2016 Annual Report

Education Center Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Preserve Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset

Nahant Marsh preserve is one of the largest urban wetlands on the Upper Mississippi River. It is comprised of marshy areas, mesic, wet and sand prairie, and bottomland forest. A spring-fed quarry, known as Carp Lake, and the surrounding grounds are part of the Nahant Marsh preserve as well. The 265-acre preserve

is owned by the City of Davenport and the Nahant Marsh Board, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Conservation and restoration efforts on the preserve are directed by the Nahant Board. The educational

programming is overseen by Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC). EICC’s Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) is also a critical part of Nahant Marsh.

Welcome to Nahant Marsh

Board of Directors

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Chair, Tim Murphy Vice-Chair, Ellen Kabat Lensch Treasurer, Curtis Lundy Secretary, Kathy Wine

Dawn Anderson-Rascher Robert Bryant Denise BulatBrock Earnhardt Steve Gustafson Josh Hoffman

Brian Ritter Executive Director Jevonnah Prashaw Natural Resource Manager Amy Loving Education Coordinator Liz Schramm Program Specialist/Naturalist

Lindsey Kennedy Marketing Coordinator

AmeriCorps Educators Kinsey Edmonds Grace Griffin Cassidy Piersall Jenna Skopek

Conservation Technicians Kory Darnall Madeline Kull Zach Strong Denise Oberle Conservation Graduate Assistant Sarah Jackson

Education Center Staff

Dave Murcia Michael Ryan Kim Strunk Cal Werner Jonathan Wilmshurst

The mission of Nahant Marsh Education Center is to protect, enhance, and restore the Marsh through

education, research, and conservation. Our vision is to foster wonder, appreciation, and

stewardship of the natural world.

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Lynn Abel Jane Broughton Bob Bryant Jolinda Burr Arnie Christian Terry Collins Sheri Colman Larry Flathman Amy Groskopf Andy Lenaghan

Kathy Lenaghan Curtis Lundy Julie Malake Kathy Nice Darren Speth Sherry Staub Kent Turner Britt Vickstrom Jack Wiley

Friends of Nahant Marsh

Advisory Committee Vince Lamb Ellen Loechner Curtis Lundy Randy Pribyl Rob PorterAaron Schulz

Education Committee Dawn Anderson-Rascher Dave Murcia Carrie Smysor Kim Strunk

Fundraising Committee Brock Earnhardt Josh Hoffman Curtis Lundy Cal Werner Jonathan Wilmshurst

Marketing Committee Denise Bulat Josh Hoffman Jared Johnson Melissa Reke Michael Ryan

Education Center CommitteesOperations Committee Don Allen Bob BryantSteve Gustafson Amy Kay Tim Murphy Zach Strong Betsy TubbsJack Wiley

The Friends of Nahant Marsh (FNM) exists to assist the Nahant Marsh Education Center in caring for, learn- ing about, and teaching others the importance, value, and beauty of Nahant Marsh.

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tFrom the Executive Director, Brian Ritter

Thanks to our hundreds of partners, volunteers, and donors, many great things happened at Nahant Marsh in 2016—too many to mention here. Below are a few of the highlights... IMPORTANT POLLINATORS In June, Nahant Marsh worked with area conservation partners to plan and deliver the second QC Pollinator Conference in Davenport, Iowa. Nearly 300 people from nine states participated in this year’s conference that focused on solutions to the issue of declining pollinators. Over 100 middle school and high school students participated in a video contest. As an end cap, over 300 kids and adults participated in a monarch tagging and release party at Nahant Marsh.

BUILD IT, AND THEY WILL COME... Since 2015, volunteers and researchers have recorded 14 bird species that were previously undocumented at the Marsh. These include the white-faced ibis, ring-necked pheasant, Lincoln’s sparrow, and western meadowlark, just to name a few. Although these species have likely visited the Marsh in the past, this was the first time they were officially recorded on the preserve. At least 175 bird species have been recorded at Nahant Marsh, approximately 80 of which nest here. This gives some evidence to the statement “build it and they will come.” Also on the feathered front is the exciting prothonotary

warbler research being headed up by Western Illinois University’s Dr. Brian Peer and Dr. Rob Porter. This charismatic and declining gem of the swamplands seems to be thriving at Nahant. More about this can be found in the Quad-City Times, accessible from this link: www.bit.ly/2kAH6j2. RECORD ATTENDANCE For the sixth year in a

row, we served a record number of people through our educational programs. Over 17,000 people were impacted by programs at Nahant or through staff outreach. We are happy to be able to share the wonders of the Marsh with so many. PROGRESS IN THE INVASIVE SPECIES BATTLEOne of the worst invasive species in wetlands is reed canary grass, a cool-season grass that quickly spreads and chokes out biodiversity. Over the past decade, we have seen large areas of Nahant swallowed by this aggressive invader, while native flowers and sedges, (continued on next page)

