Conserve | Connect | Restore
HEARTLANDS CONSERVANCY 2017 Annual Report
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Investing In The Nature Of Southwestern Illinois
Our Mission The mission of HeartLands Conservancy is to conserve, connect, and restore the diverse natural and cultural resources that sustain the people and communities of southwestern Illinois.
2017Board of Directors William Armstrong Retired International Finance
Our Vision
William Boardman Land Conservation Committee Chair Firehouse Contracting
We envision a future for southwestern Illinois where people, wildlife, and natural habitats thrive together because the community — private citizens, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies — has invested in the conservation of our natural places and resources.
Brenda Chandler Property Peddlers
Our Team Michael Andreas Special Projects Coordinator Shelli Bement Director of Finance & Administration Janet Buchanan LEED Green Associate Project Manager Emily Kinard Project Specialist Laura L. Lyon Special Projects Coordinator Kim O’Bryan Director of Development & Events
Robert J. Hilgenbrink Chair Illinois Green Economy Network Dawnesha Johnson External Committee Chair IL American Water Robert Knobeloch St. Louis Prompters, LLC Nancy Larson Harter, Larson & Dodd Ronda Latina Second Vice-Chair Environmental Operations, Inc. Charles Meier Illinois State Representative & Farmer Robert Nelson Secretary Nelson & Nelson Attorneys at Law Stephen Parrish Treasurer Farmers & Merchants Bank
Mary Vandevord AICP, LEED AP ND President & CEO
E. William Reichert Vice-Chair Farnsworth Group
Sarah Vogt Project Manager
Cliff Schuette Schuette Seed Company
Ed Weilbacher Vice President Steve Widowski Special Projects Coordinator 2
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Cover photo credit: Mike Matney Photography
Letter Dear Friends, As we embark on our 29th year of conservation in southwestern Illinois, we have set forth a renewed vision and strategy for the next three years. Conserve. Since 1989, we have preserved nearly 9,000 acres of farmland and natural areas for our region’s quality of life. Over the next three years, our goal is to preserve another 900 acres for hiking, paddling, wildlife habitat, farming, hunting, and cleaning the air and water. Connect. We must continue to connect the people of southwestern Illinois to nature and the outdoors. Over the next three years, our goal is to increase the number and diversity of people engaged in our mission and improve public access to our preserved properties. Restore. Wildlife, water quality, and air quality are facing increasing threats each year. Over the next three years, our goal is to complete more than 20 projects that support clean water, as well as 200 acres of habitat restoration to support plants and animals in the St. Louis Metro East. We have an ambitious vision heading into our 30th year. It will take the combined efforts of our region’s communities, businesses, nonprofits, and goverments to enable wildlife, natural habitats, and people to grow and thrive together. Please enjoy our 2017 Annual Report that highlights our progress toward our goals. Robert J. Hilgenbrink Board Chair
Mary Vandevord President & CEO
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2017Highlights conserve
engage
connect
Total of linear feet of sidewalks analyzed
PLANTED
JINGLE HIKE
258,873.6
26,000 trees
& trails planned
302,152.7 2017 total
HLC conserved
76 Acres
68 acres of wetlands + 8 acres of forest
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on
70 acres
approximately
1,400stream miles studied in watersheds
19 implemented water quality projects = 16.08 acres or 17,234 ft
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146
PARTICIPANTS (50% INCREASE OF 2016)
They visited 7 COUNTIES 12 PARKS 12 TREES TOTAL TREE VISITS:
712
# OF PEOPLE WHO VISITED AT LEAST SIX PARKS:
70
restore
MORE THAN
800+
interactions: clicks, likes, tags, social media interactions.
TOTAL ACRES CONSERVED
8,780 total since 2001
Field to Fork is HeartLands Conservancy’s
annual celebration of conservation and sustainability through delicious, farm-to-table courses that are designed and prepared by regional chefs. This fundraiser brings southern Illinois together to showcase the region and helps us to protect our natutral and cultural resources.
