Watershed Action - We're all in it Together!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.   -  Margaret Mead

 Flowing 52 miles from Lafayette County in southwestern Wisconsin to its confluence with the Mississippi across from Dubuque, Iowa, the Galena is an important resource to the people of Jo Daviess County, Illinois.   Its bluffs and valleys form a vital and beautiful tapestry of rural spaces and historic urban areas in northwestern Illinois.

The Galena River watershed has faced a host of threats in the past years. Rainfall events bring severe erosion and pollution threats abound.  The Illinois EPA has listed the Galena River as impaired for aquatic life due to sedimentation, for fish consumption due to mercury and PCB's, and for recreation due to fecal coliform contamination.    A group of citizens, lead by LWV Jo Daviess County, have gotten organized to make a difference for the Galena River watershed.  You can read about this work on this blog here.

On October 1, LWV Upper Mississippi River Region will host a discussion with leaders from LWV Jo Daviess County.  We will talk about what they have accomplished in the Galena River watershed, and what we, as community leaders, can do throughout the Upper Mississippi Watershed.  The public is invited to join us - we will gather at the Upper Mississippi National Refuge Visitor Center at N 5727 Co Rd Z in Onalaska, Wisconsin (10 miles north of La Crosse) at 12:30 for light refreshments, the discussion will start at 1pm.   Additionally,  this post on the LWV UMRR blog has info on related events in the area.   Here's a link to our Facebook event - feel free to share it!