Prairie Rivers Network

<div><strong>Asian Carp and Other Aquatic Invaders</strong></div><div>We are working towards protecting the Great Lakes from Asian carp through our work with a broad coalition of state and regional partners. Severing the manmade connection between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes is our goal. We are re-framing the issue as a 2-way problem, with repercussions for downstate Illinois and the entire Mississippi River basin.</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Riverside Habitat Restoration</strong></div><div>Our work with conservation partners along the Vermilion River led to a new conservation plan that will be implemented in a coordinated fashion, improving protection for Illinois&#8217; only designated National Scenic River.</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Reducing Pollution From Farming</strong></div><div>Conventional farming methods pollute water and damage vital headwater streams. We will press for Farm Bill provisions that require less polluting practices. We will continue to press for increased oversight of under-regulated factory farms.&nbsp;A key victory was Illinois EPA&#8217;s denial of a permit for the proposed &#8220;Traditions&#8221; mega-dairy that would have allowed the factory farm to turn a stream into a manure pit.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><strong>Enforcing Clean Water Laws</strong></div><div>Our efforts will compel regulators to establish limits for nutrient pollution that fouls state waters and causes the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico. We will pursue better controls on coal ash disposal, protecting communities from groundwater pollution. We will continue to work directly with industry to demonstrate and document cost-effective methods for reducing water pollution.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Victories at individual coal facilities such as Industry mine, Deer Run and Sugar Camp mines, and Ameren&#8217;s Coffeen Power Station reduce pollution locally and also set precedents we will use to push for systemic improvements across Illinois.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Key victories include Illinois EPA starting to require nutrient control in permits for sewage treatment plants and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago finally disinfecting and removing phosphorus pollution from treated sewage.&nbsp;</div> <a href="http://prairierivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PRN-2011-Accomplishments.pdf" src="http://prairierivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/2011-Accomplishments-just-map1.jpg" <="" a=""> </a>