NEWS
Eric Mollahan Chosen to Lead LCF
October 2025
LCF is excited to introduce Eric Mollahan as its first full-time executive director. Our recent growth prompted the need to expand the leadership role to full-time, having doubled the number of properties we own over the last five years.
Eric’s first day will be October 20. It’s a return to familiar territory for the Illinois grad. He received a BS from UIUC in 2013, majoring in Natural Resources Environmental Science with a concentration in Human Dimensions. He also worked with the Urbana Park District and the Illinois Natural History Survey.
Most recently, Eric was based in northeastern Illinois as lead ecologist for Integrated Lakes Management, where his tasks ranged from ecological research to hands-on land restoration with chainsaws and skid steers. He has significant experience with both land and aquatic ecosystems, including assessing erosion and herbicide impacts, plus monitoring and improving habitat for endangered and threatened species.
LCF Board President John Marlin says, “Eric is an excellent choice, with his broad experience in many areas important to LCF including GPS, wetland restoration, and land management. Additionally, he has an outgoing personality and a desire to enhance our outreach activities. We look forward to working with him.”
LCF is grateful to Deanna Glosser, who retired as executive director earlier this year after nine successful years at the helm, and to Fran Harty, for stepping in as interim executive director.
145 Acres Donated by Jim and Mare Payne: Jasmine Hollow Land & Water Reserve
May 2025
Jim and Mare Payne of Cerro Gordo have donated the 145-acre Jasmine Hollow Land & Water Reserve in Piatt County to LCF.
Jasmine Hollow is located on the Sangamon River and is primarily a floodplain forest stretching along one mile of the river. There are at least 11 species of freshwater mussels there, and the threatened mudpuppy is known to occur in this stretch of the river. The bobcat has been sighted at Jasmine Hollow, and it is likely that the river otter uses this site as well.
Jim and Mare Payne want you to know that, “Since acquiring Jasmine Hollow in 1993 (named for our dog who died the day we bought it), we have spent thousands of hours working to eradicate signs of overgrazing and invasives — among them garlic mustard, bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and others — with the goal to restore it to pre-settlement conditions. By placing this very special site in the capable and dedicated hands of the Land Conservation Foundation, we know our stewardship and our vision will continue. We are thrilled.”
The donation of this site is a spectacular addition to the lands owned by LCF in Piatt County, including Feller Woods and the Sangamon River Corridor Reserve. We cannot thank the Paynes enough for their generosity.
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Because of the sensitive natural resources at this site and the terms of the Land & Water Reserve agreement, Jasmine Hollow is not open to the public. However, LCF plans to lead hikes to this site in the future. Watch our website and Facebook page for details.
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Photos: Mare and Jim Payne with LCF Director Lott Thomas and Executive Director Deanna Glosser. The Sangamon River at Jasmine Hollow, photo by Jim Payne.
Video Shows History of Levee Trail
Discover the origins of the levees that give the Bruce Hannon Levee Trail its name. In 2024, Tetra Tech, Inc, on behalf of Prosperity Wind, uncovered the history of this unique feature of LCF’s Sangamon River Corridor Reserve and shared its findings in a video and a detailed document.
The report and video were funded by Prosperity Wind, LLC, as part of cultural resource mitigation in coordination with the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office, in compliance with the Illinois State Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act (20 ILCS 3420).
Credits:
Video Production: Kaley Singer, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Report Authors: Ragan Ramsey, Kaley Singer, and Jessie McCaig, Tetra Tech, Inc. Special Thanks to: Dr. Deanna Glosser, Land Conservation Foundation, and the Piatt County Historical and Genealogical Society
Thanks to Our Donors, Upland Forest Adds 12 Acres to Mouth of Jordan Reserve
On March 7, 2024, LCF closed on 12 acres of wildflower-filled upland forest, expanding our Mouth of Jordan Reserve in Vermilion County to 27 acres. William and Barbara Childers sold this magical place to LCF to protect it forever! Because of the generosity of so many LCF supporters, the funds were raised for the parcel and for future stewardship needs.
This extension of the reserve will bolster protection of the Salt Fork River below. The new parcel lies across the road, south of the existing reserve. There the land quickly rises, with steep ravines and winter views down to the river. Soon you'll be able to follow a new hiking trail and experience this more diverse terrain upclose!
Feller Woods Donated in Memory of Bob Feller
In memory of devoted LCF volunteer Bob Feller, his wife, Theresa, donated 20 acres to LCF. The newly named Feller Woods sits along the Sangamon River in Piatt County. LCF is deeply grateful to both of the Fellers for their generous gifts. Pictured: Bob and Theresa Feller at an LCF event in 2019.
