2004 Illinois State Report

Natural Resources Conservation Activities

NRCS State Office
2118 West Park Court
Champaign, IL 61821
(217) 353-6600
Web Page: www.il.nrcs.usda.gov

Greetings Conservation Friends and Partners!

The year 2004 was full of changes and challenges for NRCS. The Illinois NRCS staff has again risen to those challenges and delivered the products and services needed. In addition, our staff has incorporated and adapted to many new technological tools that have changed the way NRCS delivers and documents conservation. Field Offices across the state are using new computerized tools that help NRCS’ technical specialists identify resource issues on digital aerial photography, design comprehensive resource management systems for clients, create engineering solutions that address water management issues, and instantly access technical standards and specifications of NRCS conservation practices through electronic state and national databases. All the tools we use help us accomplish the simple goal of working with private landowners to develop resource management plans. For more than 70 years NRCS has worked with clients to help develop quality plans that result in natural resource protection. As the Farm Bill programs come and go and change over the years, we continue to develop plans that use available programs and funds that allow landowners to put them on the land. For 70 years we have done this and we will do it for another 70 years because it is indeed what we do best.

—William J. Gradle, State Conservationist

EQIP

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) continues to be an effective conservation tool for addressing resource-related issues on Illinois farms. EQIP is a voluntary, incentive-based program designed to protect soil and water resources on farmland.

In 2004, NRCS funded 663 EQIP contracts on 103,611 acres, providing more than $13.5 million to landowners to implement conservation plans.

EQIP projects address soil erosion control, water quality improvements, livestock management practices, waste management, and nutrient management plans on thousands of acres in Illinois. Interest and use of EQIP continues to grow. Changes in program options changed in 2004, allowing more flexibility for participants. Producers now receive financial assistance for conservation-related use of certain portable equipment on their operation.

As in the past, EQIP funds were distributed across the state--60% to livestock related projects and 40% to other conservation issues. Projects and applications are ranked on critical resource needs and benefits achieved by conservation practices. “EQIP is one of NRCS’ premier programs for getting quality conservation on the ground. EQIP helps producers solve resource issues and allows us to assist private landowners who want conservation on their operation,” says Gradle.

WHIP

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that assists landowners in enhancing areas that provide needed food and cover for many different species of wildlife. In 2004 NRCS applied wildlife habitat improvements with $440,181 in WHIP funds for cost-share on nearly 2,115 acres. WHIP helps landowners develop habitat plans with tree planting, buffer or native grassland establishment, and wetland or shallow water areas. WHIP continues to be popular among producers and wildlife enthusiasts in Illinois. Partners are pleased with the results WHIP has produced. In 2004, nine gully plugs were completed that prevented eroding gullies from draining over 315 acres of high quality wetlands along the Cache River in Southern Illinois.

FRPP

USDA’s Farm and Ranchland Protection Program is administered by NRCS and is designed to keep working farmland in agricultural production by assisting state and local government and private organizations in acquiring conservation easements on farmland that is at risk of being lost to urban sprawl and development. In 2004, Illinois NRCS received more than $1.7 million in FRPP funds and obligated those funds to the County of Kane to protect 790 acres of farmland on five Kane County farms. Funds for FY 04 were increased nearly $500,000 from previous years. More counties in Illinois need to find other partners or local units of government who can help them take advantage of these federal funds. Visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs for more facts FRPP program goals and requirements.

WRP

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a long-standing and successful program to help landowners create or improve valuable wetland habitat by purchasing long-term or permanent conservation easements. In 2004, NRCS distributed $19.1 million to Illinois landowners who offered 10, 588 acres into the program. Due to budget cuts, WRP funds were reduced $7.5 million from FY ‘03.

In 2004, the Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) received $10.7 million for a 30-year easement on nearly 6,400 acres of floodplains that lie adjacent to the Illinois River. NRCS will work with TNC to develop a wetland restoration plan for the extensive site and will manage and monitor the area for the next 30 years. TNC hopes to use the land as a public recreation site, creating a wetland oasis that allows nature enthusiasts and wildlife to exist in harmony. WRP continues to be a tremendous program for creating and enhancing wetlands and reducing flooding problems along rivers, creeks, and tributaries.

