R2024-111 Resolution Authorizing an Agreement with Ecosystem Services Exchange, for Services with the Regional Conservation Partnership Program

Home Browse Search

SUPPORTING NOTES for TABLE A 1. Assumes annual inflation rate of 3 percent. Actual DIA 164 full cost is/will be based on the USDA NRCS amounts for Illinois published annually between November and January for a given federal fiscal year. ESE will discount the published NRCS DIA 164 full cost estimate by 20 percent,per the above table. 2. NRCS DIA 164 is estimated by USDA NRCS to cost the same to develop regardless of practice type;that is,the same design work and level of effort is required for manual drainage water management,automated drainage water management,a denitrifying bioreactor,or a saturated buffer. The only difference is if a tile map for the benefitting field exists to be used in the design process or if one does not exist. It is more expensive to design a practice if a tile map does not exist(is not available). 3. The distribution between DIA 164s with and without tile maps available for practice design is unknown until work begins with producers. For the above cost projection,ESE has estimated that 40 of the DIA 164s will have a tile map available and 30 of the DIA 164s will not have a tile map available. 4. The total dollar amounts available to ESE to earn for completed DIA 164s by year will not be exceeded without prior approval by the City of Decatur. 5. This overall estimate assumes that the City of Decatur's"Agreement for Professional Services"with ESE will be executed no later than March 31,2024. If delayed beyond this date,some of the estimated 2024 work may be pushed in 2025,but it is anticipated 28 DIA 164s will be completed by the end of 2025 even if the start date for ESE's technical services is delayed based on when the agreement is executed--helping to keep the project on schedule. 6. The number of DIA 164s to be completed is an estimate and is controlled by producer signup because this RCPP project is a voluntary conservation program. ESE will work closely with the City of Decatur and other project partners to promote this opportunity for producers. 7. The distribution of the conservation drainage practices between manual drainage water management,automated drainage water management,denitrifying bioreactors,and saturated buffers will be determined by participating producers,their needs,and the site conditions regarding what is feasible. However,this will not make a difference regarding the cost of DIA 164s developed as the same design work and level of effort is required regardless of which of these practices is selected by a producer. ESE's Experience & References EXPERIENCE: ESE is a limited liability corporation(LLC)that operates based on a mission statement of, "Valuing Conservation for its Returns to the Land, Natural Resources, Producers,and Communities." It works directly with ag producers to improve their profitability and environmental performance through the adoption of conservation practices and systems that enable effective use and management of water resources. It employs highly qualified and experienced technical specialists to determine the feasibility of and carry out the planning,design,and installation oversight of conservation practices and systems that enable producers to optimize their water use. Optimized use of available water ensures crops receive the right amount,timing,and distribution of surface and subsurface water for crop productivity while also protecting and improving the environment. ESE is currently an active partner in public/private partnerships in Delaware, Florida, Illinois,Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota,Mississippi, Maryland,Ohio,and Wisconsin to advance conservation drainage in agricultural settings.Throughout these partnerships, ESE has provided quality and timely technical services to implement public and private funded efforts for increased conservation drainage adoption while also providing effective project management and timely reports for funders. ESE's work is performed by a licensed professional engineer and multiple certified Technical Service Providers, registered with NRCS, who use a site-specific planning approach to respond to the unique needs of each ag operation. These technical specialists assist with a wide array of water management conservation practices designed/installed to NRCS practice standards. ESE's technical team has specialists who are certified NRCS Technical Service Providers in Illinois for the DIA 164 conservation activity and covering the following conservation drainage practices: drainage water management(CPS 554),structure for water control(CPS 587), saturated buffer(CPS 604),denitrifying bioreactor(CPS 605),subsurface drain(CPS 606),surface drain—field ditch(CPS 607),and surface drain—main/lateral(CPS 608). Page 6 of 11