Bart Durham

I noted he moved to Newark, Michigan in 2020 on the Menominee River, I'm sure to be near the mighty Menominee smallmouth. I fished with Tim's partner, Dan Johnson on the Mississippi RIver above Minneapolis in 2016, who put us on some tremendous smallmouth, but unfortunately had never met Tim, but read many of his books and articles on Smallmouth and greatly admired his knowledge about smallmouth and ability to put it into words. He even knew a lot about the great Illinois smallmouth streams including DuPage, Fox and Kishwaukee. .

What a shock, so sad to hear. He was a prolific writer about the Smallmouth Bass and staunch supporter and will be sorely missed.

Won't that mean less boat traffic and less boating pressure? Perhaps more kayaks?

Don't get discouraged, half the fun is searching for and finding the good spots. The Kank can be difficult (we've all been skunked there) and Smallmouth can be finicky but once you find them it is very rewarding, especially the hard charging Kankakee smallmouth.

I was thinking an old VW Van with peace sign on the side would be perfect for you Terry!

Ran into a Interfluve surveyor doing preliminary work on the East Branch near the Hidden Lakes bridge yesterday. Work on the restoration project is moving forward.

Probably good thing you missed it Rich with the hack that occurred. The Dupage headwaters previously underwent multi million dollar Superfund restoration project from headwaters down to McDowell Woods. The East Branch was not part of that project.

We had near perfect weather and a great turnout for Saturday's water willow planting on the DuPage River near the Warrenville Road Bridge in Warrenville. We planted over 600 native water plants along both shores of the river in an area upstream and downstream of the bridge. Following the planting all participants joined together at Al's Pizza for a well deserved meal and social gathering. This planting was somewhat special in that it is the last planting that Jessie DiMartini will preside over as she is retiring after many years with the Dupage County Urban Stream project. Many thanks to Jessie for your help on Saturday and for all the volunteer work you helped us with over the years. We plan to honor Jessie's service and retirement at an upcoming ISA event in the near future Thank you John Lobach for putting this together and to all the ISA volunteers and friends that showed up on Saturday to do this arduous but significant work!

The zoom meeting started off great with introduction of all participants, and meeting began when zoom meeting was hacked into and had to be suspended. First time that this has happened for me. Initial information provided before unfortunate interruption indicates that between 4 -5 million dollars will be available in funding for the project. The target area for the restoration will be from just north of Royce Road downstream to Weber road. The engineering teams hired for the project are Interfluve and AECOM, with projected completion date of 12/31/23. This is all the information revealed before the interruption. I hope to have the rescheduled meeting information soon and will post here.

Don't forget the zoom kickoff meeting at noon today for the Lower East Branch DuPage River Stream Restoration Project. Hopefully you can attend, here is the link for the zoom meeting: : Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86963057239?pwd=QVB1cnpyd0g5QzlhSGdWRWxRdDZrdz09

Deanna Doohaluk just sent me information on the Kickoff Zoom meeting for the Lower East Branch DuPage River Stream Restoration Project which will take place on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 12pm via zoom. Here is the Zoom link and information for the zoom meeting. We hope to have many of our members involved in the project. Let me know if you can attend the kickoff zoom meeting: Zoom details: The Conservation Foundation is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: DRSCW - Lower East Branch Stream Restoration Project Kick-Off Meeting Time: Sep 16, 2021 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86963057239?pwd=QVB1cnpyd0g5QzlhSGdWRWxRdDZrdz09 Meeting ID: 869 6305 7239 Passcode: 172939 One tap mobile +13126266799,,86963057239#,,,,*172939# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,86963057239#,,,,*172939# 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) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 869 6305 7239 Passcode: 172939 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kfVzkj8Cn Deanna Doohaluk Watershed Project Manager, DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup The Conservation Foundation 10 S 404 Knoch Knolls Road Naperville, IL 60565 P: 630-428-4500, Ext. 133 F: 630-428-4599 We save land. We save rivers. www.theconservationfoundation.org blob:https://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/d7ecb856-2597-427c-b42c-c37ab7d0e741

Deanna Doohaluk just sent me information on the Kickoff Zoom meeting for the Lower East Branch DuPage River Stream Restoration Project which will take place on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 12pm via zoom. Here is the Zoom link and information for the zoom meeting. We hope to have many of our members involved in the project. Let me know if you can attend the kickoff zoom meeting: Zoom details: The Conservation Foundation is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: DRSCW - Lower East Branch Stream Restoration Project Kick-Off Meeting Time: Sep 16, 2021 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86963057239?pwd=QVB1cnpyd0g5QzlhSGdWRWxRdDZrdz09 Meeting ID: 869 6305 7239 Passcode: 172939 One tap mobile +13126266799,,86963057239#,,,,*172939# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,86963057239#,,,,*172939# 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) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 869 6305 7239 Passcode: 172939 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kfVzkj8Cn Deanna Doohaluk Watershed Project Manager, DuPage River Salt Creek Workgroup The Conservation Foundation 10 S 404 Knoch Knolls Road Naperville, IL 60565 P: 630-428-4500, Ext. 133 F: 630-428-4599 We save land. We save rivers. www.theconservationfoundation.org blob:https://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/d7ecb856-2597-427c-b42c-c37ab7d0e741

We had 28 members and family members attend the ISA picnic on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. In addition to the delicious bbq and fixings we also conducted the final membership drive rod raffle and the three Chippewa River custom rod winners were ISA members' Larry Craig of Champaign, Jim Moore of Highland Park and Jeff Blevins of Rockford. Congrats to the three rod winners and thank you to all that attended the picnic:

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