 WELCOME to THE ILLINOIS PADDLER This is the first edition of the eNewsletter of the Illinois Paddling Council. This newsletter is designed to keep Illinois paddlers up to date on issues of concern and interest to the paddling community, and will be published four to six times per year.
We hope that you find this information helpful and interesting. As we have seen in the recently proposed Dam Safety Rule, last Spring's arbitrary river closings, and the building of the Yorkville Whitewater Park (See related articles below) Paddling in Illinois is increasingly being impacted by governmental actions. Because of this and because paddlers want to be heard on a wide variety of other issues such as conservation, access, and competition we need to be able to better communicate across the traditional paddling disciplines, and to present a knowledgeable and unified front. This newsletter is dedicated to that end. We hope to create a two way communication channel. We encourage your feedback. Please tell us what you would like to see in this space, as well as what issues the Council should pursue.
Universal Membership Proposed.
As another method designed to increase paddler influence and involvement. The IPC has proposed that all members of our major paddling clubs automatically become members of the IPC. Representatives of most of the paddling clubs attended a meeting held on March 1st at College of DuPage, and were favorably disposed towards the idea. A consensus proposal will be taken to the various Boards of Directors for consideration, and if everyone concurs, the proposal will be ratified at a Paddlesport Council meeting on July 11, at the Aurora Paddlesports Festival.
Tom Lindblade, Editor
lindbladet@sbcglobal.net
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The Marge Cline Whitewater Park?  By Tom Lindblade
While many of us were focusing on trying to get whitewater parks built in Rockford and Aurora, the IDNR was quietly building just that at the newly rebuilt Glenn Palmer Dam in Yorkville. It turns out that what we originally were told was a "canoe chute" will in fact be a 1200 foot long whitewater facility with class I-III whitewater. The IPC has been asked to assist in the final evaluation of the facility when it is completed either this Fall or next Spring. (We will need paddlers from all disciplines and will put out a call for help as soon as the dates are established)
The Yorkville Park District will manage the facility when it is completed and owns two buildings with classrooms directly adjacent to the whitewater Park. Since there will be no restricted flows, the facility should be available most of the season, so it could easily become the best whitewater instructional facility in the Midwest. For that reason, I have suggested to both the IDNR and the Park District that they consider naming the faciity after our teacher and "River Mom" Marge Cline. They liked the idea and are looking into it. We will keep you posted.
(Please send any letters of support through me: lindbladet@sbcglobal.net
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THE AURORA PADDLESPORTS FESTIVAL  By Gary Mechanic
The Aurora Paddlesports Festival (APF)will take place the weekend of July 11 & 12, in Aurora's beautiful Phillips Park APF will be based on the highly successful “Paddle In the Park” which was held for fourteen years and drew thousands of visitors each year. In general the IPC's goal is to make this a major Midwest paddlesport event put on by the local paddling community (individuals, clubs, businesses & other gov. & nfp orgs) to introduce the general public to the wonderful world of paddlesport and as an annual gathering and celebration of our community.
Sponsored by the IPC and the City of Aurora, the Aurora Paddlesports Festival will offer two hour introductory lessons in canoeing and kayaking taught by American Canoe Association certified instructors. Visitors can also test paddle the latest boat designs from well-known canoe and kayak manufacturers. The AURORA PADDLESPORTS FESTIVAL will feature Illinois paddling clubs as well as statewide and local river and nature conservation organizations.
The AURORA PADDLESPORTS FESTIVAL will also include Illinois’ first paddling film festival. The 3rd Annual Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour will bring the world’s best paddling films to Aurora. The Reel Paddling Film Festival is a worldwide film contest awarding films in eight categories. Individual films in each category will be previewed throughout Aurora during the week before the festival. The entire list of award winning films will be shown during the two day festival at indoor and outdoor locations in Phillips Park.
You can see the list of 2009 Reel Paddling Film Festival winning films
and films shortlisted for the World Tour by clicking on the link below.
WE NEED HELP !
If you are an Instructor and would like to teach at APF
Contact: lindbladet@sbcglobal.net
If you would like to volunteer to help with registration, logistics, etc-
Contact: eckelst@comcast.net
If you would like to work as a Safety Boater -
Contact: odie8888@yahoo.com
Reel Films |
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SPRING FLOODS AND CLOSINGS !  In the Spring of 2008 IPC founded the IPC / Alert email system. The system is linked to all of the paddling email lists in Northern Illinois and is designed to alert all paddlers to hazardous conditions and closings on any of our rivers. If you become aware of any dangerous situations please email ipc_alerts@illinoispaddling.org.
