This meeting will take place in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)

——— Visitors are Welcome ———

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Many thanks to all who were able to make it through the cool weather and soggy flooded conditions to take part in the spring cleanup along the watershed.   We were disappointed to need to call off the paddlers, but the water was high, fast and had a projectile debris that would have made any trash collection by watercraft dangerous and difficult.   Despite that, we had a good turnout all things considered and you who were able to take part did an awesome job!

Update:  Spring Cleanup Saturday April 18,

Due to unusually high water levels now and forecasted to increase due to intense storms later this evening, we have made the decision to reduce the scope of the cleanup scheduled for tomorrow, April 18th.  The flooding conditions create fast currents, unstable banks, and other hidden hazards that are not typical for our event.   We are following the Cook County Forest Preserve District guidelines and asking you to stay away from entering, wading or launching a kayak of canoe into water.    Limited by-land cleanups in hotspot littered areas that are not adjacent to the waterway will continue for those interested.  The barbecue lunch has also been cancelled this year.   We thank those of you who were otherwise ready to volunteer, and will keep you informed of other opportunities as they occur, hopefully in better conditions.   

Thank you -

Salt Creek Watershed Network

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

This meeting will take place in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)

——— Visitors are Welcome ———

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

This meeting will take place in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)

——— Visitors are Welcome ———

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

This meeting will take place in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)

——— Visitors are Welcome ———

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

Note: The River Rats do not meet in December

Weather predictions indicate significant additional snow beginning Monday afternoon.

This meeting has been
CANCELLED

Note: SCWN does not meet in January
Please join us at our next meeting:
February 2nd

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

Note: The River Rats DO NOT MEET in December.
Please join our next meeting on Tuesday, January 13th

This meeting will take place in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)

SPECIAL PRESENTATION

A once larger Salt Creek Sanitary District now serves only Villa Park.  Bob Wagner, one of the district’s current board members, will join our November meeting to provide a 15–20 minute description of the district’s recently completed state-of-the-art UV disinfection system. 

Visitors are Welcome

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Hofmann Dam River Rats 56th Semi-Annual Cleanup

Saturday, October 18th, 2025 — 9AM to Noon

——— Volunteers Urgently Needed! ———

Meet at Hofmann Tower along the DesPlaines River in Lyons, IL. Bring your kids, parents, neighbors, or friends. Volunteers Urgently Needed!

Bags and poker sticks will be provided by the Cook County Forest Preserve District.  WEAR long pants, sleeves and sturdy shoes.

Refreshments will be served

We accept AND recycle aluminum cans to raise money for future cleanups and events.

–––– For more information, call: ––––

Steve Marcus - (847) 224-5590 or
Bob Bezouska - (872) 239-0323 or Ken Sherrier - (224) 808-1764

_________________________
The Hofmann Dam River Rats is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization
We sign off on Community Service Hours

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

This meeting will take place in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)

——— Visitors are Welcome ———

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Brookfield's Conservation Commission will again host its annual Meet the Creek event at Kiwanis Park Saturday, October 4th, from 1 pm to 4 pm.

For more information go to Meet the Creek

or visit Facebook

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

The September meeting will be held in Meeting Room 1 of the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library which is at the three-way intersection of Grand Blvd, Lincoln and Park Avenues in Brookfield. Parking is available on Lincoln Avenue across from the main entrance. Take the stairs or elevator to the right as you enter down to Meeting Room 1 on the lower level.

A presentation by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District will be co-hosted by
The Brookfield Conservation Commission and Salt Creek Watershed Network

——— Visitors are welcome ———

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January or July

SPECIAL NOTE: the August 2025 meeting has been CANCELLED due
to the unavailability of Board Members for a quorum.

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

The 31st annual spring cleanup will be held Saturday, June 7th.  Walk along the creek and pick up some trash or actually get in the water and clean up by pulling out things that do not belong.  Everyone is welcome — it's fun and it's free.  Folks with waders and canoes are especially needed.

Gather at 9:00 a.m. in the Elk Grove High School parking lot along the creek where you will be provided with garbage bags, gloves, and pick up sticks.  Dress for the weather and possible muddy conditions.

For more information call Nick Nikola at 847-828-1141 or email creekguy@att.net.

This meeting will take place in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)

——— Visitors are Welcome ———

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

This meeting will take place in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)

——— Visitors are Welcome ———

Presentations or open Meet & Greet sessions start at 7:00 pm.

NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Hofmann Dam River Rats 55th Semi-Annual Cleanup

Saturday, MAY 3rd, 2025 — 9AM to Noon

Meet at Hofmann Tower along the DesPlaines River in Lyons, IL. Bring your kids, parents, neighbors, or friends. Volunteers Urgently Needed!

Bags and poker sticks will be provided by the Cook County Forest Preserve District.  WEAR long pants, sleeves and sturdy shoes.

Refreshments will be served

We accept AND recycle aluminum cans to raise money for future cleanups and events.

–––– For more information, call: ––––

Steve Marcus - (847) 224-5590 or
Bob Bezouska - (872) 239-0323 or Ken Sherrier - (224) 808-1764

_________________________
The Hofmann Dam River Rats is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization
We sign off on Community Service Hours

Calling all community & nature lovers to volunteer for our annual Salt Creek Spring Cleanup.   All are welcome. This outing is a great opportunity to be with friends and family and to meet your neighbors interested in caring for our local  environment during the height of springtime! Enjoy a complimentary cookout and environmental programs afterwards back near the meeting spot at Bemis Woods picnic pavilion #4. 

Land Participants: Meet by 9:00am at the Bemis North Forest Preserve footbridge to sign in and pick up your cleanup gear and area assignments.

Watercraft Participants:   You’ll have 2 options:  The first launch group will meet at the Bemis Woods North footbridge at 7am for a 7:30am launch.  Contact Kevin Kell at (630) 849-6212 for more information.   The 2nd launch group will also meet at Bemis Woods North Footbridge for a shorter run, more suited for beginners or light watercraft. Email  Rebecca Fiala at prairie.hawk@yahoo.com for more information.

Picnic Lunch:  Upon returning pickup equipment and/or bags of trash to the starting point, just up the drive is Shelter #4 where between 11:30am and 1pm you are welcome to a free picnic lunch.

Entrance to the Bemis North parking area is on the West side of Wolf Road between Ogden Avenue and 31st Street — about one-third of a mile south of 31at Street.

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——

April’s meeting will be held in the Community Room of the LaGrange Park Public Library.
(The Community Room is to your left as you enter the Library.)
Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. with Presentations or
Meet & Greet sessions

——— Visitors are Welcome ———


NOTE: Meetings are not scheduled in January and July

Hofmann Dam River Rats meet at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month except December at
Riverside Township Hall –– 3rd Floor
27 Riverside Road
Riverside, IL

—— Follow us on Facebook ——