MEANDERINGS
HeartLandsConservancy.org
Fall & Winter 2021
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Board of Directors E. William Reichert III Board Chair Mary Vandevord President
CONTENT
Ronda Latina Vice Chair William Boardman Second Vice Chair Janet Haroian Treasurer Anne Werner Secretary Brenda Chandler
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Gary Huelsmann
Woc-a-Woc! Black-crowned Night Herons are Disappearing
Dawnesha Johnson Nancy Larson Robert C. Nelson Jim Pauley Cliff Schuette
Team Michael Andreas Special Projects Jamie Wheeler Director of Finance & Administration
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Plant This! Not That! Working The Night Shift Night Pollinators
2020 Annual Report
Tyler Burk Water Programs Manager Laura L. Lyon VP of Program Strategy & Impact Belinda McAllister Community & Partnerships Coordinator
Message from Our President | CEO
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Kim O’Bryan Director of Development & Events
Highlights & Happenings
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Jingle Hike
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Jenny Reiman Resilient Communities Program Manager Mary Vandevord President & CEO Sarah (Vogt) Powell Conservation Manager Ed Weilbacher Vice President Steve Widowski Wildlife Biologist
Summer Adventures & Discoveries with WADE 2020 Contributors
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Staff & Stories
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HLC Sponsors to Date
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HeartLands Conservancy
29 East Main Street Belleville, IL 62220 (618) 566-4451 info@HeartLandsConservancy.org www. HeartlandsConservancy.org HLC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax deductible and are graciously accepted throughout the year. Cover Image by Ondrej Prosicky
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MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT | CEO “Change is Nature’s Delight” - Marcus Aurelius The change of the seasons from autumn and winter, and the change of the calendar from one year to the next, often makes apparent the changes happening in my own life. As the cliche goes, nothing is constant except change; and 2021 has been a year of tremendous change at HeartLands Conservancy. First of all, we’ve updated our branding. The new colors remind me of how southern Illinois looks from the view atop of Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest. The new logo underscores our commitment to land, water, and cultural resource conservation and the landscapes of southwestern Illinois - rivers, bluffs, mounds. We have a new website, too. My favorite part of the new site is the Explore section. Iniotyuwlfindmanyofhteplaces HeartLands Conservancy has had a hand in conserving - whether as the owner, steward, partner, or ally. Most of these places are open to the public to explore. We’ve had some staff changes as well. We expanded staff this year to cover more comunity-specificneedsinouregion and to build deeper partnerships in the communities we serve. We also have had to say goodbye to several staff members who are moving on to bigger roles.
This winter we will also begin a deep look at our organization through a new strategic planning process. The process will include integrating our justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion framework into all aspects of the organization’s strategy and policy. We will also explore other potential changes to the organization and where we might go in the future - stay tuned for more on that. We also hope that our work with many partners will change the trajectory of some important bird species in our region. Black-crowned night herons have lost their breeding habitat. HeartLands is hoping that some of our conserved lands can help scientists stabilize the populations of these beautiful birds (page xx). I hope positive changes come your way as the seasons turn. We are excited for you to join us as we change and grow. See you outside,
Mary Vandevord President & CEO
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HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative Thanks to a general operating grant from the Grand Victoria Foundation, HeartLands Conservancy has been working with St. Louis-based consultants Moncia Black-Robinson and Densie DeCou, founders of DEIB Now, to assess our organization’s status on racial equity. The staff and board members have participated in 10 hours of training on a variety of topics including bias, stereotypes, and allyship. An organizational assessment was completed in August and, as of the writing of this edition, a statement of intent and plan of action is being developed. The boardandstaffinegr twl atefin our dingsandactionsa inot neworganziational strategic planning effort in 2022. In the meantime, we will begin putting new procedures, practices, and values into action.
Prairie State Generating Volunteer Day at the Exploration Garden Prairie State Generating sent over a crew of their summer interns to do some heavy lifting at the Exploration Garden at Swansea Clinton Hills in June. We were very impressed with the amount of work they were able to accomplish, including setting boundary markers, creating tree cages to protect the Tribute Tree gre, vo clearing out ervo grwon flower beds, and cuting down ivasi n ev species. We are always looking for more corporate partners to host employee volunteer days at our conservation sites. If your organization is interested, please contact Kim O’Bryan at kim.obryan@ heartlandsconservancy.org or 618-566-4451 ext 10.
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Godfrey Breaks Ground on Glazebrook Park Expansion The VIllage of Godfrey held the Ground Breaking ceremony on Phase 1 of the new expansion of Glazebrook Park! We aregratefube ot l paroft htedesigneam t fohter developmenal t ongThMHEw.iht eVilagehav wil ealongfield,pickle ball cour ts, gaga pi,t fitness pod, all-inclusiev playground, splash pad, (2) 3030x picnic shelert s and concession stand with a bathhouse.
Thank you Rotary Club of Swansea! HLC and the pollinators thank the Rotary Club of Swansea for supporting the Exploration Garden at Clinton Hills Conservation Park! Learn more about the plans for the garden on our website at HeartLandsConservancy.org under the explore tab.
Juneteenth Metro East Community Development Sustainable Solutions (CDSS), leaders of Juneteenth Metro East and other community and environmental initiatives in the East St. Louis area, invited HLC to participate in Juneteenth-Metro East this year, which took place on June 19th at Jones Park in East St. Louis. The event included a festival and a Ride
For Freedom motorcade that drove throughout the city and was followed byaflagraisingatEastSt.LouisCity Hall. While a portion of our staff decorated a truck and drove with the motorcade, other staff engaged with the community at the festival. We educated attendees about watersheds using a water table model and asked for community
feedbackaboutfloodingissuesin the Prairie Du Pont Watershed. It was a great venue to connect with the community.
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MORE HIGHLIGHTS & HAPPENINGS HLC OPEN HOUSE & Ribbon Cutting
We are very happy to be in our new space and invite you to stop by hte office sometime ot ake a look!
