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Spring Floods Set Records, But Nature Can HelpRecord spring flooding across the state affected thousands of Illinoisans this year, from farmers whose spring plantings were delayed to home and business owners whose property was damaged. Just ask Rip Sparks, an Illinois trustee and Science Advisory Committee member.

“My home is on a bluff 200 feet above the Mississippi River, but there is a low spot on our access road that can flood,” Rip said. “This year, the flooding was so severe that we were cut off for more than two months.”

After running errands or picking up supplies in town, the Sparks and their neighbors at first just put on boots to wade across the flooded area and complete the journey home. Eventually, the water became too deep for wading, and they paddled themselves across via kayak.

“This was a major flood in terms of flood height and economic damage and probably a record-breaker in terms of flood duration,” Rip explained. “As early as May, all sites along the Upper Mississippi saw one of their top five crests in over 100 years. Rock Island, Illinois, set its all-time record.”

Jim Angel, former Illinois state climatologist and a fellow Science Advisory Committee member, saw how this extreme weather impacted farmers all across the state, delaying spring plantings late into the season.

“In my 34 years working in Illinois and 20 years as Illinois state climatologist, I saw a lot— from the Great Flooding of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in 1993 and 2013 to the crippling droughts of 1988 and 2012,” he said.

IN THIS ISSUE:2 Staff News3 Interns Connect People

to People, People to Nature

5 Policy Wins By The Numbers

6 Conservation News in Brief

7 Honoring a Legacy of Conservation

Rip Sparks shows record water levels near his home along the Mississippi River. Photo courtesy of Rip Sparks.

2 ILLINOIS UPDATE 2019 FALL

11,945.7 lbs.net greenhousegases prevented

Staff NewsCody Considine was promoted to deputy director at Nachusa Grasslands. In addition, Cody has become an official, qualified Burn Boss, the crew member responsible for overseeing prescribed fires.

Lucy Gomez-Feliciano became the new community stewardship program manager, which is a shared position with the Chicago Park District (CPD). In this role, Lucy will oversee volunteer stewardship of Park District Natural Areas across Chicago and will work with CPD staff, volunteer leaders and community partners to diversify and deepen community connections to these spaces.

Travis Kuntzelman was promoted to stewardship lead at Indian Boundary Prairies. Going forward, he is focusing on rebuilding the preserve’s management plan, as well as overseeing restoration staff, prescribed fire efforts and community engagement efforts.

Ashley Maybanks was promoted to associate director of government relations. Previously, Ashley shared her time between the Mackinaw River Project in Lexington and TNC’s government relations team.

Matt Mulligan became the urban biodiversity program manager, which is a new role for the Illinois chapter. In this position, he will develop and build our partnerships with land management agencies, oversee restoration at Indian Boundary Prairies and will develop research projects investigating urban biodiversity throughout the Chicago region.

Two restoration specialists joined the team at Indian Boundary Prairies in March. Emilie Pfeiffer has spent the last several years working on prairie restoration at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington. Shane Tripp has worked for TNC since 2017, learning land stewardship and prescribed fire practices with the South Dakota, Ohio and Arkansas chapters. Both will assist with stewardship and restoration programs at the preserve’s four prairies.

Steve Sondheimer became the chapter’s loyal donor officer this summer. In this role, Steve will focus on stewarding relationships with TNC’s loyal supporters. Steve comes to TNC from the Center on Halsted in Chicago, where he spent the past three years as their development officer.

Board of TrusteesTed HaffnerChair Ethan MeersVice ChairChristopher D. GouldTreasurer

Lynn B. DonaldsonRebecca GerchensonKunal Kapoor Ronald S. LevinIan McCutcheonBrad McMillanLydia MeyerWilliam M. Miller, PhDPin NiShari Rogge-FidlerMamadou-Abou SarrAlison Taylor M. Jay TreesMatthew Walker

Trustees EmeritiPhilip D. Block IVDonald R. DannLynne Dinzole Peter H. FennerElisha GrayJonathan HamillConstance T. KellerRichard E. Sparks, PhDDavid L. Thomas, PhDNancy Hamill Winter

Life TrusteesHarry Drucker Wendy J. PaulsonBrenda Shapiro

Chicago Booth Board FellowsKevin Grant Michael Romenesko

State DirectorMichelle Carr

International HeadquartersArlington, Virginia703-841-5300

06/19

Cody Considine. © TNC; Lucy Gomez-Feliciano. Photo courtesy of Lucy Gomez-Feliciano; Travis Kuntzelman. © Joshua Lott; Ashley Maybanks. Photo courtesy of Ashley Maybanks; Matthew Mulligan. © Joshua Lott; Emilie Pfeiffer and Shane Trip. © TNC; Steve Sondheimer. Photo courtesy of Steve Sondheimer.