Soil Survey

A great deal of quality soils information was improved during 2004. This is of value to farmers, land managers, developers, contractors, city and county officials, and hundreds of other organizations across the state. NRCS is working hard to improve the soils information that is available to users and to make information easier to access online and on CDs. Soil survey data was updated on more than 2.3 million acres in 33 Illinois counties during FY 2004.

To access this information for your county, visit NRCS’ website at http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/soils/index.html. These updates were accomplished through the Illinois Cooperative Soil Survey Update initiative. Spacial data was SSURGO certified for seven counties. NRCS Soil Survey staff, the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association, and Illinois State University hosted the 2004 ASA National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest in April 2004.

Meet Claude!

In 2004, NRCS created an interactive Kiosk now housed at “The Farm at the Zoo” in Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Designed for children, the kiosk is actually educational and beneficial to viewers and visitors of ALL ages. The kiosk includes a touch screen computer game with an animated character, Claude (who is in fact a clod of soil). Claude explains the importance of soil in every aspect of our daily lives and teaches visitors about erosion. For those visiting Chicago in 2005, be sure to see Claude!

Bookmark NRCS on your computer--it’s the best place for good advice, good data, and good news! http://www.il.nrcs.usda.gov

‘04 Successes

NRCS specialists have been busy and have developed, designed, and installed a great deal of science-based conservation that is now working to protect and preserve Illinois’ valuable natural resources.

RC&D

NRCS administers and staffs the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program, designed to address resource and economic development needs of Illinois’ communities. Illinois NRCS has 9 Federally authorized RC&Ds that cover most of the state. Three other unauthorized RC&D Councils await Federal funding—Illini Valley, Lower Sangamon River, and Heartland RC&D. No new RC&D areas were authorized in FY 2004, but these Councils continue working in the interim and addressing the needs of the communities they serve.

With drastic budget cuts, RC&Ds in Illinois faces funding challenges. NRCS leadership is examining expanding roles and other functions that RC&D staff and Councils can explore in order to secure possible other sources of operating funds.

CSP

The long-awaited Conservation Security Program (CSP) most definitely came to life during 2004. Illinois was home to one of eighteen watersheds selected nationally to serve as a CSP Pilot Watershed. The Kishwaukee Watershed, located in northern Illinois and containing 1,000 acres in Wisconsin, served as our first CSP experience.

In the end, 191 producers were determined eligible for CSP and were accepted into the program. Nearly $4.2 million was distributed, one of the highest CSP allocations in the country.

NRCS State Conservationist Bill Gradle is eager to see the second year of the program in his home state. “The Conservation Security Program really changes the game. CSP gives us a chance to recognize those individuals and families who have a long history of making conservation a priority and who continue to do the right thing. It is a privilege for our folks to visit with and recognize some of the best conservationists in the State,” says Gradle.

CSP impacts two new watersheds in 2005, but will be coming to other watersheds in the next six years. “It’s never too early to start preparing for CSP,” warns Gradle. NRCS has made it easy to get the Self Assessment Workbook online in order to see what practices, activities and documents are required for the NRCS application process. Visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp to learn more.

GRP

Interest in grazing solutions and technology continues to increase in Illinois. The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) was used in 2004 to protect 414 acres of Illinois grasses and rangeland. NRCS provided technical assistance and $790,000 for easement funds to Illinois’ landowners in FY 2004. NRCS provided cost-share funds and technical assistance through the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) to improve pastureland, grazing and forage products for optimum health and production of livestock. More than 500 individuals received training and dozens of demonstration projects and workshops were held across the state.

TSP

The number of registered Technical Service Providers (TSPs) continued to rise during fiscal year 2004. Illinois still leads the nation in the number of registered TSPs (more than 300) and NRCS staff throughout the state are working to use the time and talents of these individuals and organizations who can help address the natural resource issues and conservation workload needs we face. During 2004, most TSPs assisted NRCS by performing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) for producers, as well as Status Reviews, Wildlife Plans, and Tree Planting Plans. NRCS welcomes the use of TSPs and looks forward to working with them in the future.
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March 2005

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