In 2000 and 2001, Murn Environmental Inc. of Beloit, WI, performed a vegetation survey of the parcel, for purposes of establishing baseline information to be used to prioritize management and enhancement activities. The survey was funded by a Small Wildlife Grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

In their final report summary, Murn Environmental stated: “The existing cover of the site provides many values, such as water filtration, flood storage, game and non-game habitat, and aesthetic and open space values, in proximity to the city of Galena. The site is inappropriate for most uses, and has its best use in providing the values listed above. Maintenance of the more rare of the vegetation communities is important because there is a pressing need for preservation of our natural heritage. Natural areas have become more and more fragmented and impacted with changing land uses, including development, commercial agricultural practices, and changes to recreational land. The Foundation in our opinion showed foresight in obtaining this parcel, and serves the area well in its preservation and in consideration of management options to best maintain and enhance functional values and natural diversity.”

Open for Recreation & Restoration Education

Since the vegetative survey and report, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation staff and board members have talked with users of the property and local ecologists about the best way to manage the property. As many local residents enjoy walking their dogs on the property and using it for fishing, camping, and birdwatching, we decided that public use was important. The Foundation has also hosted an annual frog walk along the Galena River levee to the entrance of the Preserve, which has been very popular.

The Foundation decided to keep a mowed trail around the perimeter of the flat floodplain area for public use and restore the floodplain to native wet mesic prairie. The property would then be educational as well, providing an example of a prairie restoration. Prairie restoration efforts began in 2005.

Visit the Buehler Preserve

You are invited to visit the Buehler Preserve and observe the restoration process. We could also use volunteer help picking and planting prairie seed! To reach the Buehler Preserve, cross the Galena River at the Meeker Street footbridge (located behind Westwick Foundry), and walk north on the levee until you reach the gate to the Preserve (about a mile). For more information, call the Foundation at 815-858-9100.

The entrance to the Buehler Preserve, at the north end of the Galena River levee, and
(from left) Fred Mehl, Nancy Winter, Dorte Breckenridge, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Dan Wegner.


A clump of swamp milkweed at the Buehler Preserve.