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Illinois Environmental Council Announces Illinois’ 2021 Environmental Legislative Agenda

March 24, 2021

Agenda Tackles Clean Energy, Clean Water, Sustainable Agriculture, Wildlife Protections and More SPRINGFIELD, IL — On behalf of their over 100 member affiliate organizations, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) announced today Illinois’ annual environmental legislative agenda. The 2021 agenda tackles the environmental community’s priorities across a wide range of issues including clean energy, clean water, […]

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Illinois’ 2021 Enviro Legislative Agenda

March 24, 2021

See the top environmental bills being considered by the Illinois General Assembly this year.

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FAQs: Managed Native Gardens Registry

March 3, 2021

Learn more about Chicago’s proposed Managed Native Gardens Registry Ordinance with this FAQ document!

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Gov. Pritzker’s Mid-term

February 16, 2021

IEC’s environmental analysis of Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration midway through his first term.

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Replace Toxic Lead Service Lines NOW

January 11, 2021

Take Action to ask your lawmakers to pass legislation replacing all toxic lead-contaminated service lines.

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Piping Plovers

September 15, 2020

https://youtu.be/iP5sn2tfsrU A discussion on the recent nesting success of Monty and Rose, the now famous Chicago Piping Plover power couple. We’ll cover some natural history about Piping Plovers and why they are listed as endangered in the Great Lakes region. One part of this pair’s success has been the huge volunteer effort headed by the

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Endangered Species Act

July 14, 2020

For this session, IEC will be joined by NRDC to discuss the Endangered Species Act and the way that it is used to protect wildlife in Illinois and all over the United States. Presenters: Lucas Rhoads, Attorney at NRDC

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Jen Walling’s List of Must-see Treasures in Southern Illinois

July 2, 2020

Many people overlook our natural areas as a major highlight of things Illinois has to offer, but that’s a mistake: Illinois is beautiful.

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10 Great Illinois Spots and the Land and Water Conservation Fund

June 29, 2020

The LWCF has had an outstanding, though often unrecognized, impact on some of Illinois’ most significant places, from historically meaningful sites to a myriad of recreational spaces including national refuges and urban open spaces.

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Documenting Pollinators with Photography

April 14, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udbAZ5f7BjA In the 20th edition of the IEC Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Angella Moorehouse of Illinois Department of Natural Resources to discuss pollinator documentation using photography. Find links and resources from this session below: Illinois Department of Natural Resources website

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Where & How to Get Outside During COVID-19

April 13, 2020

In the 19th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, Andrew Szwak from Openlands joins IEC to share where we can get outside during COVID-19 and the steps we need to take when doing so to stay safe. Find links and resources from the session below: Openlands website

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History of the Spring Ephemeral Wildflower

April 9, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2BTfuuxq3k In the 17th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, IEC is joined by Plant Ecologist and IEC Board Member Chris Benda (aka the Illinois Botanizer) to discuss wildflowers and prairie habitat in Illinois.

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National Environmental Protection Act Rollbacks

April 2, 2020

In the 12th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, Rachel Granneman of ELPC and Stacy Meyers of Openlands join us to discuss the National Environmental Protection Act and recent rollbacks by the Trump administration. Find links and resources from the session below: Environmental Law & Policy Center website Openlands website EPA Summary of

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Bobcats in Illinois

March 27, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNG1vp6txtUIn the eighth installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, Jennifer Kuroda from the Illinois Bobcat Foundation joins us to discuss bobcats in Illinois, including population levels, state policies affecting them and what you can do.

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Pollinators and Backyard Habitat

March 26, 2020

In the seventh installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, Chris Young from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources joins us to discuss pollinators, creating habitat in your own backyard, and IDNR programs. Find links and resources from the presentation below: Illinois Native Plant Society Native Plant Sales Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation K-12 Pollinator

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Illinois’ 2020 Enviro Legislative Agenda

February 17, 2020

During this session, IEC focused on demonstrating public support for the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) and addressing ethylene oxide pollution.

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Reclaimed Heritage: How Simple Appreciation is Better for Us and the Planet

September 5, 2019

By Crystal Kern | IEC Finance Director I grew up on a self-sufficient farm in central Kentucky. We had a diverse garden with more plant varieties than I can recall along with several animals. Everything produced on the farm solely supported our family. If we had an abundance of produce, we would invite neighbors over to

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Bringing Lawmakers Out of Their Office Buildings and into Nature

June 11, 2019

To educate lawmakers on the importance of agriculture and natural resource conservation practices, we connect them with experiences that demonstrate the real-world impacts of their votes in the legislature.

