Category Archives: News Briefs

Kaskaskia Watershed Association Showcase Meeting

News Progress Posted on by

Carlyle Lake - The Kaskaskia Watershed Association, Inc. will hold its 13th Annual Showcase on Friday, September 6, at the Kaskaskia River Marina located in New Athens, Illinois. The event is open to the public and hosted by the Kaskaskia Watershed Association, Inc. (KWA) and the Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholder, Inc (LKSI). Registration and lunch begin at 11 a.m. 

Immediately following lunch, a three hour barge tour to view areas along the Kaskaskia River will be offered.

This year’s, theme “Kaskaskia Has It All” – River, Recreation, Rail, and Road, will showcase the lower reach of the Kaskaskia River from Fayetteville to the Confluence of the Mississippi River. The Kaskaskia River plays a vital role in the success of navigation, environmental stewardship, agriculture, water supply, recreation, and industry in the southwestern Illinois region. Read More

Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford Reacts to Moody’s Downgrade on More Illinois Universities

News Progress Posted on by

“As state leaders continue to put off work on necessary pension reform, Moody’s Investors Service has more bad news for Illinois,” said Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford. Moody’s has downgraded $1.56 billion of debt issued by the University of Illinois, and lowered the ratings on six other state universities including Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, Northeastern Illinois University and Governors State University.  Read More

Soil Moisture Continues to Decline in Illinois

News Progress Posted on by

Soil moisture continued to decline across Illinois with levels at two inches, 27 percent lower on August 15 than those from July 15, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program Manager at the Prairie Research Institute, Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois.

Soil moisture in the state averaged 0.17 water fraction by volume (wfv) at depths of two inches on August 15, which is significantly lower than the historical average of 0.25 wfv. Levels dropped throughout the state with central Illinois having the lowest numbers, averaging 0.14 wfv or just at the wilting point for most soils measured. Read More