Environmental Progress - Spring 1999

News Briefs

10th Ohio River Sweep

Saturday, June 19, will be the date for the annual Ohio River Sweep, marking its 10th anniversary in 1999. The multi-state effort, organized by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, unites volunteers from Pittsburgh, Pa. to Cairo, Ill., to clean up along nearly 1,000 miles of riverbank.

In Illinois, the Illinois EPA coordinates the effort in the six counties edged by the Ohio River. At least one cleanup area is designated in Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Pope, Hardin and Gallatin counties. Each volunteer receives a free tee-shirt, and at many sites, local businesses provide snacks and refreshments. Work gloves and collection bags are provided to volunteers. More than 400 volunteers are expected to participate.

Byron Marks, Illinois EPA coordinator for the Sweep, says volunteer participation has grown from the first cleanups, but the volume of litter removed from the river has declined -- a sign, he says, that the public is becoming more aware of the importance of protecting rivers. In 1990, about 1,200 bags of debris were collected along the state's 133 miles of Ohio River banks. Recently, cleanups produced 400-600 bags of trash, from lost class rings to television sets, auto and truck tires, and a working cellular phone. Litter collected is sorted and sent for appropriate disposal. Locations of sites can be obtained from the Sweep's toll-free Hotline at 1-800-359-3977.

Bureau of Water Annual Hearing

The Illinois EPA Bureau of Water will hold its annual hearing on Tuesday, August 17, 1999 at 10 a.m., in the training room at the Illinois EPA offices located at 1021 North Grand Avenue East, Springfield. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the following programs: Revolving Loan Funds for Wastewater and Drinking Water; Water Quality Management Plan update.

Additional information about this hearing can be obtained from Bill Hammel, Office of Community Relations, phone 217-785-3924, E-Mail: <Bill.Hammel@illinois.gov>.

$1000 Lake and Watershed Scholarship Grants Planned

First awards will be made next year

The Illinois Lake Management Association is joining the Illinois EPA's lake and watershed unit to offer two $1000 scholarship grants for course work or research involving Midwest lake ecosystems management. The Illinois EPA's funding is being provided under the state's Conservation 2000 program, a six year, $100 million state initiative launched in 1995.

Applications for grants will be available by late spring or early summer, and will be due no later than Nov. 15, 1999. Eligible applicants must be full time junior, senior or graduate students who are either Illinois residents enrolled in an accredited college or university in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio or Wisconsin, or junior, senior or graduate students enrolled in an accredited Illinois university or college. The course work or research must be related to the biology, ecology or management of lake systems in the Midwestern United States. Grants may be used by the recipients to cover costs associated with education and research expenses.

The applications will be evaluated on a basis of college grades, information obtained from references, quality and relevance of course work, a proposed budget if research projects are proposed, and other relevant considerations.

Additional information can be obtained from the Illinois Lake Management Association, P.O.Box 20655, Springfield, IL 62708; by phone at 1-800-338-6976 access code 01, or by e-mail at <wildick@mc.net>.