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Fall Float 2022
The 2022 Trails & Greenways Annual Sangamon River Fall Float was a great success! Forty floaters enjoyed the beautiful autumn weather and toasty after-float campfire. Thanks to ALL who attended. And thank you ALL who helped out to make the event possible: Jennifer Satorius, Libby Shawgo, David Hedrick, Chris Rudin, Doug VanNattan, Edie Sternberg, Karen Erchinger, Michael Wiant, Scott Hewitt, Dan Robertson, Peg Robertson and Terri Treacy. Thank you PORTA (school bus shuttle) and Dairy Queen (hot dog trays).
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Sangamon River Cleanup
On Friday, September 9, a small group of MCTG members spent a few hours cleaning up the Sangamon River near Hurie Park. On and around a sandbar located just below the Petersburg dam, the group hauled away about 10 bags of garbage and 20 tires from the river, otherwise known as “aquatic trash.” This trash can be harmful to fish and other wildlife that live in and around the river, as well as the humans who enjoy the river, plus it’s just ugly! Big thank you to the City of Petersburg for hauling away the garbage!
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Route 97 Proposed Improvements–Public comments sought
If you were unable to attend last evening’s public informational meeting regarding IDOT’s Proposed Improvements to IL 97 and IL 123, you may submit your comments via snail mail or email. Comments will be accepted until July 5th. Link to Proposal and Comment Form Your comments should include the following. Proposed IL Route 97 & IL Route 123 Improvements Your Name Address City Telephone number Email address The best way to contact you (Email, Mail, Both). Send your comments to: Jeff Myers, PE Region 4 Engineer Illinois Department of Transportation 126 East Ash Springfield, Illinois 62704-4792 or Attention: Jay Edwards, PE Jay.Edwards@illinois.gov
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Let Our Voices Be Heard — Build a Dedicated Hike & Bike Path Linking New Salem Historic Site with Petersburg
For years Trails & Greenways has advocated for a safe hike / bike path linking New Salem State Historic Site with Petersburg. The time has arrived to ensure this goal is finally realized. Next Tuesday, June 21 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at PORTA high school, the Illinois Department of Transportation will be hosting an open house public meeting about roadway improvements to IL 97 and IL 123 from New Salem through Petersburg. The meeting will provide exhibits and maps for viewing, and IDOT representatives and consultants from the engineering firm of Thouvenot, Wade and Moerchen will be available to answer questions and gather public input about the project. It’s…
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Trash Taskforce: Good Clean Fun
Join the Menard County Trails and Greenways (MCTG) and Petersburg Athletic Association’s (PAA) Trash Taskforce as we clean up litter around Petersburg! We will pick up litter at several parks and spaces around town on Saturday, April 2, from 9:30 – 11am (Rain Date: April 9 or 10 – TBD). We need your help! Meet at Hurie Park (just east of County Market) to register and pick up supplies. We will be clearing out litter from the parks and surrounding vacant lots. Whether you have 30 minutes or a full hour, every little bit counts! To thank you for helping to keep our community clean, and on a first-come, first-serve…
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Partnership with Broadgauge Establishes Menard County Forest Fund
Menard County Trails & Greenways has entered into a partnership with Broadgauge that is dedicated to beautifying our community by planting and preserving native trees on public lands in Petersburg and Menard County.
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Invasive Species at New Salem State Historic Site
It is very exciting to kick off our habitat restoration work at New Salem Historic Site in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources! While the site is best known and visited for the recreated village where Lincoln once lived, much of the site is forested land, from the floodplains along the Sangamon River to the upland forests crisscrossed by several miles of hiking trails. Like most natural areas, regular management is necessary to deal with invasive species that have displaced so much of our native flora.
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MCTG provides public comment on City of Springfield’s amended Supplemental Water Supply Project
On July 1, 2021 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Public Notice addressing the City of Springfield’s amended Supplemental Water Supply Project. MCTG submitted the following public comment letter. The project’s initial proposal was to build Hunter Lake Reservoir to the southeast of Springfield Lake as an auxiliary water supply. Springfield subsequently requested an additional Purpose & Need of the project to include Aquatic Recreation. Per National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requirements a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is being prepared to address the addition of Purpose and Need of Aquatic Resources. Under NEPA, the SEIS must evaluate all appropriate and reasonable alternatives, including, among other things, “Use of…
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MCTG Comments on State Water Plan
Last month we posted Public Access to Illinois Waterways, that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was working on the development of a revised State Water Plan, and announced the opportunity for the public to review the recommendations and provide feedback. Menard County Trails & Greenways provided the following comments. (see below). Public feedback will be used to further develop a State Water Plan Draft Report, and public outreach meetings will be held in November 2021 to allow input to the report. We’ll keep you posted. Dear Illinois State Water Plan Task Force, Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the revised water plan for the State of…
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Public access to Illinois waterways
Illinois Department of Natural Resources working on the development of a revised State Water Plan. The public is invited to review the recommendations by the Task Force of each critical issue and provide feedback to ensure that the project is addressing everybody’s most important water-related needs in IL. Virtual public hearings (identical) were held May 25-27 by IDNR at https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/WaterResources/Pages/StateWaterPlanTaskForce.aspx Prior to the Live Meetings, DNR suggest that you listen to the Recorded Summary to obtain a brief overview about each of the 13 identified critical issues. The presentation has been provided in both a video or slideshow format to allow viewing options. Recorded Summary Video Link: View Download Recorded Summary Slideshow Link: Link …
