National Great Rivers Research and Education Center

Join Us at the 2025 Summit for Water! NGRREC is a proud co-host of this year’s Summit for Water, happening April 16-17 at WATER Institute at Saint Louis University. This event brings together researchers, policymakers, and conservationists to tackle the most pressing water challenges of our time. From innovative research to real-world solutions, the summit will highlight efforts to protect and restore our freshwater ecosystems. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with experts and be part of the conversation shaping the future of water sustainability. When: April 16-17, 2025 Where: Saint Louis University Learn more & register: https://lnkd.in/dKFE27hd #SummitForWater #WaterConservation #NGRREC #WaterSustainability #ResearchForChange

Reminder: Trivia Night is Almost Here! Don’t let this one float by—Get Your Brains on Tap is happening NEXT Thursday, March 20th, from 6:00–9:00 PM at The Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton, IL! Why You Should Join Us: ? Brain-busting trivia with a splash of river-themed fun! ? Delicious craft brews to keep the ideas flowing! ? A silent auction packed with fantastic items! ? All proceeds benefit NGRREC and their incredible work studying and protecting our rivers! Haven't registered your team yet? Don't wade around! Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/g_QmhwZs ? $20 per person – Every dollar goes toward supporting vital conservation efforts! Gather your crew, brush up on your trivia skills, and let’s make waves for a great cause! See you on March 20th!

Get Your Brains on Tap (and Your Knowledge?Flowing)! Trivia Night for the National Great Rivers Research & Education Center! Dust off your thinking caps and join us for a night of brain-busting fun at Old Bakery Beer Company! We promise, it'll be?shore?to be a good time! When:?Thursday, March 20th, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Where:?Old Bakery Beer Company, Alton, IL What:?A?rip-roaring?trivia night?and silent auction?to benefit the March "Drink for a Cause" organization:?The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC)! Why:?Because who doesn't love trivia, delicious craft beer,?and?supporting a fantastic cause? NGRREC is doing vital work studying and protecting our mighty rivers, the lifeblood of our communities and ecosystems. Let's?streamline?our efforts and raise a glass (and some funds) to help them continue their amazing work. We're?dam?sure you'll have a blast!

Paid Seasonal Job Opportunity! Love working outdoors and passionate about conservation? The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) is hiring Seasonal Field Technicians to assist with fieldwork, data collection, and ecological research! This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in environmental science while working in the beautiful river and wetland ecosystems of Illinois. ? Multiple openings available ? Start Time: Variable, March-May ? Pay: $16.55 per hour ? Hours: ~ 40 hours per week ? Term: Seasonal, 6-months ? Location: Greater STL Area (East Alton, IL) ? Focus Areas: Wetland ecology, botany, wildlife, forestry Ready to make a difference? Apply today! https://lnkd.in/gHgSJBNS #FieldTechJobs #ConservationJobs #Ecology #WildlifeResearch #NGRREC

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the first SEED Series event at NGRREC! It was great to see the Riverview Room packed with community members eager to learn about the benefits of adding native plants to their gardens. If you missed it, don’t worry—our next SEED Series event is on April 15th, where we’ll be focusing on Protecting Pollinators from 10 AM to Noon at the Confluence Field Station in East Alton. Hope to see you there! #SEEDSeries #NativePlants #ProtectPollinators

NGRREC LCS Team Takes on Emiquon & Peoria: From January 23-26, our 17-person Land Conservation Specialist (LCS) team gathered for a bi-annual retreat packed with training, collaboration, and conservation planning. ?? First Stop: Emiquon Nature Preserve The team explored this 6,000+ acre floodplain wetland restoration—one of the largest in Illinois! As part of their easement monitoring work, LCSs gained insight into wetland restoration challenges and ongoing research at this USDA NRCS Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) site. ?? Next Stop: Peoria, IL LCSs connected over a Winter Tree-ID training at Forest Park Nature Center before attending the Pheasants Forever of Illinois annual meeting, where Dr. Justin Shew, NGRREC Conservation Program Manager, shared a partner update on NGRREC’s conservation efforts. This retreat wasn’t just about training—it was about strengthening bonds, sharing knowledge, and planning for the future of land conservation in Illinois. #ConservationInAction #NGRREC #WetlandRestoration #Emiquon #LandConservation #PeoriaIL USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Don't forget to join us next Tuesday, January 28th, from 10 AM to noon at the field station, for our first SEED series event! With frosty weather upon us, it's the perfect reminder to get our native seeds out for stratification. Join us for a native seed swap and learn how to prepare for a thriving spring season!

???Prescribed Fire at Pere Marquette State Park ?? ? Recently, NGRREC's Habitat Strike Team and Illinois Department of Natural Resources conducted a 470-acre prescribed burn at Camp Ouatoga in Pere Marquette State Park. While the historic cabins here are no longer in use, this area sees hunting activity and remains an important part of the park’s landscape. ? Prescribed burns like this are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems—helping to reduce invasive plants, recycle nutrients into the soil, and create better habitat for wildlife. A controlled fire today leads to a more resilient landscape tomorrow ? #PrescribedFire #PereMarquetteStatePark #ConservationInAction #IDNR #HealthyEcosystems ? #PrescribedFire #PereMarquetteStatePark #ConservationInAction #IDNR #HealthyEcosystems

NGRREC is proud to partner with researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the Critical Interface Network (CINet), studying the critical zone in intensively managed lands. This new video showcases how corn and soybean crops exchange carbon, water, and heat with the atmosphere. The CINet team tracks these key exchanges from a 25-meter tower, gathering data every 15 minutes to better understand the carbon cycle in agricultural ecosystems. Special thanks to David Bock from the National Center for Computing Applications at the University of Illinois for helping visualize this process, and Route 3 Films for the drone footage of the flux tower.

Collaborating Across Borders: Recently, Dr. Jason Knouft (Director of the Freshwater Policy Institute at NGRREC) had the incredible opportunity to present at the Sister Cities conference in Stuttgart, Germany, where nine of Stuttgart’s Sister Cities, including St. Louis, came together. The meeting focused on climate adaptation strategies to address the challenges of flooding and extreme heat caused by a changing climate. During Dr. Knouft's presentation, he shared insights on flooding in the St. Louis region and across the Mississippi River basin, as well as urban heat issues affecting St. Louis. It is inspiring to see global partners connecting to tackle these critical issues together.