2014 Annual Report

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

Southwestern Illinois’ leader in conservation since 1989

After decades of engaging communities, we know that connection with nature is an intrinsic need for the people of our region.

From designing trails for hiking; biking; and paddling to protecting farmland and helping communities find solutions to flooding problems, making the link between people and nature is our foundation.

Last year, we permanently protected 1,063 acres of land, forever preserving both agricultural and conservation values; assisted with complete streets programming, and other initiatives that will lead to more sustainable communities and helped restore nature at Mill Creek Natural Area.

Thanks to your generous and continued support, we are on the ground and able to create open spaces and programs that connect the people of southwestern Illinois with nature in meaningful ways.

MISSION:Provide leadership and solutions to sustain and enrich the diverse environmental resources of Southwestern Illinois.

VISION:Communities with healthy and sustainable air, land and water resources for current and future generations.

FUTURE:Grow with our partners, build upon successes and continue to invest in nature because the payoff is worth it.

Web: HeartLandsConservancy.org Facebook: facebook.com/HeartLandsConservancyInstagram: heartlandsconservancy LinkedIn: HeartLands Conservancy

I T ’ S IN EVERYTH ING WE DO

• Collectively, more than 6,500 acres has been permanently protected since 2001, much of which is now open to the public.

• 1,063 acres were permanently protected in 2014, the most by any land trust working in Illinois.

• More than $30 million has been investedin conservation in Southwestern Illinois.

• Our work with farmers is reducing 16,221 tons of nitrogen and 2,898 tons of phosphorous from entering local streams.

• Assisted eight communities in St. Clair County adopt Complete Streets resolutions.

• Community Membership Program for towns, counties, and districts grew by 33% allowing staff to advocate for southwestern Illinois at the regional, state, and national levels on the topics of sustainability, economic growth, and quality of life issues.

HIGHLIGHTS

the of ourESSENCE WORK

CONNECTION

Kaskaskia River in Southwestern Illinois

INVEST

CONSERVING LAND

ENGAGING PEOPLE WITH NATURE

“The backroads and hidden hollows of Southwestern Illinois contain scenic wonders: natural sandstone cliffs, colorful spring flowers, abundant wildlife and even artwork of the early Native American settlers. I joined HeartLands Conservancy to hopefully be a little part of preserving these wonders for future generations.”--Ron C.

Protecting our natural resources - rich farmland, distinctive natural areas and properties of vital importance and benefit, is essential to our quality of life in Southwestern Illinois. HeartLands Conservancy applies a comprehensive land preservation strategy, provides leadership in land stewardship, and offers conservation tools for our communities and land owners.

Project Spotlight: In December 2014, HeartLands Conservancy executed threeagricultural easements with Rockhouse LLC and Donald Weilbacher on landoutside Waterloo, in Monroe County. A total of 1,033 acres were protected, representing the largest easements in the history of the organization. All three farms are adjacent and encompass a diverse terrain of forest, pasture, river bottom, and agricultural farmland. The family has owned the farm since 1959. These easements ensure the land will not get divided in the future and its agricultural values will be forever protected.

Connecting and engaging individuals and communities to nature is paramount to our ability to successfully achieve our vision. All year long, we seek opportunities to join people, places and natural resources in new, fresh ways through educational pro-gramming, events and treks and unique partnerships to promote our hidden natural treasures.

Project Spotlight: HeartLands Conservancy launched a project-based fundraising campaign last year to raise funds for the final restoration of Mill Creek Natural Area in Randolph County. Seeking to complete timber stand improvements, invasive species management and streambank restoration at the site, more than $13,500 was raised in six months, which enabled the completion of the restoration efforts. A trek was held at the site in November and more than 25 people enjoyed hiking the reserve. This project guaranteed Mill Creek will be forever protected for public benefit.

Project Spotlight: A two-year planning process for the Kaskaskia Regional Port District (KRPD) resulted in a Comprehensive Strategic Recovery Plan to make the KRPD an economic catalyst. It focuses on attracting private investment along the Kaskaskia River, developing new port facilities in strategic locations, and enhancing shipping connections between Scott Air Force Base and the Kaskaskia River. The plan also examined recreational opportunities along the Kaskaskia River, including a trail from Fayetteville to the Mississippi River, and it included an ambitious goal of becoming the ‘greenest’ port district in the region using low-impact development techniques.

HeartLands Conservancy assists communities in Southwestern Illinois protect their environmental resources and we believe that innovative planning can lead to healthier, sustainable, and resilient communities. Our goal is to promote a better quality of life for our region’s residents and find solutions that will benefit the environment, grow the economy, and connect residents socially.

Mill Creek Natural Area Trek

BUILDING GREENER COMMUNITIES

Weilbacher children on their familyfarm in Monroe County

SUPPORT

47% Percentage increase in memberships of HeartLands Conservancy in 2014.

