First Annual Illinois Water Trail Conference
Held Monday, October 15th, 2018
Hosted by: ILLINOIS PADDLING COUNCIL
and the Potawatomi Paddlers Association
See full program details below.
ILLINOIS WATER TRAILS CONFERENCE PROGRAM
October 15, 2018 – Four Rivers Environmental Educational Center, Channahon, Illinois
MORNING EVENTS
Introductions and Conference Purpose– Tom Eckels, President, IPC
Here, Where Water Trails Meet– Ralph Schultz, Forest Preserves of Will County
What is a Water Trail and the Paddling Environment– Sigrid Pilgrim, Director, IPC
Presentations:
Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trails– Brief History – Laura Barghusen, Openlands
Lake Michigan Water Trail– Dan Plath, NPS + NE Indiana Paddlers Association
Pecatonica River Water Trail & Friends of the Pecatonica Foundation– Joe Ginger
Lincoln Heritage Water Trail– Scott Hewitt
Kankakee River Water Trail– Craig Farnsworth, Hitchcock Design Group
Wisconsin-Illinois Fox River Water Trail Initiative– Karen Miller
AFTERNOON PANELS
How to Establish a Water Trail – from a, b, c and all the way to z
Planning, Access, Navigability Laws, Working with State, County, Local, Private Landowners
Karen Miller – Fabulous Fox!
- In process of developing the water trail, have enlisted volunteers to compile data and conditions at access points, turning info in creating maps and brochures,
- development of working partnership which is from municipalities in both Illinois and Wisconsin
Joe Ginger – The Pecatonica River Water Trail
- Planning and building access points
- Learning and discoveries in planning the hard way
- Building access with big equipment
Kindy Kruller – Multiple rivers and projects
- Planning and plans, review of waterways, new canoe launches, designed 4 more, planning required ADA
- MPC Great rivers Chicago – expanding to include some of the suburbs, looking at how to celebrate waterways
- Taken on dam removal and land use planning
- Latest and greatest approaches for launch and landings to consistent facilities
Scott Hays – Sangamon River in Champaign County
- Law designated Champaign sections of Sangamon as non-navigable – plan in place from Fisher to Monticello may aid in installation of trail
- Issues, challenges and problems during early on planning, paddling rivers are behind what has been done in metropolitan areas
- Stewardship, relatively narrow, clearing and stream maintenance: water trail keepers/volunteers
- Key challenges and big wins
Making Your Water Trail Happen – Tips and Tools
- Finding Funding
- Organizing the Organization
- Publicity/Publications
- Promotion and Outreach
Joe Ginger – Pecatonica River Water Trail
- Fundraisers:
- Two main fundraisers: Spring Thaw and Fall Fish Fry and Silent auction
- Smaller events: Applebee’s Flap Jack Break and Culvers deliver food to tables/cars
- Postcards
- Newsletter
- Plot and scheme
Lee Butler Pecatonica River Water Trail
- Outreach and engagement
- Wednesday paddle
- Tour de Freeport
- Flotilla’s (annual events?)
- Ambassador 10 kayaks invite new paddlers beginner kayaks, cheap stable
- Volunteer community is what it takes to build a water trail
Dan Garvy – Project: East Branch DuPage River Access
- Suburban setting
- Boat access development program
- Park board provided additional funding
- Patience in funding
Dan Plath – Northwest Indiana Paddling Association
- Promoting – through awards, posters, good will with communities and supporters
- Promotion and outreach – bought trailer and canoes getting people out
- Being catalyst has leveraged 1million in paddling amenities
- ADA launches and funding
Dave Longo – Program: Boat Access Development Program
- Update of program and state funding.
The Living Water Trail
- Attracting Volunteers
- Creating Stewards
- Operating a Water Trail Basics (signage, camp sites, and cleanup)
- Planning for Safety and Avoiding Pitfalls
- Organizing and Holding Water Trail Events
Laura Barghusen -Events
- Using events to introduce water trails and stewardship to new paddlers
- Using events to offer activities that bring people who want to make a difference in the quality of the environment together for a meaningful and fun activity.
- Planning for safety during events, and through dissemination of information.
Justin Mercer – Paddling Library
- How the Maywood Paddling library works
- How it has increased access to the Des Plaines River.
- How it could be used as a model for other rivers/areas.
Annette Anderson – Friends Public Canoe Events
- Friends of the Chicago River’s paddling program and guides
- How this program increases access to and use of the Chicago Area Waterway System.
Dan Garvy – Planning: Future programing
- Future programming on the East Branch DuPage River
Presentation:
Carol Hays – Celebrating the 50thAnniversary of the Wild and Scenic River Program
Speakers and Panelists
Annette Anderson, Friends of the Chicago River
Laura Barghusen, Openlands
Diane Banta, National Park Service
Lee Butler, Friends of the Pecatonica Foundation
Tom Eckels, IPC
Craig Farnsworth, Hitchcock Design Group
Dan Garvy, Lisle Park District
Joe Ginger, Friends of the Pecatonica Foundation
Carol Hays, Prairie Rivers Network
Scott Hays, Upper Sangamon Conservancy
Scott Hewitt, Abe Lincoln Heritage Trail
Frank Koehler, Potawatomi Paddlers Association
Kindy Kruller, Forest Preserves of Cook County
Dave Longo, IDNR
Justin Mercer, Forest Preserves of Cook County
Karen Miller, Kane County
Sigrid Pilgrim, IPC
Dan Plath, National Park Service & NE Indiana Paddlers Association
Ralph Schultz, Forest Preserves of Will County