After some arbitrary and unfair river closures last Spring, a Restricted Waters Task Force was begun to support Andy Cocallas' work with the IDNR to establish closure standards for local rivers. Standards are already in place for the Des Plaines, and the task force hopes to extend the standards to additional rivers soon.
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IPC Annual Kickoff  ILLINOIS PADDLING COUNCIL
SPRING KICKOFF PADDLE
WEST BRANCH OF THE DUPAGE RIVER
SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 1 PM
Join us in starting the 2009 paddling season. An annual event, this year’s kickoff will celebrate the excellent restoration of the West DuPage under the direction of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. We will paddle a stretch of river that is mostly in forest preserves, with a stop at one of the restored areas. Forest Preserve staff will describe the design, construction and function of the restored areas, which happen to be fun to paddle through, with riffles and boulders to navigate around.
We will meet in the Blackwell Forest Preserve, at the Mack Road preserve on the north side of Mack Road, one/quarter mile east of Route 59 at 1 PM and do a shuttle to Riverside Park in Winfield. Some trailer and car top space will be available for the shuttle.
Please RSVP to Tom Richardson, at 630 832-3523 or rtomrichardson@comcast.net .
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Dam Safety Rule The IPC has alway supported increased safety at all low head dams in Illinois, but we have taken an aggressive stance in opposing the implementation of the poorly written dam safety rule which resulted from dam safety (HB 33) legislation signed by Governor Blagojevich in 2007.
Based on our research, as presently written, the rule would effectively close existing portages at 19 out of 25 publicly owned dams on the Fox, Rock, Des Plaines, Kankakee, Sangamon, and Vermillion Rivers, effectively eliminating extended paddling trips on all of these rivers. Because there would be widespread disregard for this law, it is our position that the dams could actually become less safe if this rule is enacted.
When last seen the Rule was due to be considered by JCAR The legislature's rules committee which will have final say. With the recent change in state administration and the appointment of Marc Miller as head of the IDNR, everything seems to be on hold. Marc is a former member of the IPC Board and a long time friend of Illinois rivers and we can only hope that the rule will not again see the light of day.
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PUMPKIN PADDLE  Mark off October 17th for a unique paddling event on the North Branch of the Chicago River. We hope that this event, cosponsored with the Cook County Forest Preserve District will be at least as large an event as the annual New Years Day paddle. You can expect that pumpkins and boats will be combined! All paddlers will be welcome. Details Later.
A New Years Day Safety Committee led by Steve Voss is working with Bill Koenig of CCFPD to make both the NYD and Pumpkin Paddles safer and more enjoyable for participants.
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IPC’s SEASON ENDER TRIP  By Sigrid Pilgrim
Thanks to the great support of New Salem Canoe, members of the Mackinaw Canoe Club and Prairie Rivers Network, IPC’s annual Season Ender Trip was a huge success. The weather was perfect and a great THANK YOU goes to all who made the event happen.
On Saturday afternoon, Scott Hewitt and Mary Ellen from New Salem Canoe arranged a tour through Lincoln’s New Salem Village Dr. Michael Wiant, Curator of the Dickson Mound Museum also gave a presentation. Both were fascinating.
The highlight, of course, was Mary Ellen's reception and food at the Wagon Wheel. Thank you Mary Ellen for all your efforts!
Nearly 100 people then enjoyed the paddle on Sunday. It was particularly gratifying to see so many kids on the water –At the takeout, Mary Ellen and her friends surprised us all with picnic campfires for roasting hot dogs.
So THANK YOU TO ALL who made this event the success it was.
Sigrid
(pic L-R) Gary Mechanic, Mary Ellen Hewett, Al Pilgrim, Tom Lindblade, Scott Hewitt
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IPC Cap  "support IPC by proudly wearing the IPC cap...your's for a minimum donation of $12 - order by sending your check to Sig Pilgrim, 2750 Bernard Place, Evanston, IL 60201
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We hope you will keep us informed of any paddling related issues that you may have and we in turn will keep you informed as to what we are doing to make Illinois a Paddler Friendly State
Sincerely,
The Illlinois Paddler |
