www.HeartLandsConservancy.org A Quarterly Publication of HeartLands Conservancy Fall 2014 “Investing In The Nature Of Southwestern Illinois” Commonfields What’s Inside Mill Creek Restoration Project .... 2 Upper Silver Creek Plan ............... 3 Q&A with Mary Vandevord........... 3 People and Places ..................... 4-5 Become a Member ........................ 6 Mill Creek Trek .............................. 7 Estate Planning............................. 7 Membership Form ..................... BC Directors Robert J. Hilgenbrink, Chair IL Green Economy Network Frank O. Miles, Vice Chair Madison County Community Development Lester Harnetiaux, Secretary Bond County Realtors Ronda Latina, Treasurer Environmental Operations, Inc. William Boardman Firehouse Contracting, LLC Ronald J. Foster, Jr. Schoen, Walton, Telken & Foster Dennis (Denny) Kirkham (Land Owner) Charles Meier Illinois State Representative Robert Nelson Nelson & Nelson Ron O’Connor O’Connor & Partners Cliff Schuette Schuette Seed Company Justin Siegel Deli Star Corporation Like many of you, I periodically donate to efforts that help protect important, often threatened, habitat somewhere on this planet. Over time my contributions have included wetlands within the prairie pothole region, an ecologically significant section of coastline, and a rainforest that stands to be cleared if immediate action isn’t taken. All great causes. I tip my hat to our counterparts who so elegantly outline the issues, and potential outcomes, should I, we, not take immediate action. My questions today are: do we, as a local community, loosely defined as southwestern Illinois, truly recognize and support our own ecological assets found right here? Is access to the Mississippi River, once the lifeline of the region, still important to us? What about our nearly one million acres of prime farmland, which feeds millions of people? Would it be all right if that number shrunk to 100,000 acres? And how about our highest quality ecological sites, such as Mill Creek Natural Area? Would it be all right if we hadn’t protected the site two years ago? As a region, do we care if our unique natural resources are lost forever? Today you have an opportunity to invest locally. While we’ve been successful in protecting the Mill Creek Natural Area, we must now work to ensure that Mill Creek retains its ecological integrity for many years to come through restoration and ongoing stewardship efforts. This isn’t a place halfway around the world that you will never visit. This is a high quality natural area right here in southwestern Illinois. Folks from California and New York likely won’t be joining us for this restoration campaign. The good folks of southwestern Illinois need to take the lead in advancing the conservation of our most precious natural areas. Join us in “Investing in the nature of Southwestern Illinois.” INVESTING LOCALLY President, CEO HeartLands Conservancy
Transcript
www.HeartLandsConservancy.org A Quarterly Publication of HeartLands Conservancy Fall 2014
“Investing In The Nature Of Southwestern Illinois”
Commonfields
What’s InsideMill Creek Restoration Project ....2 Upper Silver Creek Plan ...............3Q&A with Mary Vandevord ...........3
People and Places .....................4-5
Become a Member ........................6 Mill Creek Trek ..............................7 Estate Planning.............................7
Membership Form .....................BC
DirectorsRobert J. Hilgenbrink, Chair IL Green Economy Network
Frank O. Miles, Vice Chair Madison County Community Development Lester Harnetiaux, Secretary Bond County Realtors Ronda Latina, Treasurer Environmental Operations, Inc. William BoardmanFirehouse Contracting, LLC Ronald J. Foster, Jr. Schoen, Walton, Telken & Foster Dennis (Denny) Kirkham(Land Owner) Charles Meier Illinois State Representative Robert Nelson Nelson & Nelson Ron O’Connor O’Connor & Partners Cliff Schuette Schuette Seed Company Justin SiegelDeli Star Corporation
Like many of you, I periodically donate to efforts that help protect important, often threatened, habitat somewhere on this planet. Over time my contributions have included wetlands within the prairie pothole region, an ecologically significant section of coastline, and a rainforest that stands to be cleared if immediate action isn’t taken. All great causes.
I tip my hat to our counterparts who so elegantly outline the issues, and potential outcomes, should I, we, not take immediate action. My questions today are: do we, as a local community, loosely defined as southwestern Illinois, truly recognize and support our own ecological assets found right here? Is access to the Mississippi River, once the lifeline of the region, still important to us? What about our nearly one million acres of prime farmland, which feeds millions of people? Would it be all right if that number shrunk to 100,000 acres? And how about our highest quality ecological sites, such as Mill Creek Natural Area? Would it be all right if we hadn’t protected the site two years ago? As a region, do we care if our unique natural resources are lost forever? Today you have an opportunity to invest locally. While we’ve been successful in protecting the Mill Creek Natural Area, we must now work to ensure that Mill Creek retains its ecological integrity for many years to come through restoration and ongoing stewardship efforts. This isn’t a place halfway around the world that you will never visit. This is a high quality natural area right here in southwestern Illinois. Folks from California and New York likely won’t be joining us for this restoration campaign. The good folks of southwestern Illinois need to take the lead in advancing the conservation of our most precious natural areas.
