For way too many years trash has been dumped into the Sangamon River below the Lake Decatur Dam. Environmentally conscious citizens from civic and local organizations decided to meet to discuss their concerns and seek ways to work together to make a change. Networking was the keyword, and a consortium called Spiderweb began monthly meetings in the early 1990’s.
Agencies & organizations represented included the Macon County Conservation District (MCCD), the City of Decatur, the Decatur Park District, the Sanitary District of Decatur, Millikin University, Richland Community College, Macon Co Solid Waste Mgt, Decatur Audubon Society, Clean Community Systems, several high school groups, Macon County Soil & Water Conservation District, Izaak Walton, the Nature Conservancy, LEAF.
The Spiderweb consortium reached a consensus that their initial focus should be on water- specifically on the Sangamon River below the dam where so much dumping had taken place for generations. The first fall Sangamon River Cleanup took place in Lincoln Park in 1993. In May of 1995 a comprehensive Sangamon River Greenway Study was adopted by the Decatur City Council. River Cleanups became biannual occasions when spring river cleanups at MCCD’s Rock Springs Center were added in 1998. Other projects instigated by Spiderweb included the Greenway Coalition, the Heart of the Sangamon Ecosystem Partnership, an Illegal Dumping Taskforce, and a special committee to plan for Earth Day 2000.
Through this enthusiastic committee the consortium called Spiderweb evolved into the CEC or Community Environmental Council. The main focus of the CEC has been to be an advocate to get the community to accept responsibility and provide leadership for the protection of the environment.
In 2002, the CEC received an Illinois Green Communities Demonstration Grant to develop an environmental strategic plan for the next 20 years called Vision 2022. The plan outlines goals for safe water, increased recycling and waste reduction, land use policies, air pollution standards and energy efficiency. CEC continues to partner with other organizations and industries to sponsor environmental speakers and programs for the community.
Key partners have been Caterpillar, Inc, MCCD, Millikin U, Richland Community College, the Decatur Park District, Decatur Audubon Society, and the Agricultural Watershed Institute. CEC became a nonprofit organization receiving tax-exempt status April 25, 2007 from the Internal Revenue Service. Thus CEC is now in a position to solicit paid memberships from industries and individuals to more effectively sponsor environmental education and advocacy.
The organization’s commitment to improving the local environment caught the attention of the IEC staff last year, and became one of the first that the IEC reached out to in a new effort to establish ties to communities around the state.