THE MOUNDS INITIATIVEOur team continues to work with state and federal legislators, agencies and community leaders to advance efforts towards a national park designation at Cahokia Mounds.

FIELD TO FORKField to Fork, held in July, sold out three weeks in advance and raised funds necessary to continue our land conservation work in 2014. HeartLands Conservancy’s premier fundraiser boasted six area chefs, who prepared a multi-course meal while attendees enjoyed indulging on locally-sourced food. Ryan and Dana Dean of KSDK NewsChannel 5 served as emcees.

Upper Silver Creek Watershed PlanThe ongoing Upper Silver Creek Watershed Plan aims to create a long-term vision to improve water quality and reduce the impacts of flooding in a watershed which drains from Mount Olive in the north to Troy in the south. In 2014, funded by Madison County and Illinois EPA, HeartLands brought together fieldwork, technical analysis, and stakeholder input to develop an inventory of existing conditions and issues in the watershed. In 2015, the Watershed Plan will address these issues by identifying and prioritizing potential Best ManagementPractices (BMPs) for solving these problems.

Madison County Community Flood SurveyThe Madison County Community Flood Survey identified the location, extent, impacts, and causes of flooding in the Upper Silver Creek watershed. With a final count of 522 respondents and a 24% response rate, the survey results provided insight into flood issues faced by watershed residents. Over a quarter of respondents (26%) experienced flooding in the last 10 years. The flooding issues identified will be addressed in the Upper Silver Creek Watershed Plan.

Madison County flood policy projectsHeartLands Conservancy provided a report on the impacts of recent federal flood insurance reform legislation on Madison County, a report on regulatory BMPs for floodplain management in the county based on relevant standards and examples from the St. Louis region, and a draft Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance incorporating those BMPs. Additionally, HeartLands authored a memo to the County on the benefits, costs, steps, and timeline involved in applying to the Community Rating System (CRS), a FEMA program which allows communities to offer flood insurance discounts.

WATER PLANNING & POLICY

NATURAL AREA STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

Launched in 2014, the Natural Area Stewardship Program (NASP) establishes volunteer groups around the region that focus their efforts on a specific park or natural area. HeartLands Conservancy works to support these groups by providing knowledge, making connections, and providing tools. Additionally, HeartLands Conservancy maintains a network of all the volunteer groups in the region; helping spread the word about events andsuccesses.

Last year, the Friends of Centennial Park group initiated and held its first volunteer event to clear bush honeysuckle at the park. Forty volunteers helped and, through partnership with the Rotary Club and Salvation Army, were able to provide coffee, hot chocolate, and lunch. They have a least two more work days scheduled for 2015.

To learn more about NASP and volunteer opportunities, contact Sarah Vogt, Environmental Programs Technician, at sarah.vogt@heartlandsconservancy.org.

THANK YOU

Robert J. Hilgenbrink, Chair IL Green Economy Network

Frank O. Miles, Vice Chair Madison County Community Development

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 Attorneys at Law Ron O’Connor O’Connor & Partners

Cliff Schuette Schuette Seed Company Justin SiegelDeli Star Corporation

STAFFDavid C. EustisPresident, CEO dave.eustis@heartlandsconservancy.org

Edward WeilbacherVice President - Building Greener Communitiesed.weilbacher@heartlandsconservancy.org Janet Buchanan Water Policy and Planning janet.buchanan@heartlandsconservancy.org Roberta LaSalviaAccountantroberta.lasalvia@heartlandsconservancy.org Laura LyonSpecial Projects - Mounds Initiativelaura.lyon@heartlandsconservancy.org Kim O’Bryan Development and Events Coordinator kim.obryan@heartlandsconservancy.org Erica Stelling Marketing Communications Coordinator erica.stelling@heartlandsconservancy.org Mary Vandevord Community & Environmental Planner mary.vandevord@heartlandsconservancy.org Sarah VogtEnvironmental Programs Techniciansarah.vogt@heartlandsconservancy.org

ACORN: $50-99Blake & Suzanne Alberter Mark & Susan Albrecht Ken & Sue Bald Ron CaimiJohn & Angie Canavan Civil Design, Inc.Commerce BankChris & Heather Donze Marshall Dyer Michael FrickeMiriam HuelsmannSue IbendahlJudith JoyMarty & Linda KemperLisa KoerkenmeierAnne KolesonTed & Linda KrauskopfNancy LarsonRonda LatinaMary LaurentCarol LeFevrePenni LivingstonGinger McCallJohn MuellerTom & Angela ProstLarry RhutaselMegan & Brad RiechmannMarvin RiesWes RifeBarbara Romano Roger RossRene SackettMary SchmidtGlen & Linda SchuetzJean Sellar Diane Sendelbeck Nancy SpenceHilary Smith Jon & Erica Stelling Robert SuttonDave VarelEmily WarnerLeo WelchMarvin WestermanTim Wood

