Rock River, wetlands, take a big hit for "jobs".

Illinois (and the country) is faced with the dramatic destruction of wetlands, with only a fraction of it left and dwindling fast. These wetlands are a crucial environment for many species, as well as essential for flood prevention and serve several other critical functions as well.

But to many, they're just empty land to make a mint on.

Here's a shot sent in by a reader showing at least partially the site of the Triumph Hog Slaughter operation.

Estimated location marked in red.

And here's a map showing the area shown by the photo.



As you can clearly see, it's right on top of wetlands, adjoins actual lakes, and is within a stone's throw from the Rock River itself.

Don't know about you, but even if you're all gung-ho for this plant, would you ever swim or fish in the Rock again after it's up and killing literally thousands of hogs per day? Is that the price you're willing to pay?

The potential for substantial pollution and degradation over time is large and real. Since you may not use or enjoy the Rock River yourself, are you willing to essentially degrade it, or at least the 20 or so miles below this plant and turn it into a gigantic waste disposal pipe into the Mississippi, in the name of "jobs"? And give up literally millions in tax revenue for the privilege?

This reader also sent in reams and reams of data, charts, statistics, and endless columns and quotes, no doubt legitimate, but unfortunately, not much of it was linked or sourced.

Much of it showed the effects of just such plants on other locales and the surrounding environment, in particular one disasterous plant in Milan, Missouri.

It also cited statistics and data showing how such plants attract huge number of CAFOs, or concentrated animal farming operations, which are notorious polluters, often creating entire large lakes full of disease ridden and barely treated hog waste.