2010 StreamLeaders Classes Begin March 27

If you’re concerned about the quality of water and diversity of animals in our region’s rivers and streams, sign up for StreamLeaders, a hands-on training course designed to enhance citizen participation in stream conservation. This year's StreamLeaders classes will take place at the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Hadley Valley substation, in New Lenox, IL (Click this link to view a complete listing of course dates).

A flowing stream may be the picture of tranquility, but a less idyllic story resides beneath the surface. Over time unchecked development has substantially degraded both urban and suburban waterways. Moreover, almost half of Illinois' threatened and endangered species are aquatic. Combine the two and you have a potentially devastating scenario.

By participating in StreamLeaders you will:

Understand how urbanization has impacted streams and rivers in the Chicago region;
Learn more about techniques used to restore degraded streams and steps you can take to minimize continued damage;
Use methods developed by state agencies to collect and interpret important biological data; and
Document the effect of restoration on aquatic communities.

The curriculum also covers topics such as the fundamentals of stream ecology, environmental advocacy, and stream monitoring.

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Participants in this year’s course will continue a three-year study of the movement of aquatic animals, including fish, native mussels, and macroinvertebrates, into a stream channel that was restored at Spring Creek, in Joliet, Illinois. (Click this link to view the results of the first year of monitoring.)

StreamLeaders courses and materials are free. Additionally, Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs) are available for Illinois teachers who complete StreamLeaders 2010, including the introductory session, and participate in two workdays.

To sign up for StreamLeaders or obtain more information about the training, please contact Openlands Greenway Coordinator Roger Klocek via e-mail or by phone at 312-863-6276. (For registration, please include your name, e-mail and mailing addresses, and telephone number.)

Support for StreamLeaders 2010 has been provided by the Forest Preserve District of Will County, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the National Great Rivers Research & Education Center’s Illinois RiverWatch Network.