel free to bring your waders and fishing gear. The festivities begin at 10 am and food (BBQ) and fixings will be served at noon. We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!

Almost 7,800 signatures on petition so far, goal is 10,000 signatures. If you haven't signed yet please do so!

We had a great time last night with our guest speakers Deanna Doohaluk and Stephen McKracken of the Conservation Foundation who helped educate us on plans by the Dupage River Salt Creek Work Group (DRSCW) to utilize over 3.2 million dollars in funding to help restore a 4.2 mile stretch of the East Branch of the Dupage River stretching from Royce Road to Weber Road. Contracts have been signed with the engineers for the project and a Project Kickoff Meeting will be held in August for public input on the project. We will announce the meeting date and location as soon as it is received. A completion date of 12/31/23 is targeted. Deanna did a great job with her power point presentation and outlining the projects already completed, such as restoration work at Oak Meadow, Blackwell Forest Preserve and Gauer Mill. They were also responsible for installing the soon to be opened fish ladder at the Falwell Dam on the DuPage. She also outlined plans for the East Branch and issues to be addressed at the upcoming kickoff meeting. The ISA looks forward to collaborating with Deanna's team on the project. We will soon be posting the recorded video of last night presentation and I urge all our members to view same. Stay tuned.......

Please join us for tonight's Zoom seminar at 7 pm with Deanna Doohaluk for her presentation on plans for restoration of East Branch of Dupage River to improve fish habitat. Attached is updated zoom link for the seminar as I accidentally deleted the former: Bart Durham is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: ISA Zoom Seminar with Deanna Doohaluk Time: Jul 14, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86398609889?pwd=RVp3eXJxVUxuZ3k1WnRpc0FDWE9Zdz09 Meeting ID: 863 9860 9889 Passcode: 934111 One tap mobile +13126266799,,86398609889#,,,,*934111# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,86398609889#,,,,*934111# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) Meeting ID: 863 9860 9889 Passcode: 934111 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd36XnAbfg

ISA Officer's have been aware of this issue for some time. We had hoped the issue would not gain traction and die on its own but since the State is apparently reviewing the issue we will prepare a formal response strongly objecting to same. The source of the problem appears to be the tubing company and its customers polluting the stream and this is where the State's focus should be directed. In the meantime I urge all our members to sign the petition objecting to the landowner's proposal.

According to article in today's Chicago Tribune dam removal is scheduled to begin tomorrow with tentative completion date in October. Hoorah!!! "Removal of the dam will be done in two stages, the stone footings below the river bottom will remain while the part of the dam above the river bottom will be removed". "Natural river rocks will be added near the banks of river in order to create "riffles" to oxygenate the water....Native vegetation will also be planted in order to stabilize the riverbanks", according to statement by the Forrest Preserve District of Will County. "A section of the Dupage River part of the Dupage River Trail and part of the preserve will all be closed as a result of the project.....The removal will be paid for by the Lower DuPage River Wetlands Coalition".

Nice looking smallie Rob, looks like the Mopper Popper works well!

Our friend, Dick Dragiewicz, sent the following Milwaukee Journal article on the mining threat that still looms on the Menominee RIver. https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/watch-now-mining-threat-still-looms-amid-menominee-river-smallmouth-sturgeon-otters-and-kayakers/article_45dc2485-4d1e-5320-a314-e21a915b6a61.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

ISA is pleased to announce that Deanna Doohaluk of the Dupage River Salt Creek Workgroup will give a presentation on plans for restoration of the East Branch of Dupage River to help revive declining fish populations in the East Branch. Deanna will talk about the funding received, plans for use of the funding and best ways to utilize the funding for improving the river quality and to help promote the fish population. She will also talk about how ISA members and others can help with the project. Here is the link for the zoom meeting. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82962296562?pwd=bWpJREdYYnN6bzZxTytQeHpoVm14dz09

ISA is pleased to announce that members Randy Dunlap of Downers Grove and John Manikowski of Orland Park are the two winners of the ISA Chippewa River Custom Rod being given away as part of our membership renewal drive. We hope you enjoy these phenomenal bass fishing rods and thank you for renewing your ISA memberships. Don't forget we will be giving away the remaining three custom made Chippewa River bass rods at the ISA Picnic on August 1st at Glenwood Forest Preserve. We will also be giving away a custom made fly rod and other prizes. You have to renew your memberships to be eligible to win the prizes so please make sure to renew your memberships before the picnic.

Seems like even a small piece of grass can interfere with dead drift keep block head upright?

Like Ben says the fly resembles a frog pattern. Does the mop interfere with the dead drift?

Good news on the Vermillion River Coal Ash front as the Texas landowner has agreed to remove the coal ash pits from the dangerous property. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/environment/ct-vermilion-river-coal-ash-lawsuit-20210623-e2pqeg3wx5gb5aqqhbghlgcjzq-story.html