R2015-04 AGREEMENT WITH MACON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

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Watershed Projects funded by outside sources: The SWCD staff works hard to bring in outside funding for conservation practices in the watershed. Following is a list of additional funding received in FYI for conservation in the Lake Decatur Watershed: Projects installed in FY14 Funding Source Amount Contributed Streambank mentioned above US Fish &Wildlife Service $11,000.00 Wetland mentioned above USFWS, Howard G Buffett Foundation $24,000.00 20 Acres Strip Till American Farmland Trust $360.00 20 Acres Cover Crops American Farmland Trust $617.05 378 Acres Cover Crops IL Environmental Protection Agency $7,476.75 .5 Acre Waterway IL Environmental Protection Agency $2,405.76 .5 Acre Waterway (Partial) IL Environmental Protection Agency $312.45 Total $46,172.01 Watershed Activities: Conservation Cropping Systems Demo Plots: This fall,the SWCD began a 5 year program to showcase two demo plots in Macon County, partnering with local operators to demonstrate the agronomic and economic benefits of a conservation cropping system. A conservation cropping system incorporates the use of reduced tillage, nutrient management, and cover crops on a single crop field. Over the next five years, field days will be held on the farms ---one located in the Lake's watershed---to encourage other operators to adopt a conservation cropping system as well. By promoting in-field conservation, rather than relegating conservation just to field borders and areas of concentrated flow, we will see a drastic improvement in water quality, and a reduction in sediment loss, in the watershed. Technical Assistance: The Watershed Staff is available to answer erosion and flooding complaints in the City of Decatur as well as subdivisions in the watershed. Many issues can be adequately addressed by the landowner with guidance from the staff; some larger projects resulted in application to the city or other cost-share programs. In the past fiscal year, staff has responded to 30 calls for technical assistance, ranging from drainage issues in backyards to streambank erosion problems to pond site suitability. County plat reviews: The Watershed Staff reviews proposed subdivision plats to determine the likelihood of significant impacts to the environment,primarily regarding alteration of drainage patterns. They conducted research, site visits and plat reviews for ten proposed subdivisions during the past fiscal year. Heart of the Sangamon River Partnership: The Heart of the Sangamon River Partnership was founded with the assistance of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 1997 and consists of many agencies, groups and businesses in Macon and Piatt counties. At the City's request,the Partnership reconvened meetings on January 27, 2011 to update members on current conservation activities, events,problems and concerns and apply for current funding opportunities.