On a hilltop about 95 miles west of Chicago grow plant species that have been there for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The soil is sandy, so when the surrounding lowlands were used for agriculture, the hill remained untouched. From that vantage point, Nachusa Grasslands sprawls below with sections of savanna, a pond frequented by blue herons, patchy spots where bison have grazed, and a red barn to the far north that marks the volunteer and scientist headquarters.
Looking out from her favorite view, Elizabeth Bachfeels at the center of it all.
Bach, an ecosystem restoration scientist, is the only full-time scientist at Nachusa, responsible for facilitating the more than 40 scientists conducting research at the site and planning how to manage its 4,000 acres through controlled burns and plantings. Nachusa is home to animals across food chains, many of which have relatively stable populations.