HCwLelcomedalargecrowdinMaytocelebratetheexpansionfourfficeindown town Belleville. The Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce, Madison County Board Chair Kurt Prenzler, St. Clair County Board Member Rick Vernier, Belleville Mayor Patty Gregory, and many HLC Board Members, partners, and volunteers joined us for the occasion. Guests were treated to food from Tavern on Main and complementary native plants to thank them for growing with our organization. In all, over 40 people attended the celebration, which also included a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Wings and Things Annual Butterfly Count at Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom On Friday, September 17 students from Blessed Sacrament and Signal Hill Elementary stopped by the Signal Hill Outdoor classroom to count butterflies, bees, and other flying things! Students and volunteer helpers enjoyed spotting and catching different insects. The students used identification guides and hand lenses to study the creatures they found. Here are interesting finds of the day: potter wasp, assassin beetle, monarch butterflies, cloudless sulphurs, leaf footed beetle, cuckoo wasps, snails, a snake and many other things.
Fall Hikes Thank you for attending our hikes. Watch our FAcebook and web page for 2022 Hikes.
See you all next year! THANK YOU ALL for your time, hard work & dedication!
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If you are interested in volunteering to assist in the HLC hikes, email us. From Thanksgiving to New Years Day, you can participate in the #JingleHike Challenge. It is fun for one, a few, or the whole family.
Congratulations to the Belleville Heart Garden and Community Orchard on the Ribbon-Cutting The City of Belleville celebrated the opening of the new community orchard at the Belleville Heart Garden on October 17. Garden steward Lori Powell cutheribbontofficiallyopentheneworchardat the corner of E. Grant Street and S. High Street and thanked the City of Belleville staff for their assistance with transforming the site. Mayor Patty Gregory commended the Belleville Heart Garden volunteers for their work in the community. The formerly vacant lot is now an orchard with mixed plantings of fruit trees as well as rain gardens for stormwater management and enhanced biodiversity. Recent additions to the project include a bike rack, a picnic table, and educational signs. The ribbon-cutting celebration marks the completion of the orchard and rain garden installation which was funded by an Environmental Grant from Illinois American Water.
We joined 1 Mississippi and other partners for the kick-off of their River Days of Action.
Treehouse Wildlife Center released the Facebook Sensation Mama Opossum at our Brushy Lake property in Collinsville. Brushy Lake is located at 4562-4882 Fairmont Ave.
East St. Louis Clean City Coalition Fourblackledno - profitorganizationsare focused on improving the environment and landscapeofEastSt.Louis.Empire13, Regular Everyday Citizens (REC), BuildN the Foundation (BTF), and City of Joy Fellowship have combined forces to create the Clean City Coalition. CCC leads communitywide clean up efforts, hosts educational and service oriented events, organizes giveaways and fundraisers, and does so much more for East St. Louis and local BIPOC communities. HeartLands supports these local environmental justice leaders!
Friends of McAllister Park establishes Roots to Equity and Routes to Equity FOMP has used oral history interviews to hold conversations with community members to understand their perception of historical issues surrounding racial and environmental equity in the SE Quad neighborhood, and whether that has changed. On November 1, 2021 the first ever oral history compilation/exhibit of Lebanon’s oldest black multi-generational families, “PHACT: Roots to Equity and Oral History” kicked-off at the Lebanon Visitor’s Center. The project was funded by the Illinois Humanities. Go and check it out. The organization just completed an additional grant, Activating Communities, from the National Safe Routes to Parks Partnership. The organization’s Routes to Equity (RTE) movement is community engagement, partnering, and collaboration with volunteers, organizations, and City government. The process resulted in the development of a five phase pedestrian/bike trail master plan. Phase one was completed during the 2021 grant cycle. This resident/community based planning process has conveyed RTE as a connector exemplifying the importance of social, racial, and environmental equity.
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NEWS
GET READY to #JINGLEHIKE Jingle Hike Challenge Nov 25, 2021 to Jan 2, 2022 What is the Jingle Hike Challenge? HeartLands‘ annual Jingle Hike Challenge is a great way to get people exploring the outdoors during the winter. Jingle Hike is for people of all ages. It can be done alone or with friends or family. You can go fast or slow. It is all about getting outside and discovering 12 new places every year. How does it work? Jingle bells will be tied to 12 trees in parks throughout the Metro East from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day. Participants are asked to visit as many parks as they can, take a selfiewihtebel,l andsubmit ng the photo evidence into our new 8 MEANDERINGS FALL | WINTER 2021
tracking system. You can also share your photos on social media, using the hashtag #JingleHike. Are there prizes? If you are registered for the Jingle Hike Challenge, you are eligible to win prizes. You get one entry for eachjinglebelolyufind!Plusoyu can get bonus entries for correctly identifying the kind of tree the bell is attached to in each park. How do I register? Registration began October 11, and end December 20, 2021. It costs $25 per person. Registrtion includes printed map with instructions, entry number, and chance to win great prizes. Registrations after November
1st will not receive a t-shirt. After November 20th, registrants can pick up their packets at the HeartLands Conser vancyofficeat29EMain Street in Belleville during our business hours. Can I still play if I don’t register? Eoyneiswelcomeofin t dhtejingle bells,snapandsubmita#selfie, and share it on social media using #jinglehike. However, you will only be entered to win prizes if you are registered. Find out more either scan the QR code to the right or go to: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/ jingle-hike-challenge
MORE NEWS Cypress Swamp Becomes Part of Shawnee National Forest In 2015, HeartLands Conservancy began working with partners in Southern Illinois to assist the US Forest Service with acquisitions of critical inholdings of the Shawnee National Forest. A critical inholding is a property that is completely or almost completely surrounding by publicly owned land. The Forest Ser viceidenitfies“critcal”inholdingsasproper iteshtataremost impor tantforefficientmanagementandecologicalvaluehote Shawnee National Forest (among other things). In 2016, HeartLands Conservancy, with funding from Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and Grand Victoria Foundation, acquired a 149-acre Alexander County property containing an ancientcypressswampandfrequenltyfloodedfarmland.The property was a high-priority for the Forest Service because of itslocationwhteMississippiRierv floodplainanditsnatural features. (See photo to the left.) Cypress swamps are among the world’s most diverse habitats and act as natural sponges that help soak water into the soil andreduceimpactsofflooding.Baldcypressrees t canliev for thousands of years, but have declined in numbers of the last century due to logging and loss of wetlands. After acquiring the property, HeartLands worked with partners at Ducks Unlimited, the Arbor Day Foundation, and US Fish and Wildlife Service to plant over 26,000 trees and construct wetlands ohntefield.TheUSoFrestSer vicealsoconductedabatsur eyv and the Illinois Botanizer conducted a plant inventory. In September 2021, HeartLands Conservancy sold the property to the US Forest Service for inclusion in the Shawnee National Forest. Proceeds from the sale will go toward other natural area acquisitions and restorations in Southern Illinois.
