Introduction to Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Kelsey Musich, CPESCKelsey Musich, CPESCResource ConservationistResource Conservationist

Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District District

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Soil and Water Conservation Districts were an result of the Depression and the dust storms of the 1930’s. These storms brought clouds of dust from the West to the Atlantic Seaboard and beyond.

On April 27, 1935 an Act of Congress established the Soil Conservation Service, formerly the Soil Erosion Service. In October of 1994 to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

SWCDs• 1936 - the USDA issued a pamphlet entitled “ A Standard State Soil Conservation Districts Law”

• 1937 - the Illinois General Assembly adopted the Soil Conservation District Law

• “You had to own land in order to vote for organization,” Giving the local counties control over whether to form a District or not.

• 1938 - The first IL District formed under the Law was St. Clair County

• Other SWCDs followed shortly after

• 1961 - the Law changed to the Soil & Water Conservation Districts Act

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

A Soil and Water Conservation District is a locally organized and locally operated unit of government functioning under Illinois law, to promote protection, maintenance, improvement and wise use of the soil, water and related resources within the District.

Directed by 5 elected officials – Board of Directors

What Do SWCD’s Do?An Illinois Perspective

Background – Illinois SWCDs

• IL Department of Agriculture• Partners with NRCS• 102 counties in IL – 98 SWCDs

Illinois SWCDs – Services Provided

• Education Programs• Watershed Planning

• Agricultural Cost Share Programs• CPP (conservation practices)• CREP (conservation reserve/enhancement program)• WDP (well sealing)• SSRP (Streambank stabilization)• HRP (habitat restoration)

Background – Illinois SWCDs

• Urban Programs– Natural Resource Inventories

• Zoning Changes (22.02a reports)

– Erosion/Sediment Control Program• Paperwork Reviews• Site Inspections

Background – Kane/DuPage SWCD

• Partnerships

– US Army Corps of Engineers – Chicago• ICA for SESC oversight

– IL Environmental Protection Agency• Program for SESC oversight

– 6 Municipal Agreements

KDSWCD Partners• 5 Municipal Agreements or MOUs in Kane

– Aurora– North Aurora– Batavia– Elburn– Gilberts

• City of Chicago - OMP

• Agreement with Kane & DuPage County– GIS data sharing

Interagency Cooperative Agreement

• 7 SWCDs in Northeastern Illinois

• Chicago District of the Army Corps of Engineers in 1997

• Applicant applies for a 404 CWA permit• Submittal to SWCD• Plan Review, Approval Letter, Site

Inspections

IEPA Pilot Program - NPDES

• The Pilot program is unique to Illinois– 18 and counting SWCDs assist IEPA– Compliance inspections

• CPESC – 32 SWCD Staff– Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control

Serving CommunitiesBOONE CO. – Inspecting proper installation of erosion

control fencing at a development site

Serving CommunitiesBOONE CO. – District staff perform soil borings for septic

suitability prior to development

Serving CommunitiesKANE-DUPAGE CO. – Encourage Stream diversions in a

development area

Serving CommunitiesKANE-DUPAGE CO. – High school stream monitoring

project

Serving CommunitiesCHAMPAIGN CO. – Barnhart Prairie Restoration & Kenneth

Kesler Education Center

Serving CommunitiesCASS CO. – Arbor Day education program and seedling

give away

Serving CommunitiesPEORIA CO. – Stream bank protection and flood control

project

Serving CommunitiesKane DuPage SWCD SESC inspections

Serving ProducersWHITESIDE CO. – Staff assist landowners with enrolling

and protecting CRP land

Serving ProducersHANCOCK CO. – This toe wall structure, funded by C-2000 funds, stops runoff water from cutting back into field and

ruining the waterway

Serving ProducersKANKAKEE CO. – Representatives from the Chicago Climate

Exchange gain firsthand knowledge of agricultural practices eligible for carbon credits

Serving ProducersMADISON CO. – Stream bank stabil ization practices keep

Cahokia Creek from eroding away this farmer’s f ield

Serving ProducersLASALLE CO. – Buffer strips provide wildlife habitat and

help keep streams and ditches sediment free

Serving Producers. . . with no-til l and other cultural practices

Serving CitizensMERCER CO. – This Stone Toe practice will divert water

away from the eroding stream bank and . . . .

Serving Citizens. . . protect this newly constructed bridge

Serving CitizensGRUNDY CO. – Tours help these “lady landowners” learn how to use best management practices to protect the land

they own

Serving CitizensMACON CO. – The district’s watershed protection program

will help protect the dredged areas in Lake Decatur

IEPA Construction Site Inspection Program

• The Pilot program is unique to IL– 18 and counting SWCDs participate– 32 SWCD staff are CPESC or CPESC-IT– Kane/DuPage signed in October 2005

• CPESC– Certified Professional in Erosion and

Sediment Control

Soil and Water Conservation Districts do much for the economy of Illinois. In 2006,

nearly $179,000,000 in federal funding was allocated to Illinois to share farmer’s costs and provide incentives for implementing

Farm Bill programs.

Much of that money would not be available without soil and water conservation district

assistance.

Any Questions?