Ongoing Projects Click here to download our project application. Black Hawk State Historic Site: This is a two part project; the first part is the creation of 2 exhibit cases and a scale model of the village of Saukenauk with total project costs of $25,000. Interstate RC&D Grant Writer, Ann Ring has secured approximately $8,000 with the remainder of the funding being secured from various donors. The second part of the project is a Homecoming Celebration and Pow Wow for the Sauk and Mesquakie (Fox) Tribes. Once again, Ann Ring, Interstate RC&D grant writer has worked closely with the Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park Foundation to secure $12,750 in funding and an additional $3,500 in grants pending along with $6600 in other contributions to complete the project. The Homecoming Celebration and Powwow is scheduled for May 2010. Eco-Camp: A partnership was formed about 8 years ago between the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil and Water Districts, University of Illinois Extension, Interstate RC&D, County Boards and others to conduct ECO-Camp each year; two days in the spring and two days in the fall. ECO-Camp is an outdoor classroom/learning program for 4th-6th grade students who learn about soils, Forests, prairies, lakes, water quality, fish and wildlife and many other topics are covered during the two-day sessions. There have been over 2,400 students participate in ECO-Camp since it began and valuable partnerships have developed and strengthened over the years. Pheasants Forever joined the partnership in 2009 by contributing funding for programming. The spring ECO-Camp is scheduled for April 22-23, 2010 and the fall ECO-Camp is scheduled for September 23-24, 2010. Forest Management Workshop: Plans are underway to host the fifth annual Forest Management Workshop to provide landowners and others with hands-on techniques and information about woodland and timber management. Breakout sessions and demonstrations include: Invasive Species Control; Brush Management; Logging/Timber Harvest; Chainsaw Safety; Wildlife Habitat Management; Tree Pruning; Tree Identification & Erosion Control. Friends of the Pine Creek Grist Mill "Friends" is a volunteer non-profit organization formed in 1996. The mission of the organization is to restore, maintain and operate the Mill and to share the historical significance of the site through educational programs, public tours and events. Interstate RC&D is assisting the Friends seek and successfully apply for funding for the various educational programs and events at the Mill. You can learn more about the Friends at www.pincreekgristmill.com. Grant Research and Writing Services: Interstate RC&D offers clients grant research and grant writing services. Ann Ring, Professional Grant Writer, teamed up with Interstate RC&D in 2007 to provide clients with her knowledge and expertise in grant research and grant proposal development. Ann has an impressive 60% success ratio and has also participated in facilitating long-range, strategic planning meetings and capital campaign initiatives for various non-profit groups and organizations. More information can be obtained by contacting our office at 309-764-1486. ILLOWA Ferry Boat This project began for Interstate RC&D in 2000 to explore reestablishing a ferry boat service connecting Iowa and Illinois. In 1834, a ferryboat operation offered services to residents of Louisa County Iowa and Mercer County Illinois. The ferry operation originated at New Boston, IL and provided a convenient way to travel, eliminating the need to drive an additional 80 miles to cross the river. Unfortunately, the ferry service operation was discontinued in 1973 due to maintenance problems and hazards at the Iowa landing site. In 2002, Interstate secured a $58,260 grant from USDA Rural Development and $30,000 from local businesses and government to complete a market feasibility study. The study evaluated the landing sites, potential economic development, operational costs, and other key issues related to the project. ILLOWA learned in November 2005 that $236,327 was awarded by the Department of Transportation to complete the environmental assessment study, which was supported by funds from the State of Iowa and the State of Illinois. A total of $336,000 was available. The study showed that with minimal subsidies the project was feasible. ILLOWA is currently assessing all options to continue moving the project towards completion. Quad Cities Natural Area Guardians (NAGS): The QC NAGS is a group of individuals who share a common interest and commitment to the environment. NAGS are dedicated to the preservation and restoration of natural areas in the Quad City Area. Interstate RC&D has worked for the past three years helping develop a long range plan to conduct activities connected to three major Goals; Land Stewardship, Prescribe Fire and Education Programs. Interstate RC&D currently operates as the fiscal agent for QCNAGS and will work with them on various land stewardship activities in 2010. Renaissance Hennepin Canal/Friends of the Hennepin Canal: The Friends of the Hennepin Canal is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the wise use and preservation of the Hennepin Canal Parkway. The Hennepin Canal Parkway is a 104.5 mile long State Park spanning five Illinois Counties which include Bureau, Henry, Lee, Rock Island, and Whiteside. The Friends of the Hennepin Canal presented to community leaders their proposal to restore a portion of the canal to its original working condition. The project is called Renaissance Hennepin Canal and the overall objective of this project is to transform the Hennepin Canal into a navigable waterway, with working locks, from the Guard Lock at Rock Falls through Lock 24 at Geneseo, IL. Intestate RC&D is facilitating the planning and implementation of the project. Phase I will be the completion of a feasibility study for the targeted area restoring locks 22, 23 and 24 to good working condition and channel improvements. The project is expected to take approximately three years. Once completed, boats will be able to leisurely travel fifty miles of quiet countryside, from one urbanized area to the other. It is projected that this fifty-mile waterway will create abundant recreational, cultural and economic benefits to western and northern Illinois. Interstate RC&D also assisted the Friends of the Hennepin Canal complete and submit their 501 (c) 3 application. Smart Bus 2010: Project S.M.A.R.T. (Sharp Minds are Reading Thoroughly) Bus is a traveling education center and a very successful program committed to reducing illiteracy, educating young people about the environment through a series of presentations and hands-on activities while promoting careers in the natural resources and environmental areas. Project S.M.A.R.T. Bus travels to the rural and urban communities in the five county RC&D area of Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island counties in Illinois and Muscatine and Scott counties in Iowa offering fun learning in a unique setting. Children are invited to come on board this handicapped accessible bus and choose a book which they get to keep along with other resource materials. They also get the opportunity to participate in a variety of learning exercises and activities covering a wide variety of natural resource and environmental topics. The bus begins traveling in March and runs through October, making stops at several different locations. Project S.M.A.R.T. Bus started in 2000 by a group of local volunteers, spear-headed by Charles Curry, Interstate RC&D Council Member. There were many organizations and businesses that made donations to help make this project a success. The S.M.A.R.T. Bus project has received a number of state, regional , and national awards for innovative approaches to learning and reducing illiteracy and for strong outreach efforts working with a broad and diverse population of children and young adults. In 2009, SMART bus made 41 visits; approximately 5,000 children participated with 30% participation by minorities and at-risk/socially disadvantaged children; presented 67 programs on recycling and alternative energy and handed out over 6,000 books. In 2009, the Project S.M.A.R.T. Bus program will be focused on threatened and endangered species, recycling and alternative energy. The SMART Bus decided to go "GREEN" in 2009 and is now Solar Equipped and will be used as a teaching tool during various visits. If you would like to schedule the bus to come to your organization or event, please contact our office at (309) 764-1486 extension 4 or send us an email to info@interstatercd.org. There is a $25 service charge to schedule the bus for your event and all other donations to the SMART Bus are tax deductible! We are also accepting children's books ages preschool to 8th grade. Volunteer opportunities to work with the program are also available. Interested students from the Quad City area can apply for a $500 scholarship from the Charles Curry SMART Bus Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors and freshman, sophomore and Junior college students from Henry, Mercer and Rock Island Counties in Illinois and Muscatine and Scott Counties from Iowa majoring in Natural Resources or education. More information can be obtained by contacting our office.