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Summer Adventures & Discoveries with
WADE
HeartLands Conservancy found new ways to connect people with nature this summer. said“ I have never really explored
a stream before. I was amazed to see, up close, the variety of life... down to the smallest level.”
HLC’s outdoor experience program, Watershed Adventures and Discoveries (WADE), introduced people to the ecosystems around them by visiting a stream, a pond, a wetland and a river. At each event, participants learned about watersheds and the threats to water quality from human activities on the land and had opportunities to improve our waterways by picking up litter. HLC staff demonstrated the impacts of nonpoint source pollution using a table-top model of a watershed to show how pollutants on land are washed into our waterways.
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Participant Vinny M., a native of New York City currently living in O’Fallon, atent dedhtefirsteventihneseries, Discover a Stream. After spending the afternoon exploring a tributary of Fountain Creek at Baebler Educational Farm near Waterloo, he
HLC Conservation Manager Sarah Powell helped participants perform a water quality assessment that combined stream characteristics elik flowrateandwaterclaritywh an inventory of living creatures in the stream. Participants waded in the creek and used nets to collect samples of macroinvertebrates such as beetles, insect eggs, and dragonflylar vae.Thesebiolgical indicators of water quality showed that the stream was healthy. As Vinny M.puti,“ I learned that the cleaner the water is, the more the wildlife will thrive.” At the Discover a Pond event, a mother-daughter pair from Fairview Heightslearnedofish t fohrtefirst time with the help of HLC Board Member Gary Huelsmann. Debi P.,
mohterofMariam,said“ I wanted to see our daughter enjoying the outdoors...and boy, did she! I don‘t know how to fish, so it wasn‘t something I could provide or teach.”Mariamsaidshewasexcied t oat t ent dhteeventbecause“ I wanted to go fishing, and we don‘t have any fishing equipment. They provided everything--even bait!” Thecatch -and- releasefishing program was held at Swansea Clinton Hills Conservation Park. Par itcipantscaughtsunfish,bluegi,l and crappie using worms for bait. Every participant caught at least one fish.DebiandMariamagreedhtat the most memorable part of the day waswhenMariamreeledinherfirst fish.Shesaid,“ I felt so happy and proud!”Debirecalledhtemoen:t “It made my heart happy to see that level of excitement...it was priceless.”Bhyteendofhteday Mariamhadcaughtfivefishandwas eagerly baiting her own hook. Fishing skills were not the only thing participants learned at Discover a Pond. A walk along the shoreline revealed aquatic plants and signs of pond wildlife, such as beavers. Debi and Mariam learned about watersheds and threats to water qualit.Doebi y repor ed, t “ I was somewhat familiar with the pollution aspect, but I didn‘t know what a watershed is.”Mariamsaid,
“I learned about the different ways water can be polluted and what we can do to help.”Equickliter clean up turned that knowledge of nonpoint source pollution into action. To date, more than 25 volunteers have helped clean up our waterways at WADE events. The third event in the series, Discover a Wetland, was a special evening program focused on firefliesatErlingtonWetlandsnear Pontoon Beach, Illinois. In addition to watershed and wetland education activities, participants learned about fireflylifecyclesandhwtoeyuse their light to communicate with each other. Dr. Jake Williams, an entomologist from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, led the groupinanactivtyusingflashlights osit mulatehtespecificpatert ns ofblinkglightshtatfirefliesuse ofin t dmates.Eshtesunsetervo the wetland, HLC Conservation Manager Sarah Powell led the group in a BioBlitz to identify the diverse species of plants and animals that occupy Arlington Wetlands. This activity was a unique opportunity to look for nocturnal pollinators such as the beetles and moths discussed on the following pages.
Athens. Our partners at the Alpine Shop provided the kayaks and gear. Perry Whitaker, an experienced river guide from the Alpine Shop, gave an informative talk about the significanceofhterierv ashtegroup paddled downstream. Volunteers were equipped with sacks to collect litter from the river along the way, and they observed fishandbirdshtatrelyohnterierv system. The weather was beautiful, but a headwind made the paddling more of a challenge than some of our beginners were expecting! A few intrepid paddlers had enough energy left at the end of the trek to clean up litter around the New Athens boat ramp. Ihntisfirstear y ,hteWEDEprogram reached all its goals for education, volunteer hours and participation, with 78 people of all ages attending the events. These events were funded by an Illinois American Water Environmental Grant, the Mississippi River Network and an outdoor grant from MTN Dew.
ThefinalWEDEeventfor21, 0 Discover a River, was a kayaking adventure on the Kaskaskia River between Fayetteville and New
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The Black-crowned Night Herons
are Disappearing
Photo Credit: Karel Bartik
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Photo Credit: Lauchner Photography
WOC-A-WOC. WOC-A-WOC. WOC-A-WOC.
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and egrets can actually thrive in communities and urban settings. Large colonies were once present in Alorton, East St. Louis, Pontoon Beach, Madison, and Granite City. In 2020, however, only 9 snowy egrets were documented in the American Bottom. This trend has been similar for the past decade. The only other large population in Illinois that remains is at the Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo. Sadly, if we cannot entice the herons to roost in our region, it will be a struggle to get them back anywhere in Illinois.
Brushy Lake: An Ideal Habitat Brushy Lake is a 700-acre natural area just west of Collinsville. In 2011, HeartLands Conservancy purchased 80 acres in the 700-acre complex. The area is home to the Levee Lake Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Site, which serves as one of the best remaining shrub swamp-pond habitats remaining in the American Bottom. It’s a great place to grow buttonbush and other shrubby swamp-loving plants that herons and egrets love.