Join us in “Investing in the nature of Southwestern Illinois.”
INVESTING LOCALLY
President, CEOHeartLands Conservancy
Q&A
Commonfields Fall 2014 www.HeartLandsConservancy.org www.HeartLandsConservancy.org Commonfields Fall 2014
Mill Creek Restoration Project Crowdfunding Campaign
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Upper Silver Creek Watershed Plan
We are in the final stretch of our crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for the restoration of Mill Creek Natural Area. A big thank you to everyone who has joined the campaign either by donating or helping spread the word. Our work is not done, however, and we still need your help!
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN JOIN OUR EFFORTS:1) Donate to the Mill Creek Restoration Project Crowdfunding Campaign2) Tell all your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers about the project via email, text, social media, phone calls, etc. Help us create the buzz we need to generate more funds.3) Continue to share with others the story of Mill Creek and the restoration needs in that area of Southwestern Illinois. PROJECT GOALS: Streambank Restoration, Forest Stand Improvement, Habitat Restoration To learn more about the specific work that needs to be done at Mill Creek, visit our website at heartlandsconservancy.org/MillCreek
MILL CREEK STEWARDS Donate to the Mill Creek Restoration Project and enjoy some perks by becoming a Mill Creek Steward. Below is a list our stewards.
Our goal: $10,000 • Our deadline: October 25 End Result: Restoration of Mill Creek Natural Area in Randolph County
MILL CREEK TREKSaturday, Nov. 19 a.m.-11 a.m.
Visit this beautiful site with us!
RSVP to: [email protected] We are requesting contact info in case of
RiechmannRene & George SackettMary & Steve Schmidt
David & Carolee Schrader
Ron & Judy SchroeterDiane Sendelbeck
Justin SiegelNed Siegel
Dan & Judy SiegelDerek Siegel
John and Lynne TroyanEd & Kathi Weilbacher
John WeilbacherLeo & Kay WelchBrent & Margaret
WhittakerSteve Widowski
Southern Illinois Audubon Society
Mary Vandevord Community and Environmental
Planner
The results are in! The Madison County Community Flood Survey, which was sent out to more than 2,000 addresses in the Upper Silver Creek watershed, has achieved a fantastic 26% response rate.
Madison County receives many calls each year from people whose homes, businesses, and land are affected by flooding. Floods cause physical damage, take away people’s use of their property, limit transportation routes, and cause stress and economic loss in myriad ways.
Madison County is committed to reducing these flood impacts. This survey, the first of its kind in Illinois outside Chicago, provides baseline data for Madison County and its communities to plan to mitigate flood damage for county residents and businesses. These four graphs, taken from preliminary analysis of the survey results, provide insight into the story of flooding in the watershed.
Over a quarter of respondents (26%) experienced flooding on their property in the last 10 years. One in four is much higher than the authors of this study expected, and represents a clear need for flood mitigation.
For most respondents, flooding was not a one-time event; 61% experienced flooding once or more than once per year over the last 10 years.
You might think that most of this flooding took place in floodplains, which cover 11% of the watershed’s area. But only 4% of respondents said that their home, business, or property was in the floodplain. Most flooding took place outside the floodplain, where it is harder to predict and plan for.
Flood damage can be expensive. While 38% of respondents paid less than $5,000 to cover their losses, 5% shelled out over $100,000. Others paid sums in between. Flood insurance covered some of the losses for those who had flood insurance policies, but not all.
Full analysis of the survey results will be completed this fall and released by Madison County. The results will be channeled into planning efforts for the Upper Silver Creek Watershed Plan. For more information, contact Janet Buchanan at [email protected].
What is your background? I have 10 years experience doing community planning for small and mid-size cities. I grew up in Madison County, IL, but spent the last eight years working for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona doing long-range planning and prior to that I worked for the small, growing town of Blanchard, OK as their City Planner. I have also worked for various other entities including an airport planning consultant, a non-profit neighborhood planning organization, and the Riverbend Growth Association. I have a Master of Regional and City Planning from the University of Oklahoma, a Bachelor’s from Ball State University, and I am a graduate of Edwardsville High School. I have been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since 2008.
What will you be working on at HLC? My primary focus will be sustainable community planning-- from comprehensive plans to special studies to zoning and code updates. I will also be working with other staff on complete streets, bicycle/pedestrian planning, green infrastructure, and water quality planning.
What are you most excited about being back in SWIL? Having seasons again. The Phoenix Area has only two seasons- Summer and “Spring-lite”. I am particularly excited about the changing leaves in the Fall and seeing Spring’s wildflowers.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I enjoy spending time with my husband Rob, 3-year old daughter Ivy, and my two basset hounds, Luther and Hazel. I also like getting involved in my community. In Arizona, for example, I was part of a neighborhood effort to install traffic calming devices on our street.
