Lake Springfield Watershed Nutrient Management Project

February 11, 2015

Funding Partners

• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

• City of Springfield’s City Water,

Light and Power

Project Partners

Project Goals• Achieve a sustained reduction in

nitrate loading from agricultural non-point sources

• Help understand the trends in nitrate levels within the Lake Springfield Watershed

Project Overview• Minimize environmental impact, Optimize harvest yield

and maximize nutrient utilization • Utilize the 4Rs - Right source, Right rate, Right time and

Right place

• N-Rate Trials

• N-WATCH – Inventory and Track Plant-Available N

• Water testing for nitrate levels

• Establishment of cover crops as a nutrient and soil management tool

Year One Outcomes• 27 producers are participating

• 12 farmers, 12 N-WATCH sites and 504 acres cover crops

• 6 farmers - Nitrogen Rate and Timing Studies.

• 9 farmers – Additional N-WATCH sites

• Twice weekly monitoring of 23 stream sites for nitrate nitrogen.

Grab Sample SitesCover Crop

Sites

N Rate Studies

Future Goals• Increase the number of participants

• Establish N-WATCH Sentinel Sites within watershed with aggregated results posted online at www.illinoiscbmp.org

• Increase the number of cover crop acres by 500

 

Future Goals• Increase the number of N-Rate Trials

• Demonstration farm field days at Lincoln Land Community College

• Continue to collaborate on 319 EPA Grant

 

Why Get Involved?

2% Urban

16% Point Source

82% Agricultural

2% Urban

18% Point Source

80% Agricultural

4% Urban

48% Point Source

48% Agricultural

Why Get Involved?

Illinois Council on Best Management Practices

Coalition of agricultural organizations and agribusinesses:

• Illinois Farm Bureau• Illinois Corn Growers Association • Illinois Soybean Association • Illinois Pork Producers Association • Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association • Syngenta • GROWMARK • Monsanto

Illinois Council on Best Management Practices

Our Mission

To assist and encourage adoption of BMPs to protect and enhance natural resources and the sustainability of agriculture in Illinois

CBMP’s GoalsInformationAwareness

ParticipationDemonstrationCollaboration

Why get involved?• Find out what is happening on your farm

• Farmer incentives are available for many aspects of this project

• Ask questions and be part of the discussion

• Lots of tools in the tool box

• Progress has to start being made across Illinois!

Jennifer TireyIllinois Council on Best Management

Practicesjtirey@illinoiscbmp.org

(217) 971-3842