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Illinois Governor's Conference and Illinois Conservation Conference Information from Doug Welch and Norm Miller - Parklands Sparks Bridge Joint Project IPC Letter from Chuck Burns Winter Club Activities        ***Items of Interest to MCC Members*** Please thank the MCC for allowing me to participate in the IL Governor's Conference on the Management of the IL River. I attended all the sessions available and moderated one session. On Oct 20 (first night) I attended the IL River Coordinating Council and testified at the event on the Mud to Jobs initiative initiated by the Heartland Water Resources Council, of which I'm President. [Please see attachment.] On Day 2 Wed, Oct 21, I participated in the following: Opening Remarks & Welcome Address Plenary Session One: 12 Years Implementing the Integrated Mgmt Plan with former Lt. Gov Bob Kustra Plenary Session Two: IL Water Law & Court Interpretation with Bob Beck (SIU), Don Uchtmann (U of I) and Al Ettinger (Environmental Law & Policy Ctr). I took notes [copied as another attachment here] and asked the question of all panelists if they felt the method to improve IL Water Law was a comprehensive (legislative) plan and where it was currently lacking. None of the responses addressed the "lacking" portion of my question and the answers on the Comprehensive approach went from Yes, to No, to in between. The all said theoretically yes, but felt that this Gen Assembly couldn't be trusted to do a comprehensive plan correctly. Ecosystem Services: Intro with Randy Vogel (Applied Ecological Services) Local Community Actions & Success with Brad McMillian (Inst of principled Leadership, Bradley U) Evening Gathering with David Zalaznik (Peo Journal Star) photographer and author of a recent pictoral book of the IL River. I asked him if he planned another book and he responded that perhaps although it was much work. On final Day 3 (Oct 22) I participated in the following: I served as Moderator for Economic Dev: Dev Community Assets to Impact Quality of Life with laura Payne (U of I) who demonstrated that recreation (like paddling, canoing & kayaking) reducess stress and improves the quality of life [of course, MCC members already know that , don't we.] Soil & Water Movement: Sedimentation with Mike Demissie & Laura Keefer (both from the IL State Water Survey) in which Mike applauded the Heartland Water Resources Council for it's reducing sedimentation efforts and endorsed the Mud To Jobs Initiative. Closing Presentation with US Sec of Transportation Ray LaHood & Bill White (Conf Chair, IL State Water Survey). At the Conservation Congress, I voted for 3 initiatives and sent them to Marc Miller (IDNR) for recommendation to the Gen Assembly. They were: 1. Create a dedicated revenue stream for the IDNR activities fo9r consiituent users (like paddlers, canoists & kayakers) 2. Support the Mud to Jobs Initiative. 3. Create legislation to protect liability for private land owners to enable them to keep waterways open. [the incident on the Vermillion River that Frank & Marilyn distributed to all MCC members with the concrete plant closing the river was the incident I shared to demonstrate the need. Be glad to respond to any questions. Please email me at russ@mtco.com. Thanks again to the MCC. For more explanations - please see the following documents Russ also sent. Mud to Jobs Summary Mud to Jobs 2 PLBA Brochure Best Regards, Russ Doug Welch (left) from the Mackinaw Canoe Club and Matt Fraker (right) from the Parklands Foundation LEMAN CANOE LAUNCH OPENED In these times where state park closings and river dam rule changes make you feel paranoid about being a paddler, a little ray of sunshine beams through in Woodford County. The Mackinaw Canoe Club and the ParkLands Foundation have partnered in improving access to the Sparks Bridge area along the Mackinaw River. (See Paddling Illinois by Mark Svob for his article on the Mackinaw River trip 1.) The ParkLands Foundation (www.parklandsfoundation.org) acquired several acres of property near the Sparks Bridge. The foundation is dedicated to preserving and restoring natural areas. They then invited the Mackinaw Canoe Club to collaborate on the design, financing, and construction of a 12-vehicle parking lot. The lot provides, for the first time, safe parking for those using the river north of Carlock, Illinois. Paddlers, fishermen, birdwatchers, and others wanting to enjoy the outdoors can use the access. A local person who provided substantial funding for the effort named the lot. The Mackinaw Canoe Club and members as individuals also contributed. Mac Arnold of the ParkLands Foundation and Doug Welch of the Mackinaw Canoe Club worked together to get permits approved, designs discussed, and other details resolved. If you find yourself in Central Illinois, travel north of Carlock (about 6 ½ miles ) and take a trip on the Mackinaw. Return to the Top --> Illinois Paddling Council Newsletter Article Chuck Burns, Mackinaw Canoe Club IPC Representative We have at least two excellent candidates for water trails in central Illinois - the Mackinaw River and the Sangamon River. The Mackinaw is a prairie stream which begins in Ford County (east-central Illinois) flowing through three glacial moraines in central Illinois before joining the Illinois River near Pekin. The Sangamon, which begins near Bloomington, is historical linked to Abraham Lincoln. Its westward flow joins the Illinois River near Beardstown. The Mackinaw has the distinction of not being dammed its entire length. The Sangamon, through dammed in places, is long enough at 241 miles, that it can be paddled in fairly unobstructed stretches. Both the Mackinaw and the Sangamon flow through wooded corridors for the most part, and offer bird watchers and nature enthusiasts a rare treat in this part of Illinois. My first steps in the development of water trails will be the collection and documentation of trail logistics relating to these two rivers. The members of the Mackinaw Canoe Club, local civic groups, commercial interests and others should provide the information we need to offer local and visiting paddlers the necessary details on access sites, travel and directions, eateries, overnight accommodations, liveries, equipment, and supplies. After developing our information base, we look forward to putting together a promotional brochure/booklet/pamphlet that we will distribute. The Mackinaw and the Sangamon, in my opinion, represent rare gems waiting for discovery by paddlers. The lack of numerous technical challenges in these streams is more than made up for by the beauty and diversity of the natural surroundings. As things stand now, the members of the Mackinaw Canoe Club represent a substantial resource of information about the area. IPC members are welcome to make inquiries, consult our web site, and bring their friends to join in the fun of paddling central Illinois. Winter Club Activities We've added winter activities. Contact us if you would like to lead a hike or something else as one of these club trips or would like to suggest different places to spend some time at.