Fwd: SAVE BELL BOWL PRAIRIE

[Kathy Cummings]

Thank you for your help to save Bell Bowl Prairie!

Kathy

From: Charlotte Adelman retired attorney and author <csa...@aol.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: SAVE BELL BOWL PRAIRIE
To: libb...@comcast.net <libb...@comcast.net>
Cc: jke...@naturalland.org <jke...@naturalland.org>, buffalob...@gmail.com <buffalob...@gmail.com>, northea...@gmail.com <northea...@gmail.com>, john.ja...@gmail.com <john.ja...@gmail.com>, bota...@gmail.com <bota...@gmail.com>, in...@birdmonitors.net <in...@birdmonitors.net>, in...@naturalland.org <in...@naturalland.org>, carolin...@sierraclub.org <carolin...@sierraclub.org>, iredl...@fieldmuseum.org <iredl...@fieldmuseum.org>, dand...@openlands.org <dand...@openlands.org>, mon...@redstemlandscapes.com <mon...@redstemlandscapes.com>, ale...@redstemlandscapes.com <ale...@redstemlandscapes.com>, Alexande...@cookcountyil.gov <Alexande...@cookcountyil.gov>, esuzu...@fieldmuseum.org <esuzu...@fieldmuseum.org>, ginar...@gmail.com <ginar...@gmail.com>, adamj...@gmail.com <adamj...@gmail.com>, in...@setaskforce.org <in...@setaskforce.org>, bird...@aol.com <bird...@aol.com>, leka...@icloud.com <leka...@icloud.com>, lmil...@fieldmuseum.org <lmil...@fieldmuseum.org>, Adrienp...@gmail.com <Adrienp...@gmail.com>, bberta...@gmail.com <bberta...@gmail.com>, in...@ensbc.org <in...@ensbc.org>, bellbow...@gmail.com <bellbow...@gmail.com>, dilis...@comcast.net <dilis...@comcast.net>, jdl...@bright.net <jdl...@bright.net>, mi...@mikenowak.net <mi...@mikenowak.net>, dsu...@audubon.org <dsu...@audubon.org>, kcummi...@gmail.com <kcummi...@gmail.com>, dwny...@gmail.com <dwny...@gmail.com>, Betsy....@gmail.com <Betsy....@gmail.com>, cjchat...@yahoo.com <cjchat...@yahoo.com>, gogreenw...@gmail.com <gogreenw...@gmail.com>, jklei...@aol.com <jklei...@aol.com>, inawi...@aol.com <inawi...@aol.com>, elsieho...@gmail.com <elsieho...@gmail.com>, mfhe...@sbcglobal.net <mfhe...@sbcglobal.net>, bjd...@aol.com <bjd...@aol.com>, suera...@att.net <suera...@att.net>, j...@chgocam.org <j...@chgocam.org>, dogwalki...@gmail.com <dogwalki...@gmail.com>, in...@theprairieenthusiasts.org <in...@theprairieenthusiasts.org>, lisas...@comcast.net <lisas...@comcast.net>, bonmc...@aol.com <bonmc...@aol.com>, tblac...@aol.com <tblac...@aol.com>, anit...@hotmail.com <anit...@hotmail.com>, terr...@aol.com <terr...@aol.com>, schmic...@gmail.com <schmic...@gmail.com>, she...@aol.com <she...@aol.com>, rot...@comcast.net <rot...@comcast.net>, dmi...@naturalland.org <dmi...@naturalland.org>, spco...@comcast.net <spco...@comcast.net>, rcfri...@att.net <rcfri...@att.net>, juliew...@gmail.com <juliew...@gmail.com>, bi...@uic.edu <bi...@uic.edu>, slad...@gmail.com <slad...@gmail.com>, lcgo...@rcn.com <lcgo...@rcn.com>, Charlotte Adelman retired attorney and author <csa...@aol.com>, martha.h...@gmail.com <martha.h...@gmail.com>, hiig...@hotmail.com <hiig...@hotmail.com>, ron.st...@gmail.com <ron.st...@gmail.com>, stephli...@gmail.com <stephli...@gmail.com>, epst...@mercury.law.nyu.edu <epst...@mercury.law.nyu.edu>, kal...@invisibleinstitute.com <kal...@invisibleinstitute.com>, mrac...@rdaplaw.net <mrac...@rdaplaw.net>, sho...@mwrd.org <sho...@mwrd.org>, sauc...@mwrd.org <sauc...@mwrd.org>, chri...@robyngabel.com <chri...@robyngabel.com>, wmi...@preservationchicago.org <wmi...@preservationchicago.org>, jacksonp...@gmail.com <jacksonp...@gmail.com>, in...@savejacksonpark.org <in...@savejacksonpark.org>, sharo...@gmail.com <sharo...@gmail.com>, a...@atspin.com <a...@atspin.com>, h-s...@law.northwestern.edu <h-s...@law.northwestern.edu>, kaufm...@aol.com <kaufm...@aol.com>, pjcla...@gmail.com <pjcla...@gmail.com>, pres...@bcnbirds.org <pres...@bcnbirds.org>, donni...@me.com <donni...@me.com>, bfish...@aol.com <bfish...@aol.com>, wj...@uchicago.edu <wj...@uchicago.edu>