Brushy Lake, which will expand the wet meadows and provide habitat for species like herons and egrets. Our partners, the Mikes, will also test out audio calls and decoys to help lure the birds to the area. Ideally, all these plans will attract the herons to breed in the wetland complex and bolster the heron population. Another goal for Brushy Lake is to install walking paths and birdwatching stations so that the public can help document and enjoy the herons and egrets up-close.
How to Help There are many ways to help the herons. We will have volunteer opportunities in the coming years to make Brushy Lake an ideal place for heron love connections, as well as volunteer monitoring to assist scientists with their documentation. Funding support (See enclosed envelope) for HeartLands Conservancy’s conservation mission, will also help ensure we can continue to advance this effort in our region and support the work of scientists trying to save these birds.
In addition to serving as a potential place for a new rookery, Brushy Lake helps reduce flooding in communities in the American Bottom by holding rainwater from areas upstream. It also helps capture sediment, keeping pollutants out of the Mississippi River and other other areas. Right now, HeartLands Conservancy is planning habitat restoration at
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You can also scan the above QR code with your phone to donate to HLC.
Photo Credit: Poova Rasan
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WATERSHED PLANNING Did you know that HeartLands Conservancy is a leader in watershed planning? Watershed plans are developed to identify and address the overall quality of water and flooding impacts on communities. HLC’s Water Program focuses on southern Illinois waters by watershed because it is the most efficient way to evaluate, protect, and improve the water quality of all of the water in our area. Learn more and check out our completed watershed plans here: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/water/healthy-watersheds/
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Meetings will continue throughout the two-year process, with open houses, surveys, and workshops kicking off later this year. Look for project updates at https://heartlandsconservancy.org/pdp/
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Mississippi Earthtones. Thank you for a hosting a spectacular event Alton Main Street and Piasa Palisades Sierra Club. We had a great time in Alton talking to the community about water quality andfloodingissuesinthePor tage des Sioux Watershed. It was a great day sharing information with partners and people attending the event. Can‘t wait for 2022!
Environmental Education at Fairmont City Library Center HLC teamed up with Treehouse Wildlife Center and the SIUE Center for STEM Research, Education, and Outreach to present an educational program. HLC staff promoted actions to improve waterquali,ty reducefloodingand manage mosquito populations. Treehouse Wildlife Center taught participants about local wildlife. SIUE lead several activities, including a geocaching treasure hunt on the library‘s grounds.
East St. Louis 2030 Strategic Plan Town Hall Event - Mayor Robert Eastern III addressed the residents with transparency and a community mindset for change in East St. Louis ataowtnhallonJuy23.Belinda McAllister, HLC Community and Partnerships Coordinator, and Shauntae Conner, HLC summer intern, tabled at the event with surveys and information on the Prairie du Pont Watershed Plan. Watershed.
Mobile Mapping Technology for Watershed Planning HeartLands‘s watershed planning team is using mobile mapping technology to gather information about water issues. Resilient Communities Program Manager, Jennifer Reiman, uses mapping software that captures location data and photos from mobile devices to record areas of concern. Datacanbegatheredinthefieldby HLC staff or submitted by residents as they complete a survey on their own mobile devices. Linking accurate locations and photos with detailed information about water issues helps HLC convey the extent of floodingandsewageimpactsinthe watershed.
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Plant This! Not That! Working the Night Shift - the Night Pollinators
Evening Primrose Photo Credit: Liviu Gherman
For many years now there has been a ‘buzz’ about pollinators and the important roles they play in our lives and the ecosystem.
Typically when thinking about polinators,buter fliesandbeestake the spotlight. We see these creatures all around us throughout the growing seaso,n fluteringaboutdoinghteir job. Whilebuter fliesandbeesgetmost of the attention, rarely do people acknowledge the work of moths and beetles. The ‘Night Shift’ of the pollinator world is hard at work under the cover of darkness, while most of us are sleeping, and often go unnoticed.
Beetles Beetles represent the largest insect order on the planet. (There are 380,0 0 livngspeciesofbeetles. That’s ¼ of all known animal species and 40% of all insect species!)
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Beetles have literally been around forever;hteyareamonghtefirst flower-visiitnginsectsinhstor y and remain essential pollinators today. Beetles are attracted mostly oflot wershtatemitmusk,y east y ,y spicy, rotten, or fermented odors. They can be clumsy so they prefer sturdy,largeflowers,clustersof flowers,andlargecupshaped flowershtatareeasyfohrtemot access. Magnolias and spicebush are a couple of the most common beetle-pollinated plants, they also like pond lilies and goldenrods.
Moths In the state of Illinois alone there are more than 1,850 known species of moths—more than ten times htedierv sityofbuter flies.Recent research from University College London, shows that moths are likely major players in many pollination networks. UCL researchers determined moths transported pollen, mostly on their hairy bellies, from many different plant species, includingflowershtatpick ybeesskip over. It is important to note that not all moths are nocturnal.
Moths are closely related to buter flies.Leik buter flies,mohts undergo complete metamorphosis, hatching from an egg into a caterpillar that spends most of its time eating. From there, it will pupate, completely rearranging its form before emerging as a winged adult. The caterpillar stage is the longest part of a moth’s life, typically spanning several hungry weeks when all it does is eat, while adult moths may live only a few days, primarily focused on mating and potentially not eating at all. In fact, adults of many species (such as those of the wild silkmoths) don’t even have mouthparts. Others, though, frequenltyvisitflowersosit pnectar and are important pollinators. Like other pollinators, moths coevolved with plants and the larvae prefer certain species to feed on, however moths are more generalists htanbuter flies–mostfeedingona wider variety of plants. Edultmohsdependonscenofin t d food and are attracted to plants with flowershtatareopenihnteevening, are fragrant at night, and also tend obe t whiet orpaleincoloreflect t
moonlight, allowing them to be easily seen at a distance by nocturnal pollinators.
