JDCF is thrilled to receive two grants that will be used to restore 14 acres of native oak savanna at Gateway Park in Galena, Illinois. Volunteers with the Galena Area Land Enthusiasts (GALE) and the Northwest Illinois Prairie Enthusiasts (NIPE) have been working hard since 2015 to restore this overgrown area of the park to […] Read More

JDCF staff has observed a new invasive weed, Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica/Polygonum cuspidatum), around streams and drainage ditches in in the Galena area. Invasive species, often plants or animals arriving from other continents, have created huge challenges for land managers of conservation lands in NW Illinois. If left untreated, Japanese Knotweed could spread further around […] Read More

On June 20 about 85 people gathered at Chestnut Mountain Resort to be briefed on emerging plans for completing the next legs of the Great River Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail from Galena to Savanna. These plans follow the Jo Daviess County Greenways and Trails Plan, part of the county’s comprehensive plan adopted in 2009. The […] Read More

JDCF, in collaboration with the Galena Brewing Company, is building on last summer’s unveil of the Major Daviess Summer Ale, a refreshing American wheat ale that supports land preservation in Jo Daviess County. The first kegs have been tapped in this unique partnership between a local business and a local nonprofit organization. A portion of the […] Read More