R2018-20 Authorizing an Agreement with the Agricultural Watershed Institute Lake Decatur Watershed Conservation Services

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Decatur source water protection. AWI will participate in the Heart of The Sangamon River Ecosystem Partnership and Oakley Sediment Basin Maintenance Advisory Committee and special projects including river/lake clean-up days and the Sangamon River—Lincoln Heritage Water Trail. AWI staff will assist in implementing the 2010 Sustainable Decatur plan. AWI will continue to serve on the steering committee to explore formation of a statewide Environmental Utility. As requested, AWI will gather information and assist in public participation activities to identify ways to reduce cost, mitigate impacts, and increase benefits and public acceptance of alternatives for dredging, sediment reuse, and water supply enhancements. AWI will identify and evaluate innovative resource management concepts and alternatives, and potential funding sources for research, development, and implementation. AWI collaborated with University of Illinois scientists on the following successful research proposals and will be an active partner with the university in these watershed projects in 2018: 1. Intensively Managed Landscape Critical Zone Observatory: National Science Foundation-funded research on physical, chemical, and biological processes in the Upper Sangamon to provide data and analysis for watershed management; 2. Multifunctional Perennial Cropping Systems for small farmers in the Upper Sangamon Watershed: USDA-funded project to promote adoption of agro-forestry systems to produce food and biomass and improve water quality; 3. Advancing Food-Energy-Water System Resilience by Integrated Technology-Environment-Economics Modeling of Nutrient Cycling: new NSF- funded project involving the City, Sanitary District, farmers, and industry to identify and evaluate innovative scenarios to reduce nutrient loss and recover/reuse nutrients. C. Perennial crops: Grasses, legumes, trees, and shrubs can be planted in targeted locations to provide both agricultural crops and conservation benefits. AWI currently has a pending application for an IEPA Section 319 grant for on-farm demonstration of harvested saturated hillslopes in the Lake Decatur Watershed. If that grant is approved, City funds may be used for the 40% match required for all 319 projects. D. Shared Learning Program: The proposed City funding will be used to support AWI's seminars, workshops and other educational events including an annual Sangamon Watershed Celebration. These events bring together researchers; government policy makers and program managers; agricultural producers, managers and landowners; environmental professionals and advocates; and other watershed stakeholders. Program objectives are (1) to explore ideas for economically and environmentally sound resource management and (2) to foster improved mutual understanding and cooperation among urban and rural watershed stakeholders. 2