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

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Grants: IEPA 319 Grant:Accelerating BMP Adoption in Lake Decatur The SWCD has been awarded an IEPA Section 319 grant to accelerate BMP adoption in the Lake Decatur Watershed. Over the next two years, the grant will bring $425,315 of federal funds into the watershed to install soil saving practices at 13 sites throughout the watershed in both Macon and Piatt counties. As of December 31,three practices have been installed through this funding: 378 acres of cover crops, and two grassed waterways. USDA's Regional Conservation Partners Program: On October 2, a full proposal was submitted to the USDA for$500,000 of NRCS funding for "BMP Implementation for Nutrient and Sediment Loss Reduction in Macon County,Illinois," for conservation in the Sangamon River Watershed every year for the next five years. At the same time, local partners will test the efficiencies of newer edge-of-field practices to reduce nitrate loss from field tiles, a major source of excess nutrients in Illinois. Illinois EPA (IEPA) Construction Site Inspection Program: Currently, there are 15 open IEPA construction sites within the Lake Decatur Watershed in Macon County. The SWCD provides educational assistance to the site owners,making sure erosion and sediment controls are up and functional at each site. MS4 Agreement: The City of Decatur,the Villages of Forsyth and Mt. Zion, and Macon County joined together and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)with the SWCD to implement stormwater management on behalf of the MS4s. This allows for a consistently applied set of standards regarding Best Management Practices (BMPs) and construction site inspections for the Land Disturbance Permit program. The District is paid a varying rate by the developers for each construction site managed: from $50 for a lot smaller than one acre that is part of a larger development up to $250 for a disturbance between one and five acres. This quarter 7 construction sites were visited,with 6 of the sites lying in the Lake's watershed. On November 6th,the Macon County MS4 Work Group hosted over 60 participants at "Economics of Erosion Control," a workshop that looked at finding the `sweet spot' between performance and cost of erosion and sediment controls on a construction site.Next year the group will work to provide a hands-on workshop for proper installation of BMPs. Technical Assistance: The Watershed Staff is available to answer erosion and flooding complaints in the City of Decatur and the watershed. In the past quarter, staff has responded to 5 calls for technical assistance, involving waterway repair, construction site BMPs, wetland feasibility, and schoolyard enhancements. Public Education Programs: Education is provided to the general public, including adults and children, on soil and water conservation issues, careers in conservation, stormwater management, and erosion and sediment