[BCNnet] Dog area proposed for FP land near River Grove
Anderson, Jill
JA@psych.uic.edu
Thu, 3 Jun 2004 11:14:05 -0500
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Hi Dennis,
This latest site requested by West CookDog group is, indeed, a remnant of
the Deep Tunnel Construction Project and the area was significantly degraded
by blasting, digging, and limestone storage.
The West Cook Dog Group stated at the FPDCC board meeting yesterday that
they hope to have the area restored and replanted with native trees and
plants prior to having it designated as a DFA, however.
I am replying to your post to provide you with updated info on Miller
Meadow. There is no longer a limestone "mountain" at Miller Meadow.
Earthworks was hired by the FPDCC last year to remediate the Deep Tunnel
damage. They spent considerable time repairing the fenceline and creating a
wall of dirt within the perimeter of the fence. The end result was that
noone could view the remediation work from outside the fence.
I spoke to an Earthworks project manager who shared his plan to spread a
layment of clay across the entire area within the fence. I asked about the
wetland areas, which support water birds including diving ducks and
shorebirds, and he told me their plan was to fill it all in with clay. I was
alarmed, and called Chris Merenowicz last July. CM told me that the revised
plan was to retain the small lake within the remediation area.
I was told that the property would be returned to the public once the
remediation work was completed.
A month ago, prior to the monsoons, I caught glimpses of the "lake" area by
standing on a rise on the eastern end of the preserve, where there is a
breach in the berm. The wetlands had all been filled in with clay and there
was no "lake". I wrote to Chris Merenowicz about it, but he has not replied
to my letter.
The area of Miller Meadow outside of the fence usually has standing water on
the eastern side (and in other parts of the "wet meadow") at this time of
year. I am not able to access my "former-lake viewing area" due to recent
flooding. The "lake" was a year-round fixture, and did not dry up during
drought. I have my fingers crossed that nature has reclaimed some of the
wetland areas, for at least the time being. If you visit the site, I'd be
interested in hearing your opinion regarding the ecological value of the
remediation. We had 2 dickcissels singing inside the fence last Spring, just
before remediation started.
Jill Anderson
River Forest
-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Nyberg [mailto:csnp@uic.edu]
Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 9:55 AM
To: BCNnet@ece.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [BCNnet] Dog area proposed for FP land near River Grove
Dear BCN,
West of 1st Ave and South of River Rd. is an area that was "trashed" by the
FPDCC as part of the Deep Tunnel project. When I say trashed I mean the
FPDCC went to this area and cut down the trees, leveled it and then began
using it as a storage site for the limestone that was generated by the deep
tunnel project (the FPDCC had the mineral rights to this limestone which was
removed during the creation of the deep tunnels under the Des Plaines and
other rivers). The pile of limestone was once about 50 feet high. Dump
trucks would bring and take loads of limestone from the pile. The the
dumping began on the order of 10 years ago. There are other FPDCC sites,
specifically I see Miller Meadow in Maywood fairly often, that were used to
store the deep tunnel limestone and that still have significant piles of
crushed limestone. I think there are sites where all the limestone has been
sold and that are now "cleaned up" but, of course, trashed from an
ecological perspective. My understanding is that the FPDCC made money by
selling the limestone (I can't believe they could use as much as was
generated).
It will require considerable dissimilitude to argue that the places used for
limestone storage have ecological value. The proposal of the already fenced
areas covered with crushed rock does offer an opportunity to scrutinize the
FPDCC staff's dedication to preserving the preserves.
Dennis Nyberg, UIC
At 08:15 AM 6/3/2004 -0400, you wrote:
FYI: Here are the details on the new area selected by the West Cook Dog
Group (formerly known as Thatcher Dog), as presented to the Cook County FP
commissioners yesterday:
West Cook presents a new site for review. On Wednesday, June 2, West Cook
DOG will share details of a new DFA site for the western portion of the
county with the Forest Preserve District Board. The site is located at
River Road and 1st Avenue in River Grove, just south of Fullerton West.
This new site is ideal due to its current use as a rock removal area, and
virtually no current use by Cook County residents. In addition, the site
boasts an eight-foot chain link fence and parking area that makes it an
ideal location to transform into a DFA. West Cook DOG will present the site
plan, a rundown of our discussions with county officials and support from
residents, and an overview of other area DFA developments to the Board.
Theoretically the FP commissioners consideration of a new land use policy
should be superior to proposals for dog areas. Theoretically.