Anything else? GO CARDS!
www.HeartLandsConservancy.orgwww.HeartLandsConservancy.orgCommonfields Fall 2014 Commonfields Fall 2014
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Highlights of Recent Events and Activities
On a beautiful Fall day in September, Charlie Meier, board member and Illinois State Representative, invited HeartLands Conservancy staff to visit his farm in Okawville, Ill. Meier is a fourth generation farmer and supporter of HeartLands Conservancy and the Mill Creek Restoration Project. He has also donated the beef annually to Field to Fork, HeartLands’ signature fundraiser where local chefs prepare a six-course meal using locally-sourced food.
Volunteer photojournalist Stephenie Wade journeyed to Arlington Wetlands in September to experience the 83-acre The wetland
site, which was officially restored last year, serves an important role in providing storm water storage, clean water, and wildlife habitat
for surrounding communities. Arlington Wetlands are located near Pontoon Beach, Ill., and is a facility of
Collinsville Area Recreation District (CARD).
Members of the East St. Louis Parks and Recreation District signed their Complete Streets Resolution on September 16. The resolution is a pledge to make facilities safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Highlights of Recent Events and Activities
Great turnout for the Open Houses in August for the Upper Silver Creek Watershed Plan. More than 50 attendees came to the open house in Troy to learn and provide input to reduce flooding damage and improve water quality in the Upper Silver Creek watershed, and there was also a great turnout in Hamel.
To learn more visit www.heartlandsconservancy.org/uppersilvercreek
Volunteer photojournalist Stephenie Wade also made a visit to Willoughby Heritage Farm in Collinsville, run by the Collinsville Area Recreation District (CARD), to capture the beauty of the historic property. HeartLands Conservancy partners with CARD at properties around southwestern Illinois. This farm has has become a place where the history comes to life through historic structures, original tools, replica gardens and a restored environment. Along with the barns, farm tools and live animals, farm staff and volunteers have created over three miles of hiking trails in the woodland and prairie.
HeartLands Conservancy has completed, or assisted in the completion, of more than 21 Comprehensive Bicycle &
Pedestrian Facility Plans, both in Missouri and Illinois. HeartLands Conservancy believes that communities with a well-rounded transportation infrastructure network offer a higher quality of
life for their residents. Many of the completed plans are a result of a more than six-year working relationship with Trailnet (a
bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization based in St. Louis Missouri) and James Pona & Associates.
On Thursday, Oct. 2, Dave Eustis, President and CEO of HeartLands Conservancy was a guest panelist on #StayTunedSTL on the
Nine Network (PBS), talking about water infrastructure. You can see the episode in its entirety online at
www.HeartLandsConservancy.org Commonfields Fall 2014
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Upcoming 2014 Events
Be sure to check our website for more upcoming events and treks!
HeartLandsConservancy.org
Mill Creek Trek Saturday, November 1 at Mill Creek
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
You have heard us talking about Mill Creek Nature Reserve for weeks…now is the time to join us on a trek to explore the area and experience its beauty first hand.
HeartLands Conservancy staff will lead visitors through the unique natural features of the area. Things to bring: long pants, hiking shoes, water bottle, camera. Email [email protected] today to RSVP. We are requesting contact info in case of inclement weather. Be sure to share your photos on our Facebook page and Twitter using the hashtag #MillCreek
Remember HeartLands Conservancy
IN YOUR WILL
Will your children and grandchildren be able to enjoy Southwestern Illinois as much as you have? One of the most popular and simplest ways is to make a planned gift through your will or trust.
Identify a dollar amount, a percentage, a residual, real estate or other tangible property that would be
transferred directly to us.
Your gift is free from federal estate tax, and there is no limit you can leave. After your lifetime, your estate is able to take a charitable donation for the full amount of your gift.
Take these steps today: 1) Discuss your wishes with family and begin to plan.2) Contact an attorney and evaluate your options.3) Contact HeartLands Conservancy to plan and direct your gift, or to ask questions.
Did you know that HeartLands Conservancy welcomes
gifts of real estate?
Receiving gifts of land and real estate from generous supporters just like you ensures our vision of communities with healthy and sustainable air, land and water resources for generations to come.
Join us as we invest in the nature of Southwestern Illinois: For more information, contact David C. Eustis,
President and CEO of HeartLands Conservancy. 618-566-4451 ex. 26 or
My check is enclosed, payable to HeartLands Conservancy To pay by credit card, fill in the information below and mail to our office: MasterCard Visa Discover Card#____________________________________________________________________ Expiration Date ______________________Card verification# (on back of your card, last 3 or 4 digit #)_______________________________ Signature______________________________________________________________________________________________________
*HeartLands Conservancy is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and your donation is fully tax deductible.
Acorn $50 Seedling $100Sapling $250 Pin Oak $500*
Become a Member
Makea difference.
HeartLands Conservancy 406 East Main Street Mascoutah, IL 62258
Please mail/return form to the address above.
I n v e s t i n g I n T h e N a t u r e O f S o u t h w e s t e r n I l l i n o i sC O N S E R V A N C Y
Y E A R S
www.HeartLandsConservancy.org
Red Oak $1,000*Chinkapin Oak $2,500*Post Oak $5,000*Bur Oak $10,000* * Designates membership in the White Oak Society
