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Illinois

Preserving the Prairie State

First time since 1943, Illinois River waters have overtopped the Thompson Levee. How do places like Emiquon reduce flooding?

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Illinois River and its floodplain. As a part of the inland waterway transportation system, the Illinois River is a key component of the Conservancy's Upper Mississippi River program. © Doug Blodgett

Protecting Illinois for People and Nature

The Nature Conservancy in Illinois works with partners across the state to protect nature and preserve life. See what we're doing in the Prairie State!

What's Happening in Illinois?

flower image for native gardening Get Wild, Go Native email sign up page

Get Wild, Go Native!

Interested in native gardening? See gardens from across the Midwest and get monthly tips in our Get Wild, Go Native! feature.
Belted Kingfisher © USFWS

May Natural Events

Spring brings new life to Conservancy preserves across Illinois this month!

Latest Photos

Nachusa's prairie, Autumn 2006 © Robert Shaw

25 Years of Transformation

See how the Conservancy's Nachusa Grasslands has transformed during its 25-year history.
Conservancy volunteers provided educational opportunities during Emiquon's Lake Festival and Grand Opening event. © Cristina Rutter

Lake Festival & Grand Opening

View this slideshow of images from Emiquon's Lake Festival and Grand Opening of the visitor use amenities.
More than half the water consumed by people in the U.S. comes from the Mississippi River basin. © Robert J. Hurt

A Tale of Two Rivers

Learn how American Conservancy scientists are working with their counterparts in China to solve similar problems along the Mississippi and Yangtze rivers.

Latest Videos

Preserve Manager Bill Kleiman leads a tour of Nachusa Grasslands © Chris Helzer/TNC

Nature Works in Illinois

From the natural areas used for recreation and volunteering to clean drinking water, nature makes lives better in Illinois.
Wetland construction at Franklin demonstration farm in the Mackinaw River watershed, Lexington, Illinois. © Timothy T. Lindembaum

Innovative Conservation

Watch our Aquatic Ecologist Maria Lemke explain how we're improving water quality in the Mackinaw River watershed.
Asian carp, the bighead and silver, jumping out of the Illinois River © jasonLINDSEY.com

Aquatic Invasive Species

Watch our State Director Leslee Spraggins and other experts explain the threat of aquatic invasive species to the Great Lakes.

Read More

Lion in Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa. © Kenneth K. Coe

Close Encounters with Nature

Whether scary or exciting, nature has a way of sneaking up on you. See stories

Arden O’Connor. © Lajla LeBlanc

Nature Matters

Hear some of nature's success stories and see how nature matters to us all. Watch videos

Donate to The Nature Conservancy

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Coast live oak trees punctuate the prairie grasslands at Chimineas Ranch, a protected wildlife corridor linking the Carrizo Plain National Monument with Los Padres National Forest, located within San Luis Obispo County, California. © Mark Dolyak

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