What to Plant Sometimes gardens planted for night pollinators are called moon gardens. Your moon gardenwill love htesenatiev plants:eveningprimorse (Oenothera biennis), Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa), Rose mallow, obedient plant, culver‘s root, spotted horsemint, Joe Pye Weed, Anise Hyssop, prairie sage, little bluestem, penstemon digitalis, goats beard, rattlesnake master, boneset, snakeroot, Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana), and viburnums. To attract large showy silkworm moth species without mouths, you will need to make sure the larvae host plant is nearby. A couple of the most famous of these moths are the Luna Moth and Cecropia Moth.
Human Threats – Artificial Light All pollinators face threats in the present day, including habitat loss, pesticide exposure, disease, and invasive species. But one hazard unique to nocturnal pollinators islightpoluiotn.Er ficiallights disorient nocturnal insects. Research has found this can impair mating, and increase predation. A recent study found that nocturnal visits to plants were reduced by 62percentinareaswihar t itficial illumination compared to dark areas. Consider looking around your home and garden to assess your current lighting. Identify any changes you can make to decrease light pollution e: lik utrnigoffoudot orlights, installing landscape lights that face down (not up), and drawing the curtains on large windows at night.
Luna Moths lay eggs on hickory, walnut, sweet-gum, persimmon, sumac, and birch trees, while Cecropia moths prefer birch, cherry, and maple trees.
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2020 Annual Report Although we at HeartLands Conservancy have dubbed 2020 “the year that must not be named” (Harry Potter reference), many things were accomplished for conservation in southwestern Illinois. • We continued to expand our conservation easements by preserving wetlands currently under restoration.
• We continued to connect people of the region with natural resources - often with very special protocols in place for safety.
• We became the legal owners of Poag Sand Prairie and expanded our Kathleen Scanlan Conservation Area along the Kaskaskia River.
• We completed three watershed plans in Madison County to help identify critical stormwater and water quality needs and opportunities.
2020 Audit & Financial Information Much of HeartLands Conservancy’s work involves targeted real estate transactions and associated relationship building, due diligence, deal-making, and fundraising. Sometimes we buy a property and steward it permanently. In other cases, we buy land to save it from imminent loss and later transfer it to a permanent steward (e.g., parks department, conservation-minded individual, or a state or federal agency).
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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 finances can look very different from year to year. In 2020, we expanded our Kathleen Scanlan Conservation Area along the Kaskaskia River and received the donation of several properties for long-term stewardship.
We are incredibly grateful to the people of our region and beyond who have stepped up to support the conservation mission of HeartLands Conservancy. Your support has kept the organization thriving and reaching new people and communities every day. See all that you have accomplished in 2020 on the following pages.
Audited Financial Information Current Assets
2019
2020
884,358
1,040,832
Land
2,738,358
2,835,324
Other Assets
1,079,841
980,630
Total Assets
Current Liabilities
4,702,557 4,856,786 1,200,815
1,333,694
Without Donor 2,957,623 Restrictions With Donor 544,119 Restrictions Liabilities + Net Assets 4,702,557
3,076,969
Net Assets
548,532 4,856,786
Land.
Water.
Communities. Communities Analyzed & Planned
Newly Conserved
152
1482
acres
wetlands, prairies, & cultural sites
acres
Watershed Acres Planned
199,727
508
4.4M lbs of
1,101
Pollutants kept out of waterways
602 Milkweed Planted
Trees Planted
Community Participants
Non-point Source Pollution Reduction by Projects Implemented Sediment 1,652 tons/yr Phosphorus 1,600 lbs/yr Nitrogen 3,014 lbs/yr
836
211
Trick - or - Treators for Trenton Treats for Thoughts
Implemented H20 Projects
17,213 +26.6
lf
Native Plants Distributed
acres
Engagement.
750
1,500 hours hiking
HOURS
Citizen Science Observations
400+ 7 Participants
Volunteer
Conservation@Home certifications
taught
2,700
people about trees
1050
Funding: 7% 4%
How We Earned It
36% 54%
4.6% 5% .4% Federal, State, & Government Grants Local Government Grants Federal, State, & Local 888,313 Foundations 81,585 Foundations Fee for Service 6,911 Fee for Service Corporate & Individual Giving 77,987 Investments, In-Kind, Misc 593,103 Corporate & Individual Giving Total $ 1,647,899 Investments, In-Kind, Misc
13%
How We Spent It
4%
72%
Land & Water Land & Water Conservation Program Resilient Communities Progr Conservation Program 62,072 Engagement & Education Program Management Resilient Communities Program 1,089,486 Fundraising Engagement & Education Program 59,672 Management 200,974 Fundraising 111,936 Total
$ 1,524,140
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2020 Contributors Glenda and Kevin Abney Michelle Adams Sandra Adams Carrie Adolph Kay and Bill Ahaus Suzanne and Blake Alberter Tamar Albrecht Marvin Allen Julie Gibbs-Alley and Dallas Alley Judith Allison Matthew Allison Michael Allway Alpine Shop, Ltd. Amazon Smile American Water Charitable Foundation Emily Amizich Angela Andrew Anonymous Heather Arieti Marie-France and Bill Armstrong Bitsy Askew Joseph Astrouski Amanda Atkins Kimberly and Mark Atkins Linda and Kenneth Aud Bree Badgley Jeff Bair Marie Ballinger Alison Baltz Jeanette Baltz Bank of America Charitable Foundation Lori Barganier Dr. Susan Barker Samantha Bauer Amanda Baugher Tiffany Baxter April and Keith Becherer Jenna Beckmann Belle Clair Rotary Club Belleville Optometry, Ltd. Shelli and Scott Bement Chris Benda Sarah Bender Heather Bible Mary Biernot Paula Birke Stephen Black Mary and Mike Blaies Shauna Blair Frederick Blume Christine and William Boardman Courtney Boron Jami Bossart Larry Brammer Margaret Brammer Sondra Braun Susan and Kerry Brethauer Dale and Carol Brockmann Landon Brooks Mark Brown Beth Browne Kacie Bruncic Mike Bruner Janet Buchanan Mary Buchanan
Bold indicates a member of the White Oak Society. Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing. Please contact Kim O’Bryan with questions or corrections. Kim.obryan@heartlandsconservancy.org or 618-566-4451 ext 10.
