Dive into the wonderful watery world of river ecology with Dr. Jason DeBoer, Large River Scientist with the Illinois Natural History Survey!  Jason’s presentation will explain why rivers are important ecosystems, describe some of the threats our local rivers face, and explore some of the wild, weird, and downright wacky fish and other animals that call our rivers home.  There’s bound to be a few ‘fish tales’ shared too, and definitely a lot of big-fish pictures! Immediately following Jason's presentation we're excited to bring to you Chris Vallillo, Chris is a singer/songwriter, and roots musician who makes the people and places of “unmetropolitan” America come to life in song. His recent project “Forgottonia” tells the story of West Central Illinois and, through song, brings to life the forgotten history of our rural region. If you know Chris, we already know you'll be there! If you haven't yet had the pleasure of experiencing a Chris Vallillo concert, you're in for a real treat--you do not want to miss it. This is the first in the 2025 Trails & Greenways' Ways to Discovery Chautauqua Series. The venue is fully accessible, ensuring everyone can participate. We gratefully acknowledge partial support for this event from the Illinois Arts Council and the Springfield Area Arts Council.