Libby Hill

Program Chair

Evanston North Shore Bird Club 

Hi Libby, 

I write about an issue that is important to birders,

environmentalists,  and all  nature lovers. It regards

vital last minute efforts to try to prevent the imminent

destruction of the ancient and irreplaceable Bell Bowl Prairie

located in Rockford, Illinois.

As you and many others know, the Natural Land Institute (NLI), 

815/964-6666  is the plaintiff in the law suit that was filed

 to stop construction that will damage and even destroy the prairie.

I spoke with NLI Assistant Director, Jill Kennay (jke...@naturalland.org).

She advised that on January 20, 2022 the plaintiff, NLI filed a response in court to the defendants' motion to dismiss the case for lack of standing. 

(To access information about the law suit and to read the Complaint that

NLI filed in court, access https://www.naturalland.org/press-conference-bell-bowl-prairie/)

I ask ENSBC plus its members - and others - to take immediate action to prevent this

unconscionable destruction. What can organizations and individuals do?  

When I asked Ms. Kennay for the most productive actions groups and people

should take to save this ancient and irreplaceable remnant of Illinois prairie,

she replied:  

PLEASE TAKE THESE ACTIONS: 

ONE)  Use the Action Alert Link at https://ilenviro.salsalabs.org/SaveBellBowlPrairie/index.html  

TWO) Write Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker, 

Office of the Governor, 207 State House, Springfield, IL 62706

or https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/gov/contactus/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx

Ask Governor J. B. Pritzker to use federally appropriated money to redesign the midfield development road so it will not impact Bell Bowl Prairie, an irreplaceable remnant of the once abundant native Illinois prairie.  Note: See helpful map below that is part of an email I received on December 20, 2021 from Save Bell Bowl Prairie bellbow...@gmail.com entitled: Bell Bowl Prairie Needs You Now More Than Ever 😨    

Bell Bowl Prairie Needs Help! Bell Bowl Prairie, an ancient, irreplaceable prairie that supports rare and endangered species needs our help! In case you haven't heard the news, current plans to expand Rockford Airport call for the utter destruction of Bell Bowl Prairie, to be paved over into a new service road and detention basin. This can’t happen. Bell Bowl Prairie is a site crucial to global biodiversity, a key part of 0.01% of the original prairie landscape that remains intact in Illinois. In addition, the Rusty Patched Bumblebee, a federally endangered species, was observed on the prairie just this summer. For science, nature, and public appreciation, it's critically important that the prairie stays whole and healthy for generations to come. It is both possible and right to expand Rockford airport and boost the region's economy without destroying Bell Bowl Prairie. Because of grassroots advocates like you, airport authorities announced a temporary halt to construction until spring, potentially giving everyone time to achieve a consensus solution. Despite this first victory, the fight continues. This past Friday, Rockford airport leadership filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit that is currently blocking this prairie-destroying part of the project. Meanwhile, the state recently awarded the airport $3.6 million that they plan to use to fund the construction of the same road that would destroy Bell Bowl Prairie. This means we need to act! Aerial photo from October 2021 showing the road the airport wants to build through the prairie. Annotation and illustrations by Liz Anna Kozik. What You Can Do Contact key decision-makers and tell them to publicly advocate for a consensus solution. There is a win-win scenario and pursuing it need not delay resuming the airport expansion. State and federal partner agencies can work together with the airport and conservationists, using this new $3.6 million in funding to redesign the plan so the prairie is spared. Let them know you believe saving Bell Bowl Prairie is important! Send an Email to Your Legislators Make a Holiday Gift to Bell Bowl Prairie  Rockford Airport's motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the Natural Land Institute last week was not a surprise. The Natural Land Institute has 30 days to respond to this motion – but legal work can be expensive. The Friends and many other partner organizations are chipping in, raising funds to help defray legal expenses to fight to save Bell Bowl Prairie. Please consider making a holiday gift that will help save Bell Bowl Prairie! Donate to Help Save Bell Bowl Prairie

Thanks!!! 

Charlotte

Charlotte Adelman

Retired Attorney, Author,

Environmentalist 

232 Lawndale Street

Wilmette, Illinois 60091

847-251-6726

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Super Conscientious Consciousness of Truth, Justice, Compassion, Respect for Each Other, our Planet and All Creatures.

May our good work enhance biodiversity, healthy habitats and loving socio-political behavior. 

Bless us all on our beautiful, fragile Mother Earth!