Improving natural areas around the Quad Cities. What is QC Wild Places? Green Valley Nature Preserve. Nahant Marsh. Hennepin Canal Environmental Park

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1 2014 Annual Report

2 About the Program Improvement Projects Contents: 2 About the Program 3 Improvement Projects 5 Education & Outreach 6 Funding & Budget 7 Member Sites What is QC Wild Places? QC Wild Places is a program of River Action, Inc. QC Wild Places started in 2011 as a way to combine the efforts of local natural areas and their managing organizations with funders to help market their sites to the public. Because natural areas are run by various organizations with staffs and budgets of varying sizes, it is often difficult for them to receive the funding and publicity they need to increase awareness and make improvements. QC Wild Places is a program dedicated to preserving natural areas around the Quad Cities through service, funding, and awareness. QC Wild Places projects include funding for site improvements, community outreach and awareness, and conservation efforts. Member sites are located in eight counties around the Quad City region, all within an hour s drive of the Quad Cities. Green Valley Nature Preserve Green Valley Nature Preserve in Moline, IL was the location of a wetland and stream restoration through a grant jointly funded by River Action and the Illinois EPA. The project was one of three watershed improvement projects prioritized to target nonpoint source pollution along the Rock River. After project completion in 2013, a Biodiversity Day was held to create baseline inventories for plant and animal species. In 2014 River Action worked with the City of Moline, Black Hawk College, and Augustana College s Upper Mississippi Studies Center to identify sites for restoration at and around Green Valley. In September of 2014 River Action partnered with Augustana College s Upper Mississippi Center and Living Lands and Waters to host an invasive species removal day at Green Valley Nature Preserve and Blackhawk College Campus. More than 60 volunteers helped remove Honeysuckle, Buckthorn, and Tree of Heaven from both properties. Another spring event should be enough to finish the work at Black Hawk, but Green Valley may require the use of some heavy machinery since many of the shrubs have grown to be more than 6 inches in diameter. Davey Tree has pledged in-kind support to assist in these operations. Restored stream and native plantings at Green Valley Improving natural areas around the Quad Cities Nahant Marsh A viewing platform is being constructed at Nahant Marsh to accompany an ecologically significant sand prairie turtle habitat. Funding for the platform was provided through QC Wild Places funders and was matched by the marsh. Hennepin Canal Environmental Park In partnership with the Village of Milan and the Illinois DNR, River Action is undertaking restoration efforts at the Hennepin Canal and the Steel Dam in Milan, IL to establish an environmental park to provide educational and recreational opportunities for area youth, residents, and visitors. Restoration activities include the improvement of the gravel drive, parking lot, and walking trails; the removal of invasive and encroaching vegetation around historical Lock 30 infrastructure and the replacement of this vegetation with sustainable, low maintenance native plants; removal of vegetation at the portage; the installation of new interpretive signage; restoration of 3 park benches; dredging of the canal above and below Lock 30; and the stocking of native fish species in the Steel Dam section of the Hennepin Canal. Also, River Action is expanding its efforts on site to include the restoration of 1.6 acres of mesic prairie in the wildlife area along the canal. Prairie restoration will increase biodiversity on-site and improve habitat for a diverse array of wildlife species. Sunderbruch Park 2 3