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tFrom the Executive Director, Brian Ritter

(continued from previous page)

and the animals that depend on them, have struggled to hang on. Through years of experimentation, trial and error, and talking with experts, the Nahant natural resources team has finally figured out techniques for controlling reed canary grass without seriously impacting the native wildflowers. In some test plots, the team was able to nearly eliminate growth and spread of this destructive plant while greatly enhancing the number and variety of wildflowers. We will be expanding our efforts in 2017.

THE FUTURE IS LOOKING BRIGHT Our staff and volunteers are looking forward to an exciting 2017. Through the generosity of several groups and individuals, Nahant Marsh was able to create a scholarship fund for K-12 children. Any qualifying school or individual child will be able to access programming for free or reduced prices. Additionally, a busing scholarship has been created that will allow us to cover a portion of transportation costs for school groups wanting to attend programs at Nahant Marsh.

Nahant Marsh, through Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, will be part of the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) IINSPIRE program for another five years. This program allows Nahant to hire minority college students majoring in a science field to do summer research at the Marsh. We will be announcing some other exciting developments soon. Stay tuned…

OLD FRIENDS, NEW FRIENDS Although we lost some dear friends this year, we also made some new ones along the way. May our friends who departed this year rest in peace. Thank you to all who supported the Nahant Marsh in 2016. We look forward to a great year! Bench donated in memory of Michael Flaherty.

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tNatural Resource Accomplishments

The natural resource team, along with 165 volunteers, spent 5,109 hours protecting and conserving Nahant Marsh. In 2016, the natural resource team and volunteers were able to accomplish some amazing things:

• 240 native trees were planted; •91 new species of bats, insects, plants, and birds were identified through surveys and other citizen science projects;

• 40 truck loads of garbage were removed from areas surrounding the Marsh and Mississippi River;

•21 acres were treated for invasive species;

• 15 acres were burned with prescribed fire;

•6 trail cameras were installed to monitor wildlife; • 4.5 miles of trails were maintained;

•2.2 acres of prairie were seeded with native wildflower seed; and

• 1 new pavilion was constructed.

Thank You to All of Our Stewards in 2016

Each contribution, whether in-kind, in time, financial, or material is appreciated.

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City of Davenport

GENERAL ASPHALT Construction Company

PARTNERS

SPONSORS

GRANTS

Thanks to the generosity of donations, the Nahant Marsh Education Center will be adding an outdoor children’s playscape area in 2017, in coordination with the Recreation Parks and Tourism Administration program at Western Illinois University–Quad Cities.

Nancy FlahertyLarry FlathmanAndy and Lydia FoustPam Kaufman and Melissa FriedhoffAnn GaydoshGeneral Asphalt ConstructionJennifer GilchristLinda GoffLavon and Alan GrayThe Green ThumbersHunter and James GreerAdam GriffinDella GriffinJenny GriffinAmy GroskopfGroup OMax and Jacki Guinn 20

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Thank You to All of Our Stewards in 2016

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DONORS Lynn AbelAltorfer CATAnitza AlvaradoAnalog Arcade BarScott and Carla AndresenGrant AndresenMichael AngelosAmir ArbisserJerome BaldBarron Equipment CompanyMarilynn BartelsRobin BerhenkeMarianne BiagiPaddy and John BlackmanBlain’s Farm and FleetJohn and Kathy Bowman Jane BroughtonPaul and Kathy BrownStan and Sally Jo BrownBob BryantKatharine BullJolinda BurrCafe d’Marie Gary CaleBill and Michelle CampbellCarla ChapmanCirca ‘21 Dinner PlayhouseKay CoinTerry CollinsSheri ColmanAnne Corbi and Roland CaldwellLinda Cook and Oliver Williams Crandall Farms, Inc.Crane & Pelican CaféTeri CzarneckiDahl FordMichael and Myra DanielDavenport Compost FacilityCameron DavidsonJim and Rhonda DavisLaurel DavisGary DembickiSandra DobbersteinRich and Jan DriessnackPaul Lewellan and Pamela DrugerDouglas and Lynne DvorakChristian ElliotChristina FiasconaroFigge Art MuseumRuss and Kathy Finkler (continued on next page)

Thanks to the generosity of the Scott County Regional Authority and other private donations, Nahant was able purchase a new tractor and brush mower. We would also like to acknowledge our Friends at Sinclair Tractor, in Durant, Iowa for making this happen. The tractor is a much-needed piece of equipment that will make it easier for staff to maintain trails and fight invasive species.

