Prairie Rivers Network (PRN) will celebrate Day at the Fork on May 19, 2018 at the Kickapoo State Recreation Area (10906 Kickapoo Park Rd, Oakwood, IL 61858) to highlight Illinois’ only National Scenic River, the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River. The public is welcome to attend.
“Day at the Fork is a great way for families to get outdoors and see nature in one of Illinois’ most dramatic landscapes,” said PRN Executive Director Carol Hays. “What better way of celebrating the Middle Fork River than by experiencing it first hand on the water and among the trees.”
The day’s events begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with a guided nature walk with Environmental Almanac and PRN board member Rob Kanter. Retired wetland ecologist and PRN member Rick Larimore will accompany the hike. At 10 a.m., a paddle trip down the Middle Fork will enter the water north of the park and float past the Dynegy-owned coal ash pits that Prairie Rivers Network says are polluting the river and threatening its longevity. A kids fishing derby will run from 1 to 3 p.m. and be led by Natural Resources Education Program Manager Van Grissom. A second hike will also begin at 1 p.m.
The Middle Fork flows through the heart of Kickapoo State Park, which attracts over 1 million visitors each year. Flanked by nearly 10,000 acres of public land, the river is home to the bluebreast darter and silvery salamander, as well as 22 other threatened or endangered species, says Prairie Rivers Network. Day at the Fork is designed to celebrate this beautiful and ecologically vibrant area.
“This is the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act which provided stewards the means of federally protecting rivers like the Middle Fork,” Hays said. “Protecting such a beautiful place for future generations is worth celebrating.”
More details about the event are available at prairierivers.org/day-at-the-fork.