Julie Heberer Donna Dworak Angie Budde Anna Henderson Marshall and Faye Dyer Ralph Buettner Donna Herrmann Kristen East Julie Burchett Susan Hertich Leslie Ecker Tiffany Burgess Ann Herzing Jim Eckert Nancy Burk Tom and Mary Hewlett Traecy Ede Tyler Burk Donna and Robert Hilgenbrink Mercedees Edwards Melinda Busby Donna and Chuck Hill Emily Ehley Arnold Busse Kathleen Hill Alan Elfrink Denise Byrd Kaitlyn Hinson Edie Elliott Cahokia Mound Chapter NSDAR Jess Hoffman Lyn Entrikin Camp Ondessonk Dennis Hogan Richard Essner Anders Carlsson Susan Holden Nich Evans Michelle Cates Angie Holliday Sandy and Don Eversole Sarah Cerny Debbie Hollingsworth Marilyn and Tom Fahey Brenda and Brad Chandler Connie Homeier Isaac Faibisoff Sara Chapman Tiffany Rose Hopkins Tim Faltus Amanda Chase Lisa Hoppe Farm Credit Illinois Fay Churovich Kris Hoppenjans Christina Farmer City of Collinsville Janet Hormberg Pamela and Christopher Farrar City of Columbia Patti Hornberger Christine Favilla City of Edwardsville - Parks and Rec Deanna and Michael Horsey Candace Feazel City of Greenville Mara Horwitz Brenda Fedak City of Highland Chloe Huelsmann Alder Forrester City of Mascoutah Freeburg Printing and Publishing, Inc. Christine and Gary Huelsmann City of O’Fallon Katie and Steve Hughes Carol Frerker City of Red Bud Amy Huller Joann and Mike Fricke City of Troy Elizabeth Hurley Arnold Fritz City of Waterloo Stephen Ibendahl Rita Fulton Lynne Clapp Nancy and Dan Idoux Alan Funk Clinton County Farm Bureau Richard Ihnat Alicia Furlow Clinton County SWCD Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Julie Gaertner Eloise and Tom Cohoon Illinois EPA Helen Gallagher Debbie Coker Illinois Forestry Development Council Linda L Ganoe Julia Cole J. F. Electric Inc. Grace Garin Brian Congiardo William Jacober Don Gaston Kay Connolly Eric Jacobsen Sharon Geil Deborah Conrad Daniel Jansen Jessica George Andrea Cope John Jorns Michael Gerfen Toni Corona Judith Joy Lucy Germuga Allan Culberson Junior Service Club of St. Clair County Charles Gerth Sarah and Matt Cundiff Steve Jurgens Kay Gilroy William and Jeanne Dahlmann Richard Kacenski Aubrey Glynn MK Dashke Nan Kammann-Judd and Dennis Judd Toni and Clare Goelz Penelope and Carl Daubach Jennifer Kapetanovich Grand Victoria Foundation Barbara Davidson Kaskaskia Regional Port District Mary Grapperhaus Linda Davis Carolyn and Darren Kehoe Donna Green Charity Davis-Woodard Cindy Keller Bill Grisley Andrew Dawson Marty and Linda Kemper John Grissom Walt Dawson Ryan Russell Kemper Samantha Grodecki Henrietta and Ike Day Elizabeth Keserauskis Ms. Tina Grossmann Cassidy Dayton Curt Kimmel Audrie Haag Lisa Dean Emily and Jeff Kinard Demetria’s Dancewear and Costumes Patti Hageman Kathryn Kingsley Theresa Haider Jared Deputy Wayne Kinney Dr. Jay and Jane Haines Dawn Determan Tom and Barb Kinsella Daniel Hamilton Diane and Ken Diekemper Alex Kirby Michelina Hansel Shannon Dibadj Heather Kirk JoAnn Harlin Alex Dixon Denny and Jo Kirkham Janet Haroian Jason Dothager Krista Kirkham Janice Harrison Donna Dougherty Ward and Carol Klein Kathy and John Harryman Sharon Douglas Jack Klopmeyer John Harvey and Carol Gerdt Martha Downey Debra Klueter Julie and Ted Harvey Diane Drake Anne Koleson Pam and Robb Hass Brian and Anne Dulski Cheryl Kowalczyk Dunlap Lake Property Debra and John Havel Kendra and Matt Kraft Linda Hawkins Owner’s Association
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n
Patricia Kratschmer James Rundle Dane Nelson Tri-Township Park District Natalie Runyon Chris Krusa Katherine and Robert C Nelson Tony Trezza Judy Kupsky Sarah Ruth Lauren Nemnich Lynne and John Troyan Renee La Bruyere Sam’s Club Michael Ness and Jennifer Voelker Jessica Tu Chalice Sandheinrich Nicole Labbee Heather Netemeyer Jeff Tupper Lesley Lake Sandy’s Back Porch Gardens Randall Neumann US Forest Service Kelsey Sartin Lakefield Place Debbie Newman Utilitra Homeowners Association Denise D and John I Schaberg Paul and Julie Niesen Rebecca Valadez Dian Langenhorst & William Anonymous Donor advised fund Michelle Schaefer Carole Valencia Mona Scheibel Kisting Charitable Fund at The Chicago Community Lisa Van Buren Jeanette Lara Mary Schmidt Foundation Bob VanderWaal Joni Schnitzler Nancy Larson and Bill O’Hara Amanda Nuckolls Deborah and Richard Vandevord Roberta LaSalvia Valerie Schubert Christina and Nathaniel Nutter Mary and Robert Vandevord Ronda Latina Cliff Schuette Sheila O’Brien Sandy VerDuin Mary Laurent Glen and Linda Schuetz Kimberly and Michael O’Bryan Village of Bethalto Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo Lynne Schwartzhoff Cara Olson Village of Fayetteville Carol LeFevre Cynthia Sebree Toni and Don Oplt Village of Glen Carbon Laura Lengyel Cortney Secrest Jessica Orelt Village of Godfrey Deborah Lexow Robert Seiffert Libby E Oxenham Village of Marine Carol Lieb Melody Senecyzn Holly Parker Village of Shiloh Cindy Litteken Constance Seneczyn Alexis Parks Village of Smithton Penni Livingston and Phil Greene Nina Serrano Stephen Parrish Village of Swansea Alyssa Lohmann Scott H and Michele L Settlemyer Jim Pauley Connie Vogt Hillary Loomis Laura Sforza Susan Perez Megan Vogt Steve Loomis Patricia Shaffer Sandra Perry Volkert, Inc. Natalie Lowe Kristine Svarcas Sheffer Joel and Teri Pesapane Mary Von Tobel Kerl Luly Amy Shreve Liz Nelson Peterson Elizabeth Wahle Laura Lyon and