Pictured above, Nahant Marsh Natural Resources Crew Members, Zach Strong, Jevonnah Prashaw, and Kory Darnall.

Bob Knorovsky and Linda HalversonHandy True Value HardwareJudy HartleyMark and Tammy HermansonRaub and Amy Olsen gifted from Scott HirsteinRick and Carol Hoeksema Patti HolmlundAlex, Melissa, Kaelee, Koto HolterThe Home DepotShirley HorstmannHUB InternationalHubbell-Waterman FoundationHungry HoboHedy HusteddeIowa DNR Mississippi MonitoringIsabel BloomAngela JoersTim and Claire JohansenJohn and Robin JurichEllen Kabat LenschKellizio Hair and Nail SpaKelsey Zwicker PhotographyLindsey Kennedy John KesslerNoah Wiese and Katie KnorovskyVince LambBrad and Ann LangeJim and Gloria LangePhil and Susan LeesonKathleen and Andy LenaghanAndy and Kathy LenaghanDave and Elizabeth LindeLinwood Mining and Mineral Co.Amy LovingLowesCurtis LundyMac Speedy Inc.Julie MalakeRobert MalakeLinda ManningDeana MarshallJohn and Ruth McAndrewsMcCarthy-Bush CorporationJim and Kathy McCoyJim and Beth McGuireMcLaughlin Body CompanySusan McPetersMe & Billy Kitchen and BarDave and Sally MeierKerry Meyer

Thank You to All of Our Stewards in 201620

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MH EquipmentDoug and Kathy MillerMiller Container CorporationThomas MnichNorm and Janet MolineMorgan StanleyMumford Family FoundationTim MurphyKathy NiceJackie O’DonnellKeith O’NealDave ParkerTom PetersenPlus Studios, LLCRandy and Carol PribylPutnam MuseumDavid QuinnAudra RampRescued C/O Erin GranetRIA Federal Credit UnionCheryl RileyBrian RitterRobert W. Baird & Co.Dean and Jane RockCarol RogersDan Dickens and Jayne RoseRSM McGladreyLinda RuggebergSam’s ClubSusie SharpKaren ScharrSchiller Family FoundationTony and Helen SchiltzMichael Angelos and Julia SchmidtNate and Liz SchrammLeo Schubert and Susan ShararAaron SchulzeKendall and Susan SchwartzSusan SchwartzScott County Conservation BoardSears ManufacturingThe Sedona GroupJoy SheeleyEileen SmithSource Book StoreDarren SpethStatik StudioDavid and Sherry StaubMary Ann StoffelDiane Strain 8(continued on next page)

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Kim StrunkSunder Subbaroyan and Annette SherbeynTeresa SuttonTony and Hollie SwainTallgrass Business ResourcesDarrell and Anne ThodeTri-City Garden ClubKent TurnerUSI Insurance Services, LLCDoug, Sarah, Caleb, and Asher VaughanBritt VickstromJoyce VyriotesBill WallaceLori WalljasperJohn and Ruth WardScott WardWarestone, LLCWells Fargo BankAnn Werner Cal WernerCathy WhiteJo Ann WhitmoreWide River WineryAllen and Debbie Wiese Beth WieseMichael and Rebecca WiesePeter WieseMichael and Rebecca WieseWild Birds UnlimitedJack and Joyce WileyJohn and Carol WillardLee Ann and Wayne WilleBruce WillemarckLinda Cook and Oliver WilliamsSpin and Mindy WilliamsJonathan WilmshurstBetty Wood

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tThank You to All of Our Stewards in 2016

HONORARIUMS Donations made in celebration of Nahant Marsh stewards. In honor of Jan KoehlerDoug Koehler

In honor of Ann WernerSusan and Robert Thoresen

In honor of Cal WernerSusan and Robert Thoresen

MEMORIALS In memory of Michael Flaherty Michael AguilarSusan and Charles AtchleyGeorgia BaraksMary BonawitzPaul and Kathy BrownDouglas and Patricia BurkeSusan CastroJames and Karen CollinsKenneth Croken and Kathryn McKnightLuann FieldJohn and Glenda FlahertyElisabeth LardnerIrina LaverenzRoger and Linda LundgrenJohn and Ellen McBrideMatthew McCombsEdmond and Loretta McKameyJimmie and Debora MertenMarjorie PoltonRobert and Mary QuinnSteve SchneiderRichard and Tamie SchillerMary ScottPaul and Patricia SeiboldJerry SmithSidney and Martha SmithDavid and Sherry StaubAndrew SternJohn ThielKevin and Alice TraylorMark and Kathy TrizzinoConrad WagnerMarianne and Eugene WeisMarie WeisharNancy Wolfgram In memory of Terry and June Ousley Terry Ousley In memory of Peter Petersen Mary Lou Petersen

For the sixth straight year in a row, Nahant staff and volunteers served a record number of people, seeing over 17,000 through our educational programming in 2016.

