1. Amy Walkenbach, Illinois EPA- Watershed Management Section
Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy- working with our agriculture partners
Amy Walkenbach, Illinois EPA- Watershed Management Section

2. Establishes 45% Reduction of Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Interim Milestone--2025
25% Reduction in Phosphorus Loads
15% Reduction in Nitrogen Loads
Addresses nutrient loads from Point Sources,
Urban Stormwater, and Agriculture nonpoint sources
Groups established to implement the Strategy
July, 2015

3. Ag Water Quality Partnership Forum
AWQPF GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AWQPF is charged with the following objectives:
Steer and coordinate outreach and education efforts to help farmers address nutrient loss and select the most appropriate best management practices or BMPs:
Identify needed education initiatives or training requirements for farmer and technical advisors
Strengthen connections between industry initiatives, certified crop advisor continuing education requirements, state initiatives, and other technical services.
BMP Tracking
Coordinate cost share and targeting
Develop other tools as needed

4. Financial Contributions
Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Illinois Corn Growers Association
Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Illinois EPA
Illinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association
Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association
Illinois Pork Producers
Illinois NRCS
Illinois Soybean Association
Nutrient Research and Education Council
Trees Forever, Inc.

5. Financial Contributions

6. Projects… NLRS Roadshow- 1,100 IFB, IFCA, CBMP, ICGA, ISA
Robocall Meetings, 13,000
IFB, CBMP, IEPA
Certified Crop Advisor Training
IFCA
News articles, ,000 subscribers
IFB-Farm Week
Facebook/Twitter
ICGA, IFB, U of I
Section 319 CWA grants
IEPA, various
Partners for Conservation cost-share
IDOA
Streambank Stabilization and Restoration Program
IDA
Nutrient Research & Education Council, research grants
NREC
Lake Springfield Watershed Project
IFCA, U of I
Nitrogen Rate Trials
N-Watch, 100 sites
NREC, IFCA, U of I
Franklin Research and Demonstration Farm
TNC

7. Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program
IFB, 73 local partners
Lake Vermilion Watershed Project
IFCA, Vermilion CFB, SWCD, Aqua Illinois
4R Metrics
IFCA
Advanced Soil Health Training for Illinois Professions
AFT, CCA, NRCS, SWCDs
Upper Macoupin Watershed RCPP
AFT, SWCD, NRCS, Blackburn College
Leadership for Midwestern Watersheds
AFT, mid-western partners
Building Connections with Absentee Farmland Owners
PRI, Macon SWCD, AFT
Precision Conservation Management Program
ICGA, 30 other partners
Sustainable Agriculture Partnership at Illinois Central College
ICC, ICGA, Zea Mays, AFT
Free Confidential Water Testing Program
ICGA, Zea Mays, 28 SWCDs & CFB
Illinois Cover Crop Programs
ICGA, Beck’s Hybrids
Field Laboratories
ICGA, U of I

8. Lessons Learned
Stay out of the way!

9. Biennial Report- Outreach Opportunities

10. NASS Survey (National Agriculture Statistics Service)

11. NASS Survey Results 2011 acres 2015 acres % change
Corn/soybean acres planted to cover crops on tiled ground
220,000
490,000
123%
Corn/soybean acres planted to cover crops on non-tiled ground
380,000
630,000
66%
Acres where pattern tiling was installed
310,000
110,000
65%

12. Priority Watersheds
-Total loads
-Local water quality concerns
-watershed planning

13. Waverly Lake Watershed Based Plan and TMDL
Watershed Based Plan with no Point Sources in the watershed (14,697 acres)
Row crops: 74% of the watershed
Forest: 12%
Urban/open space: 3%
Total phosphorus TMDL

15. Indian Creek Watershed Project
Six year public/private partnerships
Illinois EPA & NRCS grants for implementation and outreach
Private support for demonstration projects
Goal of 50% of farmland in conservation practices (total 51,243 acres)
Achieved during good times, sustained during bad times

16. Amy Walkenbach, Manager
Watershed Management Section
Illinois EPA
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