USA: Governor Launches Third Round of Mud-to-Parks Project

Governor Pat Quinn moved forward with a major initiative that will significantly improve the health of Illinois waterways by removing or modifying 16 low-head dams throughout the state over the next several years.

At an event in Riverside, the governor announced the completion of the Hofmann Dam removal. The dam removal initiative is one of the latest by Governor Quinn to protect the environment and preserve Illinois’ natural resources.

“Free-flowing rivers benefit all of Illinois,” Governor Quinn said. “Removing these dams will improve waterways across our state, making them safer for kayakers and paddlers who use them for exercise and recreation, and for anglers who enjoy fishing in these rivers. This dam removal initiative will improve conservation, water quality and outdoor recreation in Illinois.”

According to pjstar.com, Quinn visited the East Peoria riverfront Wednesday to announce a round of mud-slinging of a different sort – the 2012 Mud-to-Parks project.

He stated: “We’re here to fight for the Illinois River and all the communities and people who depend on it for drinking water, navigation, for recreational boating, for fishing or just looking at the river.”

John “Dr. Mud” Marlin, a research affiliate at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, said at this occasion:”Midwest Foundation is dredging what we call the Ben and Jerry’s method. They bring it up in solid chunks and put it in the barge, then we ship it to Chicago. We’re not shipping water,” reports pjstar.com.

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Dredging Today Staff, November 11, 2012