SEEDLING: $100-249Mark & Ann BadaschCity of BellevilleDale Besse Mary BiernotSteve & Licia BlackFrederick BlumeDarrell Brink Ralph & Karen BuettnerLaura CohenGreg ColomboCity of ColumbiaDonald Dahlmann Donna Dougherty Kent & Alicia DownsTim FaltusVillage of FayettevilleVillage of FreeburgRon & Jamie FosterGary GreenCity of GreenvilleJulia Heberer Bernard ‘Sonny’ Heck Jr.Gaileen HoenigP.K. & Kristin Johnson Judith Joy Joseph & Roberta LaSalvia City of LebanonCarol LiebMadison County Farm BureauCity of MascoutahMascoutah Garden Club Monroe County SWCDReed Nelson Kenneth & Mary Angela NettletonDebbie NewmanRay & Mitze NitzscheCity of O’FallonBrittany PolettiCity of Red BudMary Kaye RichterZane & Connie SchneiderJohn SedlacekDerek Siegel Ned Siegel

Village of SmithtonVillage of SwanseaCity of TroyJohn & Lynne Troyan City of WaterlooWaterloo Park DistrictPat WatkinsLeo Welch Don Welge Steve Widowski City of Wood RiverSAPLING: $250-499Added Dimension, LLCBill ArmstrongNikkiy Bestgen Laura Cohen City of EdwardsvilleEFK Moen, LLCFarm Credit IlliniosForum StudioGateway FS, Inc.Gilster-Mary Lee Corp.HMG Engineers, Inc.Holland Construction Services Inc.Horner & Shifrin, Inc.Jack Schmitt Chevrolet of O’FallonJohnson & Johnson Law OfficeLindenwood University John & Kathleen McArthur Madison Co. Planning & DevelopmentMadison County SWCDMcKendree UniversityMissouri Botanical Garden Ronald O’ConnorRandolph County Ec. DevelopmentRandolph County SWCDRoger RossMary Schmidt David & Carolee Schrader Justin Siegel Dan & Judy SiegelSouthern Illinois Audubon SocietySouthwestern Illinois College

St Louis CompostingSuncoke Energy-GCOTerminal Railroad Assoc. of St. LouisTetra TechThe Lawrence GroupVolkert, Inc.Wm. Nobbe & Co., Inc.PIN OAK: $500-999America’s Central PortAnonymous Dale BrockmannCarlyle Lake Assoc. Clinton County Farm BureauClinton County SWCDDonna DoughertyDavid & Tamara EustisBarbara Faulkenberry Lester Harnetiaux Robert & Donna HilgenbrinkMike & Jenny KrimLaura LyonCliff & Christy SchuetteSt. Clair County Farm Bureau St. Clair County Property & Recreation CommitteeDavid & Lisa TiedemannMike Thompson Turkey Hill GrangeVeolia Environmental ServicesWalker & Williams P.C.Brian & Jaynie WellsWilliams Creek Consulting, Inc.RED OAK: $1,000-2,499Ameren IllinoisPat FaheyMarilyn FaheyDennis & Jo KirkhamThe Maschhoffs LLC John & Dorothy Stade CHINKAPIN OAK: $2,500-4,999William & Christine Boardman Coalition for the Environment FoundationRobert & Katie NelsonMary PrevoEd & Kathi WeilbacherPhillips 66 Wood River RefineryPOST OAK: $5,000-9,999Anonymous Steve Carter Engeling, Inc.Village of ShilohBUR OAK: $10,000+Assoc. of Illinois Electric Cooperatives Ducks Unlimited East West Gateway Council of Gov’ts The Crown FamilyEnbridge Pipelines IDNR Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Leonard Goodman Madison CountyThe McKnight Foundation Prairie State Generating Company, LLC Randolph CountySt. Clair County Wetlands Forever William A. Kerr Foundation

CONNECT WITH US AND HELP CREATE OPPORTUNITY; IT PLANTS HOPE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

HeartLands Conservancy • 406 East Main Street • Mascoutah, Ill. 62258 www.HeartLandsConservancy.org • 618-566-4451 • info@heartlandsconservancy.org

DIRECTORS

2014 2013REVENUEService Agreements 174,547 171,810 Foundation Awards 669,733 140,959 State 45,853 32,217 Federal 300,070 803,695 Unrestricted Donations 63,335 37,248 Temporarily & Permanently Restricted Donations

126,417 89,420

Other Revenue 176,607 1,426,148 TOTAL REVENUE 1,556,562 2,701,497

EXPENSESConservation of Open Space 74,222 99,306 Building Greener Communities 1,177,050 2,449,339 Administrative 196,157 222,549 Fundraising 61,570 23,914 TOTAL EXPENSES 1,508,999 2,795,108

Revenue over(under) expenses 47,563 (93,611)Net assets, beginning of the year 2,547,712 2,641,323 Net assets, end of the year 2,595,275

2,547,712

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW