The Fox Valley Sustainability Network will highlight Green Infrastructure at its next educational forum from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles.

A bioswale at the Kane County Government Center helps filter stormwater.

Given the recent flooding in the Fox River Watershed that resulted in property damage and the temporary closure of the Fox to recreational activities, the topic of Green Infrastructure is very timely.

Speakers from the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, The Conservation Foundation and the Morton Arboretum will discuss a variety of programs that provide stormwater management, and environmental and economic benefits through the use of natural landscaping and restoration.

The lineup of speakers will include:

• Jeff Mengler, senior project scientist with Hey & Assoc. and president of the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, will discuss FREP’s Campaign for Sustainable Green Infrastructure in the Fox Valley, an education/outreach campaign for decision-makers about reducing costs the green way, sustainability for municipalities.
• Dan Lobbes, director of Land Protection and Kane County program director for The Conservation Foundation, will talk about The Fox Valley Monarch Corridor Project and the foundation’s Pollinator Meadow Mix, which are both tools to improve habitat for important pollinators.

Karen Miller, executive planner for the Kane County Development Department, will give an update on the Fox River Water Trail Initiative.

• Karen Ann Miller, planner with the Kane County Development Department and Executive Committee member of the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, will provide an update on data collection for the Wisconsin-Illinois Fox River Water Trail Initiative and encourage volunteers to participate.
• Trish Beckjord, program manager for the Fox River Initiative at The Conservation Foundation, will discuss the new Conservation In Our Community initiative to engage citizens in eight communities and one park district to become environmentally-conscious through a variety of local projects.
• Lydia Scott, director of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative at The Morton Arboretum, will discuss the Initiative which is a collaboration of Chicago region partners working together to develop and implement a strategy that builds a healthier and more diverse urban forest by 2040.
• Emily Okallau, Community Trees Project coordinator at The Morton Arboretum, will talk about volunteer stewardship as part of the Arboretum’s efforts to effectively manage and care for our urban and community forest.
• Beth Corrigan, Community Trees Program specialist at The Morton Arboretum, will educate attendees about managing the community forest.

To wrap up the forum, Pam Otto, manager of Nature Programs & Interpretive Services at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, will give an overview of the green features of their building as well as a tour of the aquaponics display.  You may know Pam for her fascinating and entertaining “Good Natured” articles.

The forum is FREE to attend, but space is limited. Please RSVP to Charles Colley at ccolley@a5inc.com or by calling 314-651-2901.

For more information about the event, visit www.foxvalleysustainabilitynetwork.com.

About the Fox Valley Sustainability Network

The Fox Valley Sustainability Network is co-produced by a5 & Seven Generations Ahead, with support from the City of Aurora and Kane County. Current sponsors of the network include Applied Ecological Services and Republic Services. To learn more about the Fox Valley Sustainability Network, please visit the website and like the network on Facebook.