Calhoun
1
Franklin
1
Alexander
1
Wayne
1
Piatt
1
Fayette
1
Washington
3
Jackson
4
Bond
7
Randolph
12
Clinton
7 chefs 12 farms mint 5 lbs jalapeno 20 peppers watermelon 6 melons garlic 5 lbs fingerling potatoes 60 lbs juliette tomatoes 22 lbs spring mix 28 lbs red tomatoes 5 lbs yellow tomatoes 5 lbs peaches 60 lbs corn 5 bushels basil 8 lbs eggs 6 dz mushrooms 30 lbs zucchini 40 lbs root veggies 25 lbs pecans 2 lbs squash 25 lbs flank 60 lbs bacon 15 lbs leafy greens 25 lbs onions 8 lbs cauliflower 5 lbs ricotta cheese 5 lbs shredded cheddar 15 lbs goat cheese 10 lbs heavy cream 8 qts whole milk 1 gal gorgonzola 10 lbs percorino cheese 10 lbs
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Monroe
20
Missouri & Elsewhere
26
St Clair
36
Madison
49
Multi County (Regional)
52
Percentage of Projects 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
HeartLands Conservancy Total Projects by County 45+ Volunteers did 800+ hours to plant: 654 species of perennials & trees,
Number of square miles of community growth
native wildflower seeds of 64 species
32.92
1,742,400
6.8
million pounds of oxygen produced &
182 tons of carbon dioxide removed as a result of HLC’s 2017 reforestation efforts.
planned
26 students bioblitzed 100+ species of plants, insects, and animals
in 2017 386 attendees on five treks & 2,000+ people directly participated and gave insight on plans for future community growth, cultural and natural resource conservation, pedestrian, bicycle, trail and waterhed planning
Conserve While 80% of Americans live in cities and suburbs, access to nature is becoming more limited. Preserving land improves people’s health and happiness, provides food and clean water, supports jobs in major industries (e.g., farming, tourism, forestry, recreation), and reduces the impacts of flooding. In 2017, HeartLands Conservancy preserved 76 acres of natural areas, including several wetlands — nature’s kidneys — that support clean water, ducks, otters, butterflies, and bees. We also preserved an urban forest in Belleville — a respite of nature in the city. A 58-acre wetland surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest has been permanently preserved thanks to a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service, HeartLands Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited. The wetland is home to many species including wood ducks, egrets, and otters. Funding support for this project came from a Land Acquisition Grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and a grant from the Grand Victoria Foundation. In 2017, Wetlands Forever, Inc., placed conservation easements on several properties in Clinton County. These properties are a part of habitat restoration efforts on frequently flooded farmland. HeartLands Conservancy holds the conservation easements (the development rights), and private landowners continue to own the land, which can be used for hunting and recreation.
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Connect Connection to nature, and connecting nature, is the core of our work. In 2017, we connected hundreds of people to the outdoors through several avenues: Total Eclipse of the Heart(Lands) Solar Eclipse: 200 people gathered at Mill Creek Natural Area in Randolph County to enjoy the awe-inspiring solar eclipse. Our Treks Series in 2017 included a Foraging Trek, Paddle Trek, Silver Creek Stream Monitoring, and the Jingle Hike Challenge. Godfrey Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan: We assisted the Village of Godfrey with a plan to connect bicycle and pedestrian routes and trails throughout the Village. The Village adopted the plan in summer 2017 and is now using it for funding applications and an overall strategy for the community. Other Plans in 2017 We assisted the Village of Shiloh and City of Murphysboro with comprehensive growth plans. Both projects involved community outreach and data collection in 2017. Each effort will result in a future vision and direction for the community to grow and change over the next 20 years. We also continued work on four watershed plans: Lower Silver Creek (the area around Scott Air Force Base), Canteen-Cahokia Creek, Indian-Cahokia Creek, and the American Bottom watersheds in Madison County. These plans make recommendations for mitigating ooding and improving water quality for humans and wildlife to thrive.