3 Site Improvements Education & Outreach Urban Watershed Restorations at Green Valley Nature Preserve July 2014-July Estimated Expenditures Amount Restoration Engineering and Design $5,500 Pothole Wetland- Excavating, grading, and native seeding $43,000 Stream re-route to neighboring wetland- Clearing, excavating, grading, and native seeding $12,000 Prescribed Burns- Black Hawk College and Green Valley $2,130 Education and Outreach- Interns $11,500 Riparian Zone Restoration $8,600 3-acre stormwater retention pond- construction $75,000 Management of prairies and wooded area $9,370 Interpretive trail construction $15,500 Green Valley Interpretive trial signage $14,000 Administrative Work $23,000 Total $219,600 Funding Amount Alcoa Foundation $30,000 Augustana College $17,000 (In-Kind) Restoration, Improvements, and Education at Hennepin Canal Environmental Park Fall/Winter Fall Estimated Expenditures Amount Site Infrastructure and Accessibility $2,513 Improvements Restoration & Park Improvements $17,350 Environmental Education & Youth Programming $4,800 Total $24,663 Funding Amount Brissman Foundation (Pending) $10,000 Illinois DNR (Including In-Kind) $2,900 CFGRB $6,900 Village of Milan (Including In-Kind) $1,677 American Red Cross (In-Kind) $700 Saukenuk Paddlers (In-Kind) $500 River Action (Including In-Kind) $750 Doris & Victor Day Foundation $900 Miller Trucking & Excavating (In-Kind) $336 Total $24,663 Black Hawk College $5,000 $79,600 (In-Kind) City of Moline $5,500 (In-Kind) Mississippi Valley Sportsman $5,000 Opportunities for Research Moline Foundation $3,000 The Green Valley Nature Preserve presents potential for National Fish and Wildlife Foundation $50,000 numerous applied research opportunities that will inform $7,000 River Action, CFGRB the success of phase I and II wetland restoration projects, $11,500 (In-Kind) future restoration needs, and on-going ecological management US Fish and Wildlife Service Total $6,000 (In-Kind) $219,600 on site. A second Biodiversity Day in 2016 bring- ing together biological experts, students, and community members to survey overall biodiversity on site following phase I and II restoration activities at the preserve will produce the data necessary to determine whether or not a net increase in biodiversity was achieved by River Action sponsored restoration activities. The development and implementation of a citizen science based monitoring program will provide the needed manpower to collect ongoing data related to the quality of water entering into the Rock River; while at the same time provide invaluable education opportunities for the public. This data is necessary to monitor the success of wetland restoration on-site and is instrumental in determining future restoration needs. Furthermore, vegetation field experiments will help determine on site ecological management approaches to control the spread and further invasion of invasive plants on site. 4 Navigating Natural Areas After the program was established in 2011, a small brochure was designed - showing a map of the natural areas and directing readers to QCWildPlaces.com. Since the release of this brochure, several wild places have been added. Through meetings and public feedback, it was determined that many people would benefit from knowing what activities and amenities were offered at specific sites of interest. In 2014, work began on introducing a new brochure with an interactive online map. Engaging the Community A riverine walk was hosted at Green Valley The website and printed map are designed to make finding wild places easy and enjoyable QC Wild Places is a River Action program dedicated to strengthening natural areas in the Quad Cities Region. One way to strengthen and connect our natural areas is to utilize them as a community asset. By using natural areas as educational and community resources, we not only increase awareness, but also improve sense of ownership. Through River Action s Summer Education Series, the public are welcome to join Riverine Walks led by local professionals and educators to learn about environmental and cultural topics. QC Wild Places Explorer Program The QC Wild Places Explorers program is open to youth age 13 and younger as an incentive to get outside and explore natural areas around the region. Participants can fill out a form on the website and upload photos of themselves with identiable landmarks from QC Wild Places. By visiting three or more Wild Places, the young explorers are given a QC Wild Places hat and a certicate of participation. To date there are 79 Explorers, who have visited more than 20 member sites, and have received hats and certificates. 5