Extended Trail System at LCF's Mettler Woods
Thanks to the Meyen family (Tom, Cassandra, Adara, Anton, Tayanna, and Callia) for their hard work in clearing two new trails, plus a connector trail, at Mettler Woods Nature Preserve! The trail system has expanded from 0.62 miles to 2.0 miles.
Woodpecker Trail This is the original trail starting at the parking lot. It's a wide, flat trail, accessible to everyone, and guess what bird is commonly found here? Correct! It's the red-headed woodpecker!
Tornado Trail This is the new trail on the west side of the preserve. It runs near the park boundary and then adjacent to the damage from the 2003 tornado. There are LOTS of downed trees here, but they are most easily viewed from late fall to early spring due to the vegetation. Amid all the flora, the deer are easy to see, but the locations of the chipmunk hoards are only betrayed by the moving vegetation and their constant chipping.
Valley Trail This is the new trail on the east side of the preserve. It follows one of the waterways southward through amazing views of the hills and valleys that are dramatically different than other portions of the preserve. With a much more open understory, this area also offers awe inspiring fall foliage displays and frequent sightings of gigantic pileated woodpeckers and foxes.
Ridge Trail This is the new short trail that connects the Tornado and Valley Trails. It may be short, but it offers a (sometimes) water crossing, a beautiful overview into the convergence of the valleys, and many downed trees from the tornado. This trail was the most recently approved addition to the preserve, and as of this update is still primitive.
We encourage you to visit Mettler Woods and hike the trails. Please remember this site is a dedicated Nature Preserve and not a typical park. No collecting of vegetation, ATVs or wheeled vehicles, or alcohol, drugs, or firearms are allowed. Enjoy the wildflowers, birds, enormous trees, and scenic beauty. Photo by Melissa Records.
Volunteers Improve Mouth of Jordan Trail
On a sunny October day, nine students from Danville Area Community College completed a service learning project to improve a 0.31-mile-long trail along the Salt Fork at LCF's Mouth of Jordan Reserve. The group was led by DACC's Dr. Wendy Brown, professor of microbiology and biology, and Ryan Wykoff, communication professor. LCF thanks these leaders and their students, who left with a greater understanding of the importance of land conservation.
In November, a group of LCF volunteers cleared invasive species and continued efforts to ease access, including adding a rope handhold on a slope near the eastern end of the trail. We encourage you to stop by and enjoy this beautiful spot! Before you go, check our tips for parking and access.
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Photo: DACC students and instructors, photo by Fran Harty.
Volunteer for LCF Work Days
Want to join in the rewarding, fresh-air fun of improving trails, clearing invasive plants, and more? To be notified of future LCF work days, contact us at info@landconservationfoundation.org.
LCF Creates Robert Feller Stewardship Fund
LCF lost a devoted volunteer and friend with the passing of Bob Feller on June 15, 2021. At its August 6 meeting, the LCF board adopted the following motion:
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Create the Robert Feller Stewardship Fund to be used for stewardship activities that Bob selflessly devoted himself to, such as trail maintenance, mowing the Bruce Hannon Levee Trail, controlling invasive species, and other activities at LCF sites as determined by the Land Acquisition & Stewardship Committee.
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Please show your appreciation for Bob’s efforts and help LCF steward its land by donating to this fund now. Mail a check or donate online and note this special designation.
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Pictured above, Bob is seen hard at work on two of his many volunteer tasks — preparing a bridge to improve trail access and installing signs for LCF's hike app.
Levee Trail Wildlife Videos on YouTube
The levee trail wildlife videos you may have enjoyed on LCF’s Facebook page are now highlighted in a YouTube video! It includes 13 amazing animals — baby raccoons, beaver, wild turkey, river otter, and more!
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See it on YouTube, share with your friends, or use it as a homeschool exercise! You all will enjoy the beauty and solitude of the Sangamon River corridor.
Click here to subscribe to the "Land Conservation Foundation" YouTube channel so you can receive notices of future videos.
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Join LCF Today
Please join or renew your membership today to ensure that LCF can continue our vital mission, such as to maintain the Bruce Hannon Levee Trail and to preserve treasured natural areas for future generations — including our newest acquisition, Jordan Creek in Vermilion County. Show your support by becoming a part of what we do!
Join or renew online or download our membership form and mail it to LCF. Categories are: $20 Student; $50 Individual; $80 Family; and $250 Sustaining.
Founder and Director Bruce Hannon says of LCF, "We are in the ‘perpetuity business’ for those who love nature now, and for the children of the future, whose love of nature we must help them acquire."
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Photo by Melissa Records