Riverside, Illinois is a unique community that offers interesting possibilities for a BioBlitz. Celebrating its 150th year in 2019, Riverside is just 10 miles west of Chicago, on the Des Plaines River. For decades, it has been the "go-to" place for nature lovers, birders, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Its groundbreaking design, by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1869, mandated harmony with nature, and included more than 40% green space and about two miles of natural areas along the river.
The wildlife and plants have always thrived in Riverside, and, since the removal of a dam a few years ago, are rebounding even more. We are hoping to conduct this BioBlitz with the help of scientists and experts like you to create a baseline of biological data for one of the oldest communities near the major metropolis of Chicago.
On Saturday, May 11, 2019 Riverside wishes to host a BioBlitz, and we would like to invite you. We will have citizen-scientists to help, ample food and beverages, and camping or homes to stay for those whose work requires overnight accommodations. There will also be some scientists working on Friday evening, May 10, if your species of interest is such that evenings work best.
If you are interested, please contact Cathy Maloney, Riverside's Landscape Commission Chair, at
cjmaloney1@ameritech.net or
708.205.6680
for further details.
Thanks for giving this some thought!