The Nature Conservancy is a private,nonprofit 501(c)(3) international membershiporganization. Its mission is to conserve thelands and waters on which all life depends.

The Nature Conservancy meets all of theStandards for Charity Accountabilityestablished by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.The BBB Wise Giving Alliance is a nationalcharity watchdog affiliated with the BetterBusiness Bureau.

Printed on 100% PCW recycled, process chlorine-free paper, creating the following benefits:

36.8trees preservedfor the future

3635.8 gal.waterborne wastenot produced

nature.org/Illinois 3

TNC’s Indian Boundary Prairies Preserves (IBP) made a giant leap toward the goal of not just being in the community of Markham, Illinois, but becoming a part of the community. The preserve’s first youth intern program proved to be a significant vehicle in connecting people to people and people to nature while emphasizing the importance of natural areas, biodiversity and stormwater management.

After hiring Sydney Armstead as the program assistant, Debra Williams, IBP community outreach coordinator, embarked upon the creation of the program from the ground up with Sydney’s help. What came to be the Youth Environmental Thinkers (YET) program consisted of six young people, ages 16–18, representing Markham, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Glenwood, Midlothian, and Orland Park.

“Throughout the program, the interns worked together and engaged with the IBP team, residents and stakeholders to partner in being educated about the three focal areas while taking pictures to capture

Interns Connect People to People, People to Nature

Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa and other community and faith leaders proved to be mutually enlightening and impactful. At a roundtable event, the interns, community leaders and members discussed topics that included the connection to economic status when considering how people connect to nature, as well as how technology can stifle people’s experience of nature.

“The discussion was full of powerful emotion that brought inspiration to draw awareness to the issues,” said Christina Majercak, a YET intern and recent high school graduate.

The interns also participated in prairie stewardship, went on field trips, prepared presentations, created personal nature vision boards, watched environmental movies and captured the beauty of the prairie’s butterflies through painting.

“This was so much more than a regular summer job,” said Jada Montgomery, YET intern and recent high school graduate. “We met so many different people and studied how important nature is to all walks of life. It makes me excited and makes me want to learn more.”

the awe of nature and chronicle their experiences,” Debra explained. “There was exploration of how they can commit to continuing the connection of people and nature through their chosen fields, while being intentional about furthering the efforts and goals of conservation.”

Face-to-face encounters with State Director Michelle Carr, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President Kari Steele, Commissioners Deborah Sims (5th District) and Donna Miller (6th District),

front row: Debra Williams, County Board Commissioner Donna Miller (6th District) and County Commissioner Deborah Sims (5th District). back row: (from left to right): YET interns Robert Harper, Sydney Armstead, Benjamin Lisak, Kenja Reid, Christina Majercak and Jada Montgomery. © TNC

Robert Harper, Kenja Reid, Jada Montgomery and Christina Majercak show the butterfly paintings they created during the program. © Joshua Lott

4 ILLINOIS UPDATE 2019 FALL

“But I never saw a growing season quite like this one.”

The spring’s flooding fits the predictions of climate models and trends in flood data: climate change is increasing the frequency of major floods in Illinois. Rip reported that there were only four floods that covered his access road in the 17 years from 1986 to 2003, approximately one in four years. In contrast, there were 13 floods over the road in the last 15 years, about one per year.

“The extremes we already see from climate change, including droughts, floods, heat waves and polar vortices, will worsen and become more frequent if we don’t act more quickly and more effectively,” Rip said.