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Restore While much of our mission is about preserving natural places, we also understand the critical importance of restoring natural resources where needed. In 2017, we restored a frequently flooded farm field to forest by planting 26,000 native hardwood trees. Thanks to the Grand Victoria Foundation and Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation for support of this project. We also launched a regional urban forestry project to inventory locations where tree canopy restoration would most benefit communities in Madison and St. Clair counties. This project will continue through 2019. Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom, which is a project that aims to restore natural systems to a detention pond in the middle of the Signal Hill Neighborhood of Belleville. The classroom is a learning space that connects local schools — Blessed Sacrament School and Signal Hill School, among others — to the natural environment. Thanks to the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation K-12 Pollinator Grant, American Water Environmental Grant, City of Belleville, and numerous donors and supporters, we began work on the Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom. Silver Creek Best Management Practices We began the design and installation of water quality best management practices in the Upper Silver Creek Watershed, thanks to a nonpoint source (319) costshare grant program funded by the Illinois EPA. 10
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Financials Much of our work involves targeted real estate transactions and associated relationship building, due diligence, deal-making, and fundraising. Sometimes we buy property and permanently steward it. In other cases we buy land to save it from imminent loss and later transfer it to a permanent steward, such as a parks department, a conservation-minded individual, or the U.S. Forest Service. In other scenarios, we empower a partner to make the purchase by negotiating the terms, securing funding, and managing or assisting with the acquisition on their behalf. Because of this, our ďŹ nances can look very different year to year. In 2017, we focused primarily on transfers of property to other stewards. As a result, our books show decreases in net assets. While those properties are no longer owned by HeartLands Conservancy, their conservation values are permanently protected through conservation easements, deed restrictions, or other restrictions as appropriate.
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BALANCE SHEET
Current Assets Land Other Assets TOTAL ASSETS Current Liabilities Unrestricted Net Assets Temporarily Restricted Net Assets TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS
2017 Audited 630,478 2,530,398 1,620,506 4,781,382 1,565,968 2,530,398 685,016 4,781,382
2016 Audited 821,244 2,702,898 1,734,428 5,258,570 1,982,310 2,702,898 573,362 5,258,570
CONTRIBUTORS, PARTNERS, & DONORS HeartLands Conservancy is grateful for the organizations, partners, and donors that make our work possible. $100,000+ CountryMark Refining & Logistics, LLC Illinois Environmental Protection Agency $50,000 - $99,999 Ducks Unlimited/Wetlands America Trust Jeffrey P. and Molly King $25,000 - $49,999 Madison County St. Clair County Wetlands Forever, Inc. $10,000 - $24,999 City of Murphysboro Leonard C. Goodman Grand Victoria Foundation Village of Shiloh $5,000 - $9,999 Anonymous Anonymous Prairie State Generating Company, LLC U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service $2,500 - $4,999 Illinois American Water Nancy Larson and Bill O’Hara Anonymous Robert C. and Katherine Nelson Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery Ed and Kathi Weilbacher Wells Fargo Foundation 14
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$1,000 - $2,499 William and Christine Boardman Dale Brockmann Donald Dahlmann and Ronda Latina Jeanne Dahlmann Donna Dougherty EWR Architects, Inc. Marilyn Fahey Pat Fahey Robert & Donna Hilgenbrink Dennis and Jo Kirkham Laura Lyon and Tim Busse Nelson & Nelson Attorneys at Law, P.C. George Obernagel III E. William Reichert III John and Denise Schaberg Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis The Material Works, Ltd. David and Lisa Tiedemann John and Lynne Troyan