Tim Busse SIA Electronics Inc. John Petzing Walker & Williams P.C. Kay MacIntire Cynthia Sibrel PfizerFoundation Jessica Walker Madison County Building & Zoning Katie Siech PGAV Jennifer Walling Madison County SWCD Justin Siegel Suzanna Phelps Walmart Carrie Magill Ned Siegel Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery Laura Walther Schaefer Carol Manning Silver Creek Garden Club Lisa Phillipson Terry and Charlotte Walther Caitlyn Marshall Elaine Sims Gary Phipps Bonnie Warner Chris and Stephanie Martin Leigh Sindelar Valerie Piekutowski Waterloo Park District Kirsten Martin Carmaletta Sisco Valerie and Mark Piekutowski Joe Weber Susan Marty John Sloan PhD Mike Pierceall Susan Weber Bob Massa and Lisa Bachman Elizabeth Slosar Wayne and Jen Politsch Robert Weck Stephanie Matthew John A Slosar Jr. Ramona Pollard Kathi and Ed Weilbacher Jen Mauk Sandra Smallwood Maggie Popp Linda Weisenstein Virginia McCall Randy Smith Kim Poteet Leo and Kay Welch Megan McCarron Roger Smith Lori Powell Jaynie and Brian Wells Kelly McDow Jacqueline Sommer Margaret Powell Ann Welsh Kathryn McHugh Patricia Sommerfeldt Sarah Powell Marcia Wendland Maureen McNamara Southern Illinois Audubon Society Anne Werner Prairie du Rocher Levee District Michele Mehrtens Southern Illinois University Prairie State Generating Sarah West Representative Charles Meier - Edwardsville Company, LLC Wetlands Forever, Inc. Kathy Meier Linda Spickett Laura Price Laura and William Wheeler Nancy and Paul Meier St. Clair County Farm Bureau Property Peddler, Inc Robert White Memorial Hospitals Belleville - Shiloh Pufalt-Pauley Insurance Agency, Inc. St. Louis Community Foundation Stephen Widowski Metro East Park & Recreation District Susan Quinn Carol Steckelberg Katie Wiesehan Meurer Bothers Tree Care Rachel Steibel Libby Reuter and William Rable Mark Wiesehan Kate Meurer Ashley Stewart Carol and Mike Raeber Sarah Willey Nicole Miguel Marjorie Stoeker Randolph County SWCD Kathleen and Stewart Wilson Leslie Mikaelian Corrine Stone Debbie Rathert Kammi Winkeler Julie Miller Straight Up Solar Connie and Bill Rathmann Lindsey Winters Louis and Carol Mitchell Susan Stripeik REALTOR Association of Melissa and Alex Wolfe Elizabeth Mohrman Studio Archaeos Southwestern Illinois Katy Wonnacott Edward Moll Linda Suess Michael Reeb Roberta Wood Valerie Mollet Catherine Sullivan Christine Reed Leticia Wooley Kara Monfre Shelley Tarrant Cassie Reeves Amanda Woollard Amanda Moore Barb and Larry Taylor E. William Reichert III Virginia Woulfe-Beile Candace Moore Monica Taylor Kathleen Reifschneider April Wrenn Emily Moore Terminal Railroad Association Larry Rhutasel Mary Wrigley Tina Moore of St. Louis Leslie Rice LisaandCostelZamfir Kary Morgan The Conservation Fund Yvonne Rieger Megan and Michael Zanger Krystle Morgan Victoria Thomas Right at Home Calvin Morris Kristin Thompson-Schutz Terri Riutcel In-Kind Contributions Holly Morris Lisa and David Tiedemann Audrey Roberts Alpine Shop, Ltd. Jane Morris Rachel Tompkins and Every attempt has beenDancewear made to ensure the Shelby Roberts Demetria’s and CosMayor Colonel (Ret) Michael R Morrow Mary Margaret Roney Cartney James accuracy of tumes this listing. Please contact Kim Mountain Dew Outdoor Grants Touch of Nature Environmental with Roger and Dianne Ross O’Bryan questions or corrections. Grimm & Gorly Florist & Gifts, Inc. Steve Mudge Center Beth Rowland Property Peddler Inc. Kim.obryan@heartlandsconservancy.org or Mueller Family Jen Townson Lorri Ruckman Toolen’s 618-566-4451 ext 10.Running Start Nelson & Nelson Attorneys Jan Rule Trenton Tumbleweeds Garden Club Photo Credit: Marty McKay at Law, P.C.
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Welcome! Jamie Wheeler has joined the team as the Director of Finance & Administration! Jamie comes to HeartLands with years of experience in accounting in the higher education setting, as well as the private sector. With a degree in accounting, as well as plant and soil science, Jamie brings a very unique perspective to her role. We’re so excited to have her on our team.
Thank You! Shelli Bement, Director of Finance & Administration, is off to retirement land. Shelli joined HeartLands Conservancy in 2018. She immediately helped the organization improve our internal processes, migrate omtreefficientaccounitg systems, and kept the organization running smoothly. We sincerely appreciate the work that she has put into the organization and wish her well in her upcoming travels and adventures with grandkids.
STAFF & STORIES
Shauntae giving a watershed table demonstration children. Fairmont City Library. hosted an amazing environmental education event Fairmont City Library Center; and thank you Treehouse Wildlife Center and SIUE Center for STEM Research, Education, & Outreach for partnering with us to make this event fun for everyone!
Thank you, Shauntae Conner HeartLands Conservancy welcomed summer intern Shauntae Conner, a graduating senior majoring in Educational Studies at Harris-Stowe State University. Shauntae has a background in classroom education with work experience as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher. At Harris-Stowe, she was a member of the Campus Activities Board and the Alpha Delta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Her goal in life is to motivate youth and help them understand that they create the future.
