Rivers Project

The Northern Regional Groundwater Protection & Planning Committee (NRGPPC) held a workshop for teachers on June 18, 2002, entitled Protection of Our Drinking Water and Health. Nineteen teachers attended the workshop from Boone, DeKalb, McHenry, Ogle and Winnebago counties.  

The workshop was part of a 3-credit Master’s course, Environmental Science for Teachers, offered by Aurora University and Kishwaukee Intermediate Delivery Systems, (K.I.D.S.).  Organizers of the workshop were Brenda Cox, K.I.D.S., and Ruth Roth, Winnebago County Health Department & member of the NRGPPC.  Facilitators for the workshop included members of the NRGPPC: William Donato, Woodstock High School; Harry Hendrickson, IDNR; Alan Olson, Olson Well & Pump; Brad Holcomb, Winnebago County Soil & Water Conservation District; Dan Kane, Boone County Conservation District;  Michael Megurdichian, City of Rockford Water Division.  Other facilitators included:  Robert Vaiden, Illinois State Geological Survey;  Larry McPheron,  Boylan Central High School; Judy LeTourneau, Retired Senior Volunteer Program;  Lisa Sprecher, Winnebago County Health Department; Dr. Robert Williams, IL Middle School Groundwater Project/SIU..

The all-day workshop culminated with the teachers constructing groundwater flow models from groundwater kits donated by:  Amcore Financial, North Park Water District, M.G.D. Water Systems, Olson Well & Pump, Alliant Energy, Village of Rockton, Woodward Governor, Baxter Woodman, McHenry County Health Department, Burpee Museum of Natural History, Missman Stanley & Associates, Hamilton Sundstrand (2 models), City of Loves Park, State Representative Dave Winters, IL Association of Groundwater Professionals, Ellizanne Lewis - LWV of Greater Rockford, Dorothy Espenschied - LWV of Greater Rockford, IL Consumer Water (2 models) and the NRGPPC.  The teachers left the workshop with a groundwater flow model for their schools, and with the knowledge & curriculum to teach their students about where their drinking water comes from, what surface activities can pollute the groundwater, and how to protect and preserve our drinking water source for years to come. 

The intercounty effort to promote groundwater protection by NRGPPC members, donors, associated environmental agencies and individuals was heartening.

Schedule for Rockford    Click Here