News

Illinois EPA offering conservation assistance

The nutrient loss reduction strategy coordinator with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says more support is available for farmers and landowners looking to utilize edge-of-field conservation practices.

Trevor Sample says new Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) Priority Watershed Implementation Grants are aimed at reducing nitrate pollution.

“We’re going to be spending $788,000 of this gulf hypoxia funding for practices such as constructed wetlands, wood chip bioreactors, and saturated buffers.”  He says, “The grant will provide 80% of costs with the grant recipient paying the remaining 20%.”

He tells Brownfield the grants are targeted at nine watersheds throughout the state.

“These are watersheds that are part of our priority watersheds under the nutrient loss reduction strategy, and they also contain public drinking water supplies.”  He says, “And so, we’re wanting to reduce the amount of nitrate going in these public water supplies to protect drinking water quality.”

Sample says applications are open in July and funding is expected to begin rolling out in August.  He says new practices could be in place from the funding as early as next summer. 

A link to learn more about the opportunity can be found HERE.

AUDIO: Trevor Sample – Illinois EPA