My favorite thing is the way that Heartlands ties residents back into their community. They show residents where things are, and how different things are affected. Heartlands doesn’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk, showing how to be a true part of your community. - Shauntae Conner
Shauntae’s internship focused on a community-centered approach to assessing environmental injustices in the American Bottom. This aligned with HLC’s work with residents of the Prairie du Pont watershed to understand the extent of water quality issues and the impacts on the communities. Shauntae assisted HLC by interviewing residents, community leaders, and government officialsogen t erateacomunity- cenert edperspectiev ofhteenviornmental challengesihntestudyarea.Shecataloguedexperiencesofchornicflooding andsewageervo flows,descriptionsoffailingflood- conortlifrastructure, and general environmental concerns to produce a portrait of environmental injustice that should better focus and inform efforts to generate much needed aid for American Bottom communities. HeartLands Conservancy is grateful for Shauntae’s assistance with the initial stakeholder outreach phase of the watershed plan. We wish her the best of luck in her next chapter!
24 MEANDERINGS FALL | WINTER 2021
Susan & Kerry Brethauer in their garden
Sarah givng a water demostration
Tyler on a construction site visit for Highland, IL
Thank you, Susan
Thank you, Sarah
Thank you, Tyler
One day a week for the past eight years, Susan Brethauer has volunteered in the HeartLands Conser vancyoffice.Shewasmore htanaovluneer t –shebecameavital part of the HLC family. No matter what needed to be done, Susan was ready for the challenge. Now that the world is getting back to normal a bit, Susanhasdecidedo“rt etire”and spend more time with her grandkids.
This fall we said a fond farewell to Conservation Manager, Sarah (Vogt) Powell. Sarah had worked for the organization for ten years, starting as an Environmental Programs Technician where she primarily worked with GIS to do mapping for community-based projects. Eventually Sarah worked her way up to Project Manager, taking the lead on Bicycle and Pedestrian plans, Park Master Plans, and urban forestry initiatives.
We also say goodbye to Water Program Manager, Tyler Burk. Tyler joined HeartLands Conservancy in 2019 to lead our healthy watershed initiatives. During his time at the organization, Tyler helped complete four watershed plans and provided oversight on numerous best management practices (BMPs) to improve water quality in our region.
As a parting surprise, Susan received aflowerbouqetandaHear Ltands t-shirt from the staff. Best to you as well, Susan. You will be missed!
I was blown away! It’s been a pleasure to meet and work with the “office team” for the past eight years. I hope to see you outside the office and will definitely participate in the Jingle Hike as we enjoy this winter hiking so much. Best you all, Susan
She spent the last several years as the organization’s Conservation Manager, where she was responsible for taking care of HeartLands’ preserved natural areas, working with landowners on private conservation easements, and overseeing restoration and habitat management for our properties and other partners‘ properties. Sarah is moving up to a national conservation organization and will continue to do great things for the environment.
Tyler is moving up to work for the federal government. We look forward to working with him as a partner in the future.
Join Us! If you are interested in volunteering or joining our team, watch our web page for opportunites throughout the year. Follow us on Facebook and Linkedin. Sign up for our montly e-newsletter to have up to date information and announcements.
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RECENT WEBINARS
JUNE Virtual Tour of Highland Water Quality Projects We partnered with the City of Highland to talk about the importance of maintaining water quality through the lens of Highland Silver Lake. Mark Rosen, Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of Highland, discussed many of the recent projects that have been completed with the assistance of HeartLands Conservancy to ensure the lake remains a clean source of drinking water and great place for recreation. Tyler Burk, our Water Programs Manager, also discussed the importance of watershed planning and gave some examples of best management practices. To watch the recording of this webinar, please visit our YouTube Channel.
HLC WEBINARS & VIDEOS You can rewatch and subscribe to all of our videos on our YouTube channel. Use your phone to scan the QR code below.
26 MEANDERINGS FALL | WINTER 2021
JULY Butterfly Host Plants Christopher Benda, the Illinois Botanizer, created a custom presentation for HLC followers about Butterfly Host Plants for our July webinar. Many of the plants that were discussed are very suitable additions for home gardens.
AUGUST The Great Migration: Birds For the august webinar, Mike Avara, an academic professional in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science at the University of Illinois, explained the phenomenon of bird migration. Every year many bird species undertake a massive journey from their wintering grounds to their breeding grounds and back. Southwestern Illinois is uniquely positioned along the major Mississippi Flyway, and this allows the region to witness the large diversity of birds that utilize this life history strategy. If you are interested in learning more about specific birds check out the ebird app from Cornell.
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
Sustainable Yard Management
Hiking Basics
Jean Ponzi from the Missouri Botanical Garden Earthways Center discussed how to create a sustainable yard. Composting organic waste by mixing food scraps with your lawn clippings, for instance, can save you money on potting soil and fertilizer for your garden and house plants. Planting certain types of plants can also attract more dragonflies to your yard so that you have fewer mosquitoes.
Our friends at Terrain Magazine and Hiking with Shawn covered the basics of hiking and biking in our region. The panel shared their hiking tips and tricks for gear, wayfinding, picking trails and more.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Pin Oak Bauerhaus Design, Inc. Clinton County SWCD Farm Credit Illinois Fulford Homes Lochmueller Group Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District Patrick Prindable Insurance Agency Property Peddler, Inc. Pufalt-Pauley Insurance Photo Credit: Ondrej Prosicky
Sponsors as of October 28, 2021
Burr Oak
Agency, Inc. Volkert, Inc. Walker & Williams P.C.
Sapling Madison County Building & Zoning
Philps66WoodRierv Refiner y
Madison County Farm Bureau
Post Oak
Prairie State Generating LLC Wetlands Forever, Inc.
Red Oak
Memorial Hospitals Belleville - Shiloh
Company,
Randolph County Soil & Water
Conservation District
St. Clair County Farm Bureau Village of Swansea
Clinton County Farm Bureau Forrest Keeling Nursery Nelson & Nelson Attorneys at Law, P.C. Studio Archaeos
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