|
 Registration materials are available online at
www.conferences.illinois.edu/
ilriver or by calling the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, online and continuing education, at
217-244-7657.
Pre-conference activities on Oct. 1 include a conservation tour,
RiverWatch Symposium, Drought Workshop and the Illinois River
Coordinating Council meeting.
The all-day bus tour through scenic central Illinois includes
seven stops and will highlight riverfront in Havana, Spring Lake in
Manito area, Dickson Mounds, Banner Marsh and Rice Lake. The tour
includes lunch prepared by local growers and is open to the public.
Reservations are required for the tour and will be taken on a
first-come basis.
The RiverWatch Symposium and the Drought Workshop will both be at
the Four Points by Sheraton. The symposium will run from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. and is intended for citizen scientists, educators and stream
stewards to learn more about river education, river action and river
monitoring. Chad Pregracke, founder of Living Lands & Waters, will
provide the symposium's keynote address. The Drought Workshop will
run from 1 to 5 p.m. and will bring together agency personnel,
resource managers and researchers to explore drought issues and
identify research needs that will help ease policy and management
challenges in the future.
Later that evening, Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will host the Illinois
River Coordinating Council meeting, which includes an open forum for
public questions and comments. Members of the Mississippi and
Wabash-Ohio River coordinating councils will also be in attendance.
Each of the three councils is composed of a diverse group of
citizens, not-for-profit organizations, and state and federal
agencies. Through a public dialogue, the councils coordinate
initiatives, projects and funding to promote the ecological health
of Illinois' rivers.
Featured keynote speakers will be Michael Reuter, of The Nature
Conservancy; James Baumgartner, Caterpillar Inc.; Mike Doherty,
Illinois Farm Bureau; Wendell Shauman, Shauman Farm; Dave
Wethington, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Ryan Burchett,
Mississippi River Distilling Company. Speakers will touch on various
topics addressing industry and conservation, Illinois in the global
economy, the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study, and
working locally with river resources.
Concurrent sessions will address infrastructure needs and
beneficial uses of sediment, local community and agricultural
actions to protect river resources, watershed history, wildlife
habitat, river science, and more, offering perspectives on regional,
national and global impacts of the river system. These sessions are
designed to present advancements in agricultural and environmental
technologies, improve understanding of economic and societal
benefits of healthy ecosystems, and recognize activities across
Illinois through local community actions to restore the health of
this globally important watershed.
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Wednesday evening there will be riverboat cruise on the Spirit of
Peoria. The cruise will be relaxed and informal to encourage
networking. Volunteers will be on deck to point out items of
interest such as specific conservation and habitat projects or local
flora and fauna.
The conference offers opportunities for attendees to gain new
information and network with a variety of resource professionals,
scientists and river enthusiasts. Exhibits as well as an interactive
digital technologies open house will introduce attendees to
resources available online or through various agencies. There is a
chance to win a techno prize when visiting the open house.
A 36-member planning committee and at least 30 supporting local,
state and federal agencies, organizations and businesses contribute
to the development of the conference.
Early bird conference fees are as follows:
-
Full conference registration: $175 (includes riverboat cruise,
but does not include symposium or tour)
-
Wednesday with cruise or Thursday: $95
-
Symposium: $50
-
Conservation tour: $40
-
Boat cruise: $25
The early bird rate ends Sept. 15.
The Four Points by Sheraton has set aside a group room block with
special rates until Sept. 2.
The conference
schedule (PDF), including pre-conference activities and
registration form, is available online at
www.conferences.illinois.edu/ilriver or by calling Bridgett Haas at
217-244-7657.
[Text from file received from
the Illinois
State Water Survey]
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