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2019 IEC Legislative Report

June 2, 2019

IEC is pleased to release our 2019 Legislative Report. We are proud to report that we advanced a broad and ambitious agenda, defeated potentially damaging legislation and secured important appropriations in the state budget.

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Bill Helping Farmers Reduce Costly Erosion and Runoff Advances to State Senate

March 29, 2019

Expands Soil Water Conservation Districts Ability to Assist Illinois Farmers (SPRINGFIELD, IL) — A bill green-lighting the inclusion of soil health best practices among the list of resources that local Soil Water Conservation Districts are allowed to provide Illinois farmers advanced out of the Illinois State House chamber yesterday by a unanimous vote. HB 2737,

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2,000 Monarch License Plate Decal Applications Received

September 20, 2018

More than 2,000 IEC, Sierra Club and NRDC supporters came together to apply for the new Specialty Monarch License Plate Decal, raising over $20,000 for roadside monarch habitat and ensuring the decal will be commissioned!

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Natural Resources and Conservation in the Illinois Budget

June 13, 2018

Breaking a long trend of cuts and unspent appropriations, natural resources finally received improved funding in the FY19 Illinois budget and capital budget. One especially heartening development will see the operating budget for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources increase 6.7% compared to FY18. A major highlight of the capital plan is the dedication of

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2018 Session in Review

June 4, 2018

The Illinois General Assembly adjourned on May 31st after passing a budget, which was signed by Governor Rauner the morning of June 4th. Read our budget update to learn more about the benefits to environmental programs of the fiscal year 2019 budget. The General Assembly likely will not meet again until after the election for

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Affiliate Feature: HeartLands Conservancy

October 5, 2017

By Mary VandervordPresident/CEO, HeartLands Conservancy What’s the mission of your organization?To sustain and enrich the diverse environmental resources of southwestern Illinois. To accomplish our mission HLC works with individuals, local governments, state and federal agencies, and other organizations on three priorities: conservation of open space, building greener communities, and engaging people with nature. Where in

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Illinois Bobcat Hunting Program is Flawed

September 13, 2017

By Jennifer WallingExecutive Director, IEC Governor Rauner’s Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently increased the number of bobcat hunting permits from 500 to 1,000 for the upcoming season. The announcement of an increase in the number of permits was issued despite the fact that there is currently a bill sitting on the Governor’s desk that

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How will the Safe Roads Constitutional Amendment affect conservation?

October 31, 2016

The proposed constitutional amendment could have unintended consequences for conservation in Illinois. You can read the Safe Roads Constitutional Amendment in its entirety here. This amendment to Illinois’ constitution purports to keep the gas tax in a “lockbox” that can only be used for transportation, and comes in response to significant sweeps from the road

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The High Cost of Cheap Meat

August 9, 2016

As an organization that has been working to solve the pollution crisis caused by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Illinois for years, we applaud the Chicago Tribune’s recent in-depth investigative report on large hog confinements. Few could read this piece without gasping at the stories of environmental pollution, animal abuse, and destruction of rural

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Stop Gap Budget and the Environment

July 1, 2016

The Illinois House and Senate passed and the Governor signed a six month stop gap budget which ends December 31, 2016. While this is progress, passing a budget in the second half of FY17 will be difficult as the legislature will likely have to consider additional revenue. This budget covers many line items related to

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Oppose Sweeps to Energy and Conservation

March 5, 2015

Legislation advanced to immediately sweep funding important to the environmental community SB274 Amendment #1 takes funding from numerous dedicated funds, including but not limited to: $37 million for OSLAD (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development) Nearly $5 million from NAAF (Natural Areas Acquisition Fund) Over $1 million from the Partners for Conservation Fund $25.7 million

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2012: Year of the Illinois State Parks

January 12, 2012

We are just a couple of weeks into the year and 2012 is shaping up to be an interesting year for state parks. Unfortunately, this is not simply a year to celebrate the natural wonders of our state parks. This is the year that we are going to have to work together to protect and

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Governor’s Budget Proposal

February 18, 2005

Governor Blagojevich presented his FY2006 budget proposal on Wednesday. His proposal recognizes the difficulties at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and while not reversing all of the cuts, begins to take a step back. The Governor is supporting Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to eliminate a tax credit for landfill operators and use

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IEC Newsletter Vol. 1 No. 20

June 13, 1975

Find the full PDF online here or scroll down to read. Two Anti-EPA bills lose in committee HB 338 to create Land Use Study Commission was revived Economic Impact bill on third reading Eminent Domain bill re-passes committee while Fish and Game Commission put in subcommittee Explanation of HB 898: The Agricultural Areas Conservation and

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