Earth Day 2018: Take Action To Save The Fox River

Jessica Mino / April 16, 2018 / 1 Comment / Environment, Events, Kane County Division of Environmental and Water Resources, Nature, Nonprofits, Recreation, Sustainability, Volunteers

This Countdown To Earth Day article, contributed by Gary Swick, president of Friends of the Fox River, is part of a 15-part series of tips on how to make a positive environmental impact in Kane County as we approach Earth Day on April 22.

Tip #5: Join Others for Community Action

Before the first Earth Day, the Fox River had a history of abuse. In 1999, American Rivers named it the seventh-most endangered river in America.

Today, the Fox River has much improved, and supports a diversity of wildlife and recreational opportunities. This recovery is partly the result of the work of organizations like Friends of the Fox River. Conditions have improved, but many threats are still ever present. Individually, our efforts are important, but collectively we can achieve so much more.

Becoming a member of Friends of the Fox River helps to protect and defend the watershed in many ways. Financial support maintains programming like the Watershed Watchdogs that get thousands of students each year into their local streams to collect water quality data and develop stewardship.

It also supports other education initiatives, habitat improvement, and advocacy efforts that broaden your impact upon environmental protection.

Consider joining Friends of the Fox River as a volunteer, member, or attend one of their family event.

Find Yourself on The Fox

This spring and summer you can help at a riverbank clean up, celebrate our successes at a Love Our River festival, help raise funds at the No Clean Water No Good Beer party, or sign up for a canoe trip as part of their Find the Fox series.

Friends of the Fox River has a place for you as a member, volunteer, and event participant. Visit: friendsofthefoxriver.org to learn more about the organization and sign up for an event.

Together, we can most effectively protect and better enjoy our Fox River. Join other concerned citizens to Keep on Fixin’ the Fox!

Interested in learning how to monitor water quality? Check out the Stream Monitoring Guide provided by Friends of the Fox River, and sign up for a free FRWMN Stream Monitoring Training Workshop.