Volcanoes and Igneous Activity Earth Chapter 4

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Root River Environmental Education Community
Center
Community Planning SessionJune 7, 2007
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True or False Lake Michigan is the second
largest largest freshwater lake in the world.
False Lake Michigan is the third largest Great
Lake by surface area and the sixth largest
freshwater lake in the world.
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What is the retention/replacement time for water
in Lake Michigan?
99 years - Lake Michigan's cul-de-sac formation
means that water entering the lake circulates
slowly and remains for a long time (retention)
before it leaves the basin through the Straits of
Mackinac.
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How many residents interact with and impact the
Root-Pike watershed on a daily basis?
Over 1.6 million residents from Kenosha,
Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha Counties
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Is climate change is expected to raise or lower
the level of Lake Michigan?

• By some estimatesthe levels for the Great Lakes
  may decrease 3 to 7 feet.
• - Don Wuebbles, Professor and Executive
  Coordinator of the School of Earth, Society, and
  Environment, at the University of Illinois at
  Urbana- Champaign (Racine Journal-Times, April
  19, 2007)

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What are the three major tributaries that flow
into Lake Michigan?Bonus What is the major
diversion from Lake Michigan and where does it
flow?
The Fox-Wolf, the Grand, and the Kalamazoo
Illinois Waterway at the Chicago River to the
Mississippi
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What would this region be like today if Lake
Michigan didnt exist?
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Where Are We? How Did We Get Here?
Rain Gardens
Captains Cove
Southport Beachhouse
Wind Map
Facilities Energy Reduction Plans
Chancellors Task Force on Environmental
Stewardship
Environmental Studies Program
Beach/River Monitoring
Global Warming Task Force
Chiwaukee Prairie
Future Campus Environmental Center
Green Tier
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REC Goals

• Increase and improve environmental education
  opportunities available to the general public,
  PK-16 educators, and elementary, secondary, and
  postsecondary students.
• Foster and support interdisciplinary
  environmental research opportunities for PK-16
  students and faculty and environmental
  organizations.
• Demonstrate innovative, ecologically sound
  residential and commercial products and business
  practices.
• Build awareness and appreciation for the Great
  Lakes ecosystem and connected watersheds.

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Root River Environmental Education and Community
Center (REC)
1301 6th Street Racine, Wisconsin
Initial Partners City of Racine
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Department, and the River Bend Nature Center
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REC General Space Usage
Restroom/ Office Space
Equipment Storage
Door 2
Classroom/ Exhibits
Garage Door
Door 1
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Root River Environmental Education Community
Center
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Center for Environmental Education, Demonstration
and Applied Research (CE2DAR)
Address 7825 1st Avenue Built 1936 placed
on National Registry of Historic Buildings in
2003 Initial Partner City of Kenosha Parks
Department
Kenosha Sand Dunes and Low Prairie
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Benefits

• Community
• Economic and community development potential
• Take advantage of (and help maintain) an
  under-utilized public/historic resources
• New community resource with logical connections,
  as well as a unique perspectives, to existing
  venues
• University
• Enhanced institutional connection to and presence
  in place
• Ability to foster students understanding and
  connection to a defining characteristic of our
  place (i.e., Lake Michigan)
• Connections to teaching, research and engagement
  efforts (i.e., multiple connections to a variety
  of disciplines and other initiatives)

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Resource Development

• Wisconsin Coastal Management Grant
• REC Educational Programs
• CE2DAR Restoration/Renovation
• AmeriCorpsVISTA
• UW-Extension EDvantage
• Root-Pike WIN (Signs)
• Johnson Outdoors (Equipment)
• Appropriation Request
• Other Private Partners Recreation
• Building Renovation

NOTE River Alliance of Wisconsin
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Next Steps and Needs

• Hire an AmeriCorpsVISTA member
• Memorandums of Agreements
• Vandal- and pigeon-proofing (security)
• Market Analysis and Business Plan (Recreation)
• Continuing Education Program Development
• Strategic Plan
• Risk Management
• Renovations
• REC Office space, restroom, equipment storage
• CE2DAR Handicap accessibility,
  structural/electrical assessments, clean,
  restroom
• Identify and Foster Teaching/Research Connections
• Initiate expand programmatic partnerships and
  external (grants, donations, time, talent)
  support
• Friend-Raising Campaigns

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Preserving the PastFostering a Sustainable
Future