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.
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