Monday, March 22, 2004 11:12 AM CST
Local residents banking hopes on Embarras
BY NATHANIEL WEST, Staff Writer
MATTOON -- Charleston resident Catherine Key lives next to the Embarras River, and her passion for it is certainly not watered down.
"The Embarras River has been part of my life for the last 20 years," she said. "It's a beautiful river, and I dearly love it and would do anything to protect it."
She's not alone. More than 20 area residents streamed into the Douglas-Hart Nature Center on Saturday in response to an idea floated by a retired Charleston High School teacher.
Stan Adkins, who taught environmental science for many years, believes people with a love of nature and willingness to get their hands muddy can help maintain one of the healthiest rivers in Illinois. Thus, the Friends of the Embarras River (FOER) was conceived.
Saturday's inaugural gathering featured testimonies about the Embarras (pronounced AM-BRAW) River, a tentative outline of the FOER's goals and a brainstorming session about possible means of achieving those objectives.
"There's really no protection for aquatic areas like the Embarras, and it's such a huge natural resource," said Adkins.
The FOER likely will attempt to educate others about the river, and to protect it through clean-up efforts and legal advocacy. To accomplish this, Adkins suggest the group:
- Create a slide presentation for regular public viewing.
- Hold conservation training sessions.
- Monitor the Embarras' water.
- Participate in regular litter pick-up along the river's banks.
- Advertise the FOER's open membership.
- Get involved in the legislative decision-making process by advising on various studies and reports about the Embarras.
According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Embarras River is the second-largest Illinois tributary of the Wabash River. It flows southeast for approximately 194 stream miles to its mouth near Lawrenceville.
Two sections of the river, including the one near Greenup in Cumberland County, are designated "Biologically Significant Streams."
"The middle section of the Embarras is one of Illinois' outstanding rivers because of its high species count and its diversity of habitats, including sandbars, gravel bars, raceways, riffles, and silt-bottomed pools," according to IDNR literature. "The fact that well over half of the Embarras River's main stem has been given (this) status suggests, at least in a general way, that the master stream has not suffered many of the degradations noted in other Illinois waterways."
The FOER's initial membership expressed similar thoughts Saturday about the river's beauty, and the issues that could threaten it.
"It's a special part of the natural credentials of this area," said Giles Henderson, a former Eastern Illinois University professor who spends much of his time on the Embarras.
Lerna resident Donna Easterday said she is worried about chemical runoff from fields into the river water.
Jan Easter, a Charleston High School science teacher, said, "I'm hoping to get the high school kids involved, provide them outlets and get them something productive to do with their Saturdays."
Added local resident Dave Mott, "The river, to me, is the artery of the whole area."
The group members were strongly in favor of an annual river cleanup day, and they indicated they would help with the regular testing of water quality.
They also said they would like to promote tourism on the river, such as canoeing, and work collaboratively with other established organizations like the Embarras River Management Association.
Marc Miller, watershed organizer with the Prairie Rivers Network, told the fledgling FOER that ordinary people can also have an affect on decisions made at the state level about the river's future.
"That will be up to you," he said.
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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