NEWS
Ribbon Cutting for Sangamon River Bluff Trail on July 18
Come out and join us for the ribbon cutting for the Sangamon River Bluff Trail. This event highlights a collaboration between LCF, the City of Monticello, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and Allerton Park and Retreat Center.
The ribbon cutting will be in the parking lot, located at 802 Allerton Road in Monticello. Attendees are encouraged to hike what they are comfortable with. LCF’s Bruce Hannon Levee Trail is about 2 miles and the entire length of the Sangamon River Bluff Trail, which ends at the Buck Schroth parking lot at Allerton Park, and is approximately 4.5 miles.
Please bring your own water and snacks if desired. This hike offers scenic views of the Sangamon River not common in the region. It is a moderately challenging hike with a rustic feel – some obstacles remain if they do not prevent hiking on the trail.
If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Eric Mollahan at ericmollahan@landconservationfoundation.org.
Grant of $43,000 Supports "Art and Nature Entwined" Program
June 2026
LCF is committed to providing opportunities to experience the synergy between art and nature. Toward that end, LCF sought out and received a $43,000 grant from the Dale and Deborah Smith Foundation. This grant will provide the support to expand and enhance the inclusion of art focused nature experiences at our preserves into 2027.
We are looking forward to bringing you programming as a part of this grant. Check our event calendar for details about "Poetry at the Preserve" and "Plant Sketching," the first events in this exciting series!
LCF 2026-2027 Photo Competition
June 2026
LCF is unveiling a new photo competition! The rules are simple:
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Use any device which captures photos (i.e. phones or digital cameras).
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Photos must be taken on LCF properties beginning in 2026.
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Submit your photo by email to ericmollahan@landconservationfoundation.org. You are also encouraged to post your photos online and tag LCF social media accounts!
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You may enter two photos per category.
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Final submittals are due by May 30th, 2027.
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You may not digitally enhance (edit) the photographs except for cropping, except for in the “Creative” category.
There are five categories for submittal: Landscape; Plants; Fungi; Animals — anything from insects to birds, frogs, fish, and mammals; and Creative, which could include any artistic editing that you desire.
Please indicate which category your submission is for. A committee coordinated by LCF will vote on the best photos for each category, with the winners receiving an LCF hat and shirt!
Photos submitted to LCF may be utilized for future marketing purposes.
LCF Helps Local Environmental Research
June 2026
LCF has stepped up collaboration with local and state organizations, providing locations, labor, or both! Read on to learn about our latest efforts.
Snake ID for Illinois Department of Natural Resources
LCF has been assisting IDNR with identifying snakes near one of our properties and documenting details about location, species and individual features. The primary focus of this job is to find the endangered Kirtland’s Water Snake. Currently, we have identified more than 40 individuals!
Caterpillar Study by Illinois Natural History Survey
Jasmine Hollow is the site of a Caterpillar Study by the Illinois Natural History Survey. In 2025, 13 species were observed during three visits. This year, the study continues and we're excited to see what is observed. We'll let you know if we find anything special!
Water Quality Testing
LCF is helping test for phosphorus in several Champaign water basins, to determine if water quality is improving as it moves through stormwater systems. Runoff ultimately leads to the rivers and lakes which define our region, recharge our aquifers and improve recreation.
Natural-Areas Advice for Luella's Lodge
Luella’s Lodge is a nonprofit retreat center in Vermilion County that supports families grieving the loss of a child, through nature-based healing, retreat programming and community connection. LCF's Eric Mollahan provided advice for three areas — pond health, woodland restoration and prairie establishment.
Collaboration with SCNO — Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations
SCNO, a registered student organization at U of I, wrapped up a project with LCF in early May. We really appreciate their time and efforts and look forward to implementing some of their findings. It was a great experience to collaborate with the future stewards of our land.
Participants gathered for the Barbara Mettler dance event at LCF's Mettler Woods.
Spring 2026 Event Report
June 2026
Thanks to all who made these events a success by hosting and attending! We have a variety of great events ahead, including more Stewardship Saturdays and Flora Fanatics; check our event calendar for details.
Creative Dancing Honoring Barbara Mettler
This event at Mettler Woods was led by the International Association for Creative Dance, in conjunction with the U of I dance department and Barbara Mettler Studios. Attendees had the opportunity to engage nature in a spiritual way, embodying the principals that Barbara Mettler established in her approach to creative dance. Learn more about Barbara Mettler and her impacts on conservation and creative dance.
Brady Bluebell Hike
Guided by Lynn Hawkinson-Smith, this late April hike was a blast! We saw so many neat trees and some rare plants. But the biggest find was observed by a participant — a wrinkled peach mushroom. While known to exist in the region, it is listed as near-threatened globally. Make sure to join our events for the chance to find something special!
Stewardship Saturdays
We were fortunate to have decent weather for our spring stewardship events. In June, a fawn joined us for a quick chat, then took off. It seemed like it was thanking us for the work we were doing! Garlic mustard and honeysuckle were our focus. These allelopathic species release chemical compounds into the soil to give them a competitive advantage over native species, ultimately displacing them and reducing biodiversity. Thanks to all volunteers who joined in!
Flora Fanatics
At our May and June plant ID hikes, we saw plenty of unique species and discussed how to manage common problematic species. Though water levels were high at the Levee Trail, that gave us an opportunity to discuss the importance of protecting wetlands and floodplains, which mitigate flooding, filter water and provide rare habitat for wildlife. This series continues into the summer!
John Griesbaum (pictured, at right) helped tally and identify mussels at the Mussel Rescue.
Thanks to these volunteers, rescued mussels may live for several decades more. Photos by Melissa Records.
Volunteers Rescue More Than 300 Mussels
November 2025
On November 8, LCF led its first-ever mussel rescue. Due to the prolonged drought in Central Illinois, some sections of the Sangamon River dried up, leaving freshwater mussels stranded on the riverbed.
Thirty local volunteers gathered up more than 300 mussels, representing 19 species, which were returned to deeper waters, where they will burrow into sediment to overwinter, emerging next spring. Previous mussel surveys in the area documented only 12 species, so this was a great opportunity to gather more information.
While this effort is not necessary each year, drought conditions we have experienced in 2025 have prevented many mussels from accessing deep pools, and some pools have dried up altogether.
This event took place at the 144-acre Jasmine Hollow Land and Water Reserve, which was donated to LCF earlier this year. Thank you to all of the mussel volunteers.
If you’re interested in future LCF volunteer opportunities, sign up for our newsletter, follow LCF on Facebook, and check the event page of our website.
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 was October 20, 2025. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
LCF Founder Bruce Hannon said, "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."
Photo by Melissa Records