14th annual Fox River Summit highlights restoration, recreation and research

Posted February 11, 2026 11:18 am

Submitted by Cindy Skrukrud

Every March residents of Illinois and Wisconsin gather at the Fox River Summit to update one another on what is happening throughout the Fox River watershed. The objectives of this gathering include:

• Develop a framework to support ongoing watershed protection actions

• Continue dialogue on shared challenges concerning recreation, economics, sustainable flows, surface water/groundwater interactions, sediment and ecosystem services

• Develop relationships/build trust among Illinois and Wisconsin stakeholders

• Identify commonalities, project successes and future challenges facing communities within the watershed

Registration is now open for the 14th annual Fox River Summit which will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Veterans Terrace in Burlington, Wisconsin. Doors open at 7:15 a.m. A remote viewing livestream option is also available for those who cannot attend in person.

Register at southeastfoxriver.org. The early registration deadline is noon March 11. Early registration is $45 and after that, the cost is $75. Registration is at the door on the day of the summit.

The registration price for in-person or virtual attendance is the same. The registration fee covers a breakfast bar and lunch for in-person attendees. Reduced student rates are available by contacting Tom Slawski at tslawski@sewrpc.org.

Featured speakers will cover a variety of topics of importance to the watershed:

Restoration

• The ABCs of RCPP Oak Conservation for Private Landowners — Tommy Dunn, American Bird Conservancy;

• Reconstructing Historical Nearshore Nongame Fish Assemblages in Southern Wisconsin Glacial Lakes— Dave Marshall, Underwater Habitat Investigations;

• Nippersink Creek Rebirth and Renewal — John Peters, McHenry County Conservation District and Steve Byers, Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge;

• Protecting Delavan Lake with Partners— Brian Smetana, Walworth County;

• Fox River Valley Dam Removal — Art Malm, Friends of the Fox River;

• Aquatic Plant Management in High Quality Waters & Wetlands in the Mukwonago River Watershed — Brian Miner, The Nature Conservancy

Recreation

• Paddle for Parks: 2025 Fabulous Fox National Water Trail Challenge— Mike Kies, St. Charles Park District and Wally Werderich, Kane County;

• Fabulous Fox! National Water Trail Access Infrastructure Project— Karen Ann Miller, Kane County and Jeff Mengler, Hey & Associates

Challenges

• The Economic Benefits of Conservation — Dr. Mathew Winden, University of Wisconsin Whitewater

• Fox-Illinois TMDL: Findings and Approaches to Reduce Nutrients and Sediment — Eric Hettler, Wisconsin DNR

Research

• eDNA Data from the Fox River— Dr. Yoel Stuart, Loyola University Chicago;

• Surface Water Chloride Conditions and Trends in Southeastern Wisconsin— Dr. Tom Slawski, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission;

• Mottled Sculpin Survey— Leonard Dane, Hey & Associates;

• Carpenter Dam Botanizing — Susanne Masi, Dundee Township

Wildlife

• Bombus Affinis aka Rusty Patch Bumble Bee— Dr. Jason Robinson, Illinois Natural History Survey;

• Fireflies: Precious Jewels of the Night— Brandie Dunn, Xerces Society Ambassador

Actions

• The State of the Fox 2025 & 2026 It’s Our Fox River Day Plans— Gary Swick, Friends of the Fox River;

• Protecting What We Share: Relationship-Driven Strategies for Advocacy Success — Dr. Mila Marshall, Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter;

• Fox River Watershed-Based Planning Efforts in Lake County—Jacob Jozefowski and Sharene Gould Dulabaum, Lake County Stormwater Management Commission

Registration and the full list of presentations can be found at southeastfoxriver.org.

Anyone with interest in watershed issues is invited to attend the summit, including interested citizens; Fox River recreational users; property and business owners; developers; lake, river and other environmental organizations; federal, state, county and local units of government; environmental and water resources professionals, scientists (including students), engineers, managers, biologists, planners, consultants, educators and attorneys; tourism representatives; economists.