4 Funding & Budget Member Stites 2014 Funds Received $20,000 Community Foundation of the Great River Bend $15,000 ALCOA Foundation $1,000 Doris & Victor Day Foundation $2,500 Iowa American Water $2,000 Sedona Group $2,500 Community Foundation Impact $3,000 Moline Foundation $4,000 Mississippi Valley Sportsman $1,000 KJWW $51,000 Total 2015 Pledged Funds & Pending Requests Pledged Funds $50,000 National Fish & Wildlife Foundation $15,000 ALCOA Foundation $65,000 Total Pending Requests $10,000 Brissman Foundation $800 Captain Planet Foundation $7,000 Dr. Scholl Foundation $25,000 Honda Foundation $5,000 National Trails Fund $47,800 Total The Doris and Victor Day Foundation QC Wild Places Funding Partners Interpretive Signage Conservation Education 6 $7, % $2, % Website, Printing and Brochures $1, % Administration $3, % 2014 Budget Site Improvement Projects Earth Day Trees & Wildflowers $54, % Funding for QC Wild Places is provided by a diverse group of local, regional, and national partners. While much of the program s budget is dedicated to physically improving natural areas, funding also goes toward wayfinding and educational signage, research, conservation education, and community engagement. Current projects include urban watershed restoration work at the Green Valley Nature Preserve in Moline, IL and the Hennepin Canal Environmental Park in Milan, IL. Itemized project budgets are outlined on page 4 of this report. Wild places are used year-round. Snowshoers enjoy a winter hike at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center. $ % Name County State Managing Organization Andalusia Slough Recreation Area Rock Island IL U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ben Williamson Park Rock Island IL City of Rock Island Black Hawk State Historic Site and Forest Preserve Rock Island IL State of Illinois Blanchard Island Recreation Area Rock Island IL U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Brownlee Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve Mercer IL Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District Bulger s Hollow Clinton IA U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Camden Two Disc Golf Course Rock Island IL Camden Two Volunteer Crew Cedar Bluffs Recreation Park Muscatine IA Muscatine County Cedar Bottoms Wildlife Area Muscatine IA Iowa DNR Clark s Ferry Muscatine IA U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Credit Island Park Scott IA City of Davenport Devils Glen Park Scott IA Bettendorf Parks Discovery Park Muscatine IA Muscatine County Dorrance Park Rock Island IL Rock Island County Duck Creek Parkway Scott IA City of Davenport Eden Valley Refuge Clinton IA Clinton County Conservation Elton E. Fawks Bald Eagle Refuge Nature Preserve Rock Island IL IL DNR Fairport Recreation Area Muscatine IA Iowa DNR Fisherman s Corner Rock Island IL U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Folletts Park Clinton IA Clinton County Conservation Gedney Lake Muscatine IA Muscatine County Conservation Board Greenvalley Park and Nature Preserve Rock Island IL City of Moline Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Henry (multi) IL Illinois DNR Illiniwek Forest Preserve Rock Island IL Rock Island County Indian Bluff Forest Preserve Rock Island IL Rock Island County Jack Shugar Memorial Park Muscatine IA Muscatine County Conservation Board Killdeer Recreation Area Clinton IA Clinton County Conservation Lock and Dam 13 Whiteside IL U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam 14 Recreation Area / Smith s Island Scott IA U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lost Grove Lake Scott IA Iowa DNR Loud Thunder - Martin Conservation Area Rock Island IL Rock Island County Loud Thunder Forest Preserve Rock Island IL Rock Island County Malone Park Clinton IA Clinton County Conservation McKeown Bridge River Access Muscatine IA Muscatine County Conservation Board Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center Clinton IA Clinton County Conservation Munson Township Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve Henry IL Munson Township Nahant Marsh Scott IA City of Davenport and Nahant Marsh Niabi Zoo and Niabi Zoo Forest Preserve Rock Island IL Rock Island County Nye Cemetery Muscatine IA Muscatine County Conservation Board Pigeon Creek Park Scott IA City of Bettendorf Pike Run Wildlife Area Muscatine IA Muscatine County Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge Muscatine IA U.S. Fish and Wildlife Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge (Keithsburg Division) Mercer (multi) IL U.S. Fish and Wildlife Red Cedar Wildlife Area Muscatine IA Iowa DNR Richardson Wildlife Area Muscatine IA Muscatine County Conservation Board Rock Creek Marina and Campground Clinton IA Clinton County Conservation Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area Muscatine IA Muscatine County Schuetzen Park Historic Site Scott IA Schuetzenpark Gilde Scott County Park Scott IA Scott County Scout Park Scott IA City of Le Claire Shady Creek Recreation Area Muscatine IA U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Sherman Park Clinton IA Clinton County Conservation Shield Prairie Muscatine IA Muscatine County Soaring Eagle Nature Center Clinton IA Eagle Point Nature Society Sunderbruch Park (Southwest Park) Scott IA City of Davenport Sunset Park Rock Island IL City of Rock Island Sylvan Island Rock Island IL City of Moline Thomson Causeway Carroll IL U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Savanna District) Rock Island IL U.S. Fish and Wildlife Walnut Grove Park Clinton IA Clinton County Conservation Wapsi River Environmental Education Center Scott (multi) IA Scott County West Lake Park Scott IA Scott County Wiese Slough Wildlife Management Area Muscatine IA Iowa DNR Wild Cat Den State Park Muscatine IA Iowa DNR To learn more, visit QCWildPlaces.com

5 1984 River Action YEARS Celebrating of river enhancements30 30 YEARS Dedicated to fostering the environmental, economic and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront in the Quad Cities region RIVER ACTION INC RIVER ACTION INC Eddy AWARDS Recognizing outstanding riverfront achievements Henry Farnam Dinner February 22 Talks & Riverine Walks