Randi Doeker
Chicago
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<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Hi
Dennis,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>This
latest site requested by West CookDog group is, indeed, a remnant of the Deep
Tunnel Construction Project and the area was significantly degraded by
blasting, digging, and limestone storage.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>The
West Cook Dog Group stated at the FPDCC board meeting yesterday that they hope
to have the area restored and replanted with native trees and plants prior to
having it designated as a DFA, however.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I am
replying to your post to provide you with updated info on Miller
Meadow. There is no longer a limestone "mountain" at Miller Meadow.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Earthworks was hired by the FPDCC last year to remediate the Deep Tunnel
damage. They spent considerable time repairing the fenceline and
creating a wall of dirt within the perimeter of the fence. The end result
was that noone could view the remediation work from outside the
fence. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
spoke to an Earthworks project manager who shared his plan to spread a
layment of clay across the entire area within the fence. I asked about the
wetland areas, which support water birds including diving ducks and
shorebirds, and he told me their plan was to fill it all in with clay. I was
alarmed, and called Chris Merenowicz last July. CM told me that the revised
plan was to retain the small lake within the remediation
area. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I was
told that the property would be returned to the public once the remediation work
was completed. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>A
month ago, prior to the monsoons, I caught glimpses of the "lake" area
by standing on a rise on the eastern end of the preserve, where there is a
breach in the berm. The wetlands had all been filled in with clay and there was
no "lake". I wrote to Chris Merenowicz about it, but he has not
replied to my letter. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>The
area of Miller Meadow outside of the fence usually has standing water on the
eastern side (and in other parts of the "wet meadow") at this time of
year. I am not able to access my "former-lake viewing area" due to recent
flooding. The "lake" was a year-round fixture, and did not dry up
during drought. I have my fingers crossed that nature has reclaimed some of
the wetland areas, for at least the time being. If you visit
the site, I'd be interested in hearing your opinion regarding the ecological
value of the remediation. We had 2 dickcissels singing inside the fence last
Spring, just before remediation started. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Jill
Anderson </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>River
Forest</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=152282515-03062004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Dennis Nyberg
[mailto:csnp@uic.edu]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, June 03, 2004 9:55
AM<BR><B>To:</B> BCNnet@ece.iit.edu<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [BCNnet] Dog area
proposed for FP land near River Grove<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Dear BCN,<BR>West of
1st Ave and South of River Rd. is an area that was "trashed" by the FPDCC as
part of the Deep Tunnel project. When I say trashed I mean the FPDCC went to
this area and cut down the trees, leveled it and then began using it as a
storage site for the limestone that was generated by the deep tunnel project
(the FPDCC had the mineral rights to this limestone which was removed during
the creation of the deep tunnels under the Des Plaines and other rivers). The
pile of limestone was once about 50 feet high. Dump trucks would bring and
take loads of limestone from the pile. The the dumping began on the order of
10 years ago. There are other FPDCC sites, specifically I see Miller Meadow in
Maywood fairly often, that were used to store the deep tunnel limestone and
that still have significant piles of crushed limestone. I think there are
sites where all the limestone has been sold and that are now "cleaned up" but,
of course, trashed from an ecological perspective. My understanding is that
the FPDCC made money by selling the limestone (I can't believe they could use
as much as was generated).<BR>It will require considerable dissimilitude to
argue that the places used for limestone storage have ecological value. The
proposal of the already fenced areas covered with crushed rock does offer an
opportunity to scrutinize the FPDCC staff's dedication to preserving the
preserves.<BR>Dennis Nyberg, UIC<BR>At 08:15 AM 6/3/2004 -0400, you
wrote:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite type="cite"><FONT size=2>FYI: Here are the
details on the new area selected by the West Cook Dog Group (formerly known
as Thatcher Dog), as presented to the Cook County FP commissioners
yesterday:<BR><BR></FONT><FONT face="Bookman Old Style, Bookman"
color=#0000ff size=2><B>West Cook presents a new site for review. </B>On
Wednesday, June 2, West Cook DOG will share details of a new DFA site for
the western portion of the county with the Forest Preserve District
Board. The site is located at River Road and 1st Avenue in River
Grove, just south of Fullerton West. This new site is ideal due to its
current use as a rock removal area, and virtually no current use by Cook
County residents. In addition, the site boasts an eight-foot chain
link fence and parking area that makes it an ideal location to transform
into a DFA. West Cook DOG will present the site plan, a rundown of our
discussions with county officials and support from residents, and an
overview of other area DFA developments to the Board.</FONT><FONT
size=2><BR><BR>Theoretically the FP commissioners consideration of a new
land use policy should be superior to proposals for dog areas.
Theoretically. <BR><BR><BR>Randi
Doeker<BR>Chicago<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
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