“Keep The Rivers of Illinois Free” Facebook Page
ILLINOIS – It took less than four days for the “Keep the Rivers of Illinois Free” community Facebook page to illicit, for the moment, a temporary change in the bill that inspired it’s creation.
The Facebook page created and administrated by Haley Fox, 18, of Rockford, with the assistance of ‘content creators’ Johanna Simmering, 46, of Salisbury and James Trottier, 31, of Mt. Carmel garnered enough attention and petition signatures between late Saturday night, July 20th and 3:30pm this afternoon (07.24.13) to move IDNR officials to release a statement amending the types of “non-powered watercraft” that are now required to display a $6 Water Usage Stamp.
“The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reviewed the inclusion of innertubes in the Water Usage Stamp, and has decided to submit rule changes to the legislature to eliminate that requirement of the program,” began the statement released this afternoon.
Disclosure staff began investigating the Water Usage Stamp and the “DNR Sustainability Act” earlier this weekend, and delivered an online article with links to the “Keep the Rivers of Illinois Free” Facebook page and their ‘paddle-pass’ petitions on Monday, after talking with Republican Senator Tim Bivins of Illinois’ 45th District, who voted ‘No’ to the bill when It passed in November.
Check back later for the full story, as Disclosure staff interviewed two of the three people responsible for starting the movement, immediately following the news of their success.
Disclosure is proud to have been the only media source to give the issue any meaningful coverage and congratulates the trio on a job well done!!
Here is the full statement released by IDNR this afternoon.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reviewed the inclusion of innertubes in the Water Usage Stamp, and has decided to submit rule changes to the legislature to eliminate that requirement of the program.
The funds generated from boat registrations and the less-restrictive water stamp for non-motorized craft goes towards public safety, better law enforcement, and to provide safe, legal and adequate access to rivers and streams for the paddling/floating community. The Department has sought to expand recreational opportunities in the past, including new access points and parking, and hoped to re-start this effort with healthy funding and sustainable revenues.
While the rule changes are being submitted through the legislative process, DNR Office of Law Enforcement will instruct its conservation officers of the pending change and direct our professionals not to enforce the existing rules.