$500 - $1,999 Belleville Optometry, Ltd. City of Edwardsville Cliff and Christy Schuette Clinton County Farm Bureau Clinton County SWCD Davey Tree Expert Company Don Gaston Geotechnology, Inc. Toni and Clare Goelz Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C. Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. Molly Hacker Greg Hoskins Jeffrey P. King
Mike and Jenny Krim Ginger McCall Memorial Hospital-BJC HealthCare Dr. Tex Pardo Laura Sforza Nancy Suelflow Suncoke Energy-GCO Connie Vogt Sheila Voss
$250 - $499 James Andrew Anonymous Bill and Marie-France Armstrong Tim Boyce Civil Design, Inc. Kay Connolly Tim Faltus Farm Credit Illinois Julie Heberer Bernard ‘Sonny’ Heck Jr. Barbara Hinson Madison Co. Planning & Development Madison County SWCD Debbie Newman Mitze Nitzsche Stephen Parrish Randolph County SWCD Libby Reuter Scott Credit Union Robert Seiffert Justin Siegel St Louis Composting St. Clair County Farm Bureau Stormwater STL LLC Robert and Mary Vandevord
Brian and Jaynie Wells Virginia Woulfe-Beile
$100 - $249 Dallas and Julie Alley Tim Ashe Mark Badasch Laurie Bauer City of Belleville Mary Biernot Steve Black Frederick Blume Bob Boze Susan and Kerry Brethauer Darrell Brink Brenda Chandler Kevin Cheely Tim Cleary Laura Cohen Tom and Eloise Cohoon Greg Colombo City of Columbia Diane Drake East St. Louis Park District Village of Fayetteville Village of Freeburg Mike & Joann Fricke Grace Garin Sharon Geil Village of Glen Carbon City of Granite City Gary Green City of Greenville Bill Grisley Ted Harvey Jane Helms City of Highland Chuck and Donna Hill Glen Hodgson Gary Hoelscher Athena Hubert Sarah Hutton Jack Klopmeyer Patricia Kratschmer
Dian Langenhorst & William Suzanne Bedell Larry Brammer Kisting Charitable Fund Chris Brefeld Mary Laurent Ralph Buettner City of Lebanon Chelsea Burdge Carol Lieb Sally Burgess Village of Marine Gail DeVilbiss City of Mascoutah Kathryn McHugh Dewey’s Pizza Representative Charles Meier Suzanne Dickneite Roberta Meyer Brian Dulski Nick Miller Isaac Faibisoff Katie Mondy-Hughes Pam Farrar Village of New Baden Jim Grandone City of O’Fallon Bonnie Grohmann Mike Rall William Hampton Roger & Dianne Ross Robb Hass Zane and Connie Schneider Susan Hertich Bob Schrader Nicole Higginbotham David and Carolee Schrader Kaitlyn Hinson Glen Schuetz Gary Huelsmann Village of Shiloh Anonymous Ned Siegel Judith Joy Silver Creek Garden Club Joseph Kassly Jr. Village of Smithton Marty Kemper Daniel J. Stocker Emily Kinard Village of Summerfield Wayne Kinney Village of Swansea Anne Koleson Barb Taylor Brad Korte City of Troy Cheryl Kowalczyk City of Waterloo Theresa Kratschmer Waterloo Park District Ted Krauskopf Casey Weeks Chris Krusa Leo Welch Joe Langenhorst Anonymous Carol LeFevre Brittany Williams Nancy LeVault Karla Wilson Deborah Lexow Katy Wonnacott Carol Luly Lisa Zamfir Stephanie Lyons Chris Magnuson Mary Lou Maley up to $99 Vanette McConahey Bill Ahaus Christina Michaelree Susan Anderson Ellie Miller Kimberly Atkins Valerie Mollet Patricia Bealer
Heather Navarro Mary Ellen Niemietz Paul & Julie Niesen Mike and Kim O’Bryan Toni and Don Oplt Randi Papke Kim Petzing Valerie Piekutowski Melissa Potvin William J. Rable Marty Raeber Deanna Ratermann Michael Reeb Larry Rhutasel Thomas Ripperda John Slosar Jr. Paula Smith St. Louis Community Foundation Gary Suomela Rachel Tompkins PhD Dan Trapp Henri Troch Carole Valencia Dave Varel Sarah Vogt Mary Von Tobel Terry Walther Susan Weber Melissa Wolfe
In-Kind Donors Alpine Shop Charlie Meier Grimm & Gorly Florist & Gifts, Inc. Terrain Magazine Terry’s Home & Garden Toolen’s Running Start
Founded in 1989, HeartLands Conservancy protects open spaces, farmland, and cultural assets of Southwestern Illinois and the surrounding region to support communities with healthy and sustainable air, land, and water resources for current and future generations WWW.HEARTLANDSCONSERVANCY.ORG
P: (618) 566-4451 F: (618) 566-4452 INFO@HEARTLANDSCONSERVANCY.ORG FACEBOOK.COM/HEARTLANDSCONSERVANCY @HLCSWIL #INVESTINNATURE @HEARTLANDSCONSERVANCY
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Investing In The Nature Of Southwestern Illinois
CHECK OUT OUR NEW ADDRESS!!!! 3 North High Street Belleville, Illinois 62220