One important way we can take action is to protect nature, which is often a forgotten solution in the fight against climate change. Research led by TNC and 15 other institutions demonstrates that nature-based solutions can provide up to 37 percent of the emission reductions needed by 2030 to keep global temperature increases under 2°C. The Illinois chapter’s work to protect and restore natural areas across the state, combined with farmers’ efforts to implement sustainable farming practices, helps improve the land’s ability to remove carbon from the air. The more carbon we remove from the air, the more we can mitigate the extreme weather that’s predicted for the future.

Individual choices and actions add up, too, such as recycling, choosing to buy green energy, installing solar panels and flying less often.

CONTINUED FROM COVER

“We can set an example in terms of climate-sensitive living,” Rip explained. “We built our passive-solar house 13 years ago and have taken every opportunity to talk about it with our neighbors, friends and relatives. We also talk about the effects of agricultural lands, forests and prairies in storing carbon if properly managed, and we try to set an example on our own land.”

But personal actions, shifting agricultural practices and protecting land will not be enough to avoid the myriad threats climate change poses in the future. We must also support policies that address climate change and curb rising emissions. That’s another area where TNC is working hard to make a difference for people and nature, by promoting legislation such as the Future Energy Jobs Act that will create thousands of clean energy jobs and provide job training for the future workforce.

Rip and his wife Ruth, who have been TNC and Legacy Club members for so many years that they have “forgotten when they first joined,” feel that TNC’s combination of advocacy and practical on-the-ground action, plus its nonpartisan, science-based approach can help move the needle on this challenge.

“TNC’s past experience gives me confidence that it is the right organization for the daunting task of getting action on climate change,” Rip said. “TNC has the political savvy, in the form of our government relations staffs, and the connections to elected officials through our Boards, to have a significant impact on policies that can make a difference.”

Ruth and Rip Sparks kayak across the flooded access road to reach their home. Photo courtesy of Rip Sparks.

nature.org/Illinois 5

Policy Wins By The NumbersOne of the key ways that The Nature Conservancy protects Illinois’ lands and waters is by working with government officials and stakeholders on strong environmental policies and legislation. This year, we have a lot to celebrate!

Congress permanently authorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund

in 2019.

84% 84% of U.S. voters say we can protect

land and water and have a strong economy at the same time

85% 85% of Illinois voters feel that protecting drinking water is an

extremely or very important issue to them personally.

389 There are 389 dedicated

nature preserves in Illinois as of May 2018.

$106M $106 million has been leveraged from federal and local sources of funding for the Open Lands Trust program

since it was created in 1998.

57% 57% of Illinois voters believe the state

should be spending more to protect land, water and wildlife.

State Wins

Federal Wins

6 ILLINOIS UPDATE 2019 FALL

Conservation News in Brief

Doug Blodgett Receives “Voice of the River” Award

Nachusa stream monitoring volunteers. © TNC

Doug Blodgett with his “Voice of the River” Award. © TNC

During the past five years, a team of volunteer citizen scientists at Nachusa Grasslands has been monitoring stream quality through the Illinois RiverWatch Network. For 2018, the preserve’s Wade Creek had the best overall stream quality of all 61 streams monitored through the program.

Doug Blodgett received the “Voice of the River” award at the 75th annual meeting of the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee (UMRCC) in La Crosse, Wisconsin in March. He is the seventh recipient of the award, which is given in recognition of stewardship efforts for the Upper Mississippi River.

Doug is the director of river conservation for the Illinois chapter and oversees conservation programs on the Cache, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, including the Emiquon project. A member of the UMRCC for more than 30 years, he served as chairman of the Fisheries Technical Section and also participated in the Mussel and Water Quality Technical Sections that coordinate river management and share lessons learned among the five Upper Mississippi River states.

“It’s both an honor and humbling to be identified with those past recipients who have been so dedicated and effectual in restoring, protecting and promoting the natural resources of the river,” Doug said.

Nachusa’s Wade Creek Recognized for Water Quality

Founded in 1942, the UMRCC comprises more than 200 natural resource managers and scientists representing state and federal agencies and non-government organizations involved with research and management of the Upper Mississippi River. The UMRCC’s goal is to “promote the preservation and wise utilization of natural and recreational resources of the Upper Mississippi River and to formulate policies, plans and programs for conducting comparative studies.”

“Wade Creek stream quality is good in large part because most of the creek is contained within the preserve, surrounded by high-quality prairie habitat,” said Dr. Elizabeth Bach, the ecosystem restoration scientist at Nachusa. “It’s also an important water source for the bison herd, so it’s encouraging to see water quality improving in the stream during the four years the bison have been here.”