Nahant Marsh Education Center offers a wide variety of environmental education programming for: Adults, colleges, church groups, early learners, homeschools, school groups, scout groups, senior groups, and nature lovers of all ages!

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3,9952,142 1,570

3,3684,847

5,813 6,672 7,5148,663

12,34713,478

17,802

02,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,00018,00020,000

2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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NAHANT MARSH EDUCATION CENTERTOTAL ATTENDANCE BY YEAR

2004 - 2016

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tConsecutive Record Attendance

New programming offered in 2016 like the Rustic Relay Winter Games (below) and

Spring Celebration and Egg Hunt (right), introduced nearly eighty percent of

participants to Nahant Marsh who had previously not visited before.

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tAttendance by Season

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1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2004 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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NAHANT MARSH EDUCATION CENTERTOTAL ATTENDANCE BY SEASON

2004-2016

Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec

Photo by visitor, Lori Parker. Photo by visitor, Britt Vickstrom.

Musician Kendra Swanson plays at our June summer concert.

School Programs

9%Non-School Programs

14%

College Students

8%

Events 6%

Outreach63%

NAHANT MARSH EDUCATION CENTER2016 EDUCATIONAL REACH

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Nahant Marsh Education Center has programs for:

TEACHERS: • Field trips and tours • Monthly homeschool program • Outreach programs

COLLEGE STUDENTS: • EICC Conservation Program • Western Illinois University’s Biology and RPTA programs • St. Ambrose University • Research opportunities including LSAMP/ IINSPIRE ADULTS • Monthly third Saturday programs and Breakfast Nature Club • Master Conservationist Program • Annual Quad City Pollinator Conference YOUTH • Monthly programming such as Toddler Tales • Summer camps • Monthly second Saturday programs

714 243 0 275 8191,425 1,727 1,907 1,996

4,450

5,953

10,050

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2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

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NAHANT MARSH EDUCATION CENTEROUTREACH ATTENDANCE BY YEAR

2004-2016

Nahant Marsh Education Center won the 2016 Outstanding Environmental Education

Program Award, sponsored by the Iowa Association of

Naturalists and the Iowa Conservation Education

Coalition.

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tConnecting People with Nature

Monarch Release Party “Monarchs take off from Quad-Cities outside” by Doug Schorpp. September 17, 2016 in the Quad-City Times. Access article at: www.bit.ly/2jVuQb2.

We had many impactful programs and events in 2016. Here’s the word on just a few of them...

Toddler Tales “The toddler event we attended today was so much fun. The staff here

is amazing! We are looking forward to more adventures at Nahant for sure!!” -Lilian Quick’s review on Facebook.

“Nahant connects people to the natural world” by Alma Gaul. January 31, 2016 in the Quad-City Times. Access article at: www.bit.ly/2kf4C4t.

Summer Camps 74 children participated in 7 summer camp programs offered at the Marsh through our partnership with Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.

“‘Toddler Tales’: Nahant Marsh welcomes tiny guests for big learning” by Alexandra Olsen. August 24, 2016 in the Radish. Access article at: www.bit.ly/2lh3Nbd.

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Home School Program “Nahant Marsh draws home-schooled students outside” by Jack Cullen. October 14, 2016 in the Quad-City Times. Access article at: www.bit.ly/2lh3eOH.

We participated in the homeschool group activity. It was a fun, hands on, interactive event. My son was so excited to take home his very own indoor vermicomposting bin. Staff was knowledgeable, warm and friendly.

-Andrea Thompson’s review on Facebook.

2016 Quad Cities Pollinator Conference The 2016 conference was sponsored by 38 businesses and organizations and attended by over 275 people on Thursday and 120 on Friday for the pollinator habitat tours. Attendees came from 11 states: Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. The planning group was comprised of representatives from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Rock Island County Soil & Water Conservation District, Scott County Conservation Board and Wallace’s Garden Center. The group won the 2016 “Ding” Darling Environmental Education Award for Outstanding Environmental Education Program which Educates the General Public.

Conference sessions recorded by our sponsor WVIK can be accessed at: www.bit.ly/2kf4C4t.

4220Wapello Ave

4220 Wapello AveDavenport | IA 52802­3024

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