The Illinois RiverWatch Network is a volunteer stream monitoring program that seeks to engage Illinois residents by training them as citizen scientists. Each year at adopted stream sites in their communities, these citizen scientists conduct habitat and biological surveys, including the collection and identification of small stream organisms called macroinvertebrates that serve as bioindicators of water quality. The program strives to collect consistent, high-quality data on the conditions of local streams and provide citizens with a hands-on opportunity to be better stewards of our watersheds.

Thank you to Nachusa volunteers Cindy Buchholz, Jan Grainger, Mary Meier, Paul Swanson and Mary Vieregg for their work with Illinois RiverWatch!

nature.org/Illinois 7

Honoring a Legacy of ConservationAmeerega ingeri, also known as Inger’s poison frog, is a small amphibian that carries a mighty legacy. It’s one of 40 reptiles, amphibians and fish that honor renowned herpetologist Dato Dr. Robert Inger by bearing the name stem “inger” in either the species or genus name. Dato Dr. Inger conducted reptile and amphibian monitoring in Southeast Asia from 1950 to 2007, and was honored with the title “Dato” by the Government of Malaysia in the state of Sarawak. (“Dato” is the equivalent to the title of “Sir” in Britain, and the recipient’s wife is given the title “Datin.”) In addition to his significant contributions to the field of herpetology, Dato Dr. Inger served on the board of The Nature Conservancy in Illinois for 20 years and was the founding chair of the chapter’s Science Advisory Committee (SAC). This spring, he passed away at the age of 98.

Dato Dr. Inger’s illustrious career began when he first volunteered at the Field Museum while he was earning his undergraduate degree. He held several different positions before becoming the curator of amphibians and reptiles in 1954, a position he held until his retirement in 1994. It was during this time that he made his first research trip to the present states of Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. He collaborated with local researchers, citizen scientists, university students, state parks and conservation organizations in Malaysia, Thailand, India, China and Brunei. He co-authored and authored eight books and 150 papers, in which 75 new species were described. He mentored many future biologists, especially in southeast Asia. New species are still being described in his honor today.

In spite of his busy schedule, Dato Dr. Inger still found time to help protect the lands and waters of his home state.

Excited about TNC’s emphasis on science, he accepted an invitation to join the Illinois Board of Trustees in 1990.

“His participation in TNC, especially in the scientific areas, was an important part of his career,” said his wife, Datin Tan Fui Lian. “He was very interested in TNC conservation and restoration projects, and was always looking forward to the next meeting.”

Dato Dr. Inger served as a regular trustee from 1990 to 2002, then as a trustee emeritus from 2002 until retirement in 2010. During this time, he helped elevate TNC’s focus on science to a new level.

“Early in his tenure, Dato Dr. Inger told the state director that the chapter needed to have a group of scientists evaluate its program and its projects in terms of applicable science and make recommendations to the director and Board,” said Rip Sparks, a current SAC member.

The state director agreed, and Dato Dr. Inger became the SAC’s first chair. Under his guidance, the Committee reviewed many plans for chapter conservation projects, including the initial planning for the Emiquon Preserve. During his chairmanship, the Committee also recommended that the chapter maintain records of management, scientific research and outcomes taking place on the preserves, a practice that continues today. The fact that the Illinois chapter has an advisory committee dedicated to these processes makes the chapter unique within TNC.

“Dato Dr. Inger raised the appreciation for science in the chapter,” said Bill Kleiman, Nachusa Grasslands project director. “TNC talks about being science based, but it is not always easy to do science, to afford science and to publish science. We have come a long way, and Dato Dr. Inger and the science committee really helped get us to a good place.”

Dato Dr. Inger. Photo courtesy of Rip Sparks

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FALL 2019

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In 2015, The Nature Conservancy launched the “Our World” fundraising campaign, a 5-year, $7-billion effort to address our most pressing environmental challenges. Illinois’ contribution to the campaign includes raising $110M for conservation, with a focus on land, water, cities and climate.

We are making progress, but we need your help to put us over the finish line. Please donate now to help us protect the lands and waters on which all life depends.

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