News Releases - 2002

Ryan Announces $208,710 To Fund Water Quality Protection In The North Fork Embarras River Watershed In Southeastern Illinois

Springfield, Ill. -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced approval of a $208,710 grant from federal funds to the North Fork Conservancy District to reduce nonpoint source pollution and protect water quality in the North Fork Embarras River watershed.

Nonpoint source pollution is contamination resulting from runoff , often storm-related, that picks up oil, lawn and farm chemicals and silt as it flows across paved surfaces, lawns and fields, and disturbed or unprotected soil. Funding for nonpoint source pollution control comes from the U.S. EPA section 319 financial assistance grant program, which is administered by the Illinois EPA.

"Projects that keep contaminants out of Illinois waters pay off repeatedly. It protects streams and tributaries from localized pollution and reduces the total amounts of pollution downstream," Governor Ryan said.

"These kinds of partnerships among federal, state and local participants are beneficial to everyone-and the public enjoys the result in the form of improved water quality in our rivers and streams," said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano.

The agreement between Illinois EPA and North Fork Conservancy District is a cooperative effort between the watershed landowners, North Fork Conservancy District, and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, and Jasper counties. Landowners can voluntarily request assistance from their local SWCD to install agricultural Best Management Practices to reduce sediment and nutrients. Assistance will be prioritized based on a cost and benefit analysis.

Design work on these practices is expected to be completed by November 2003 with all construction work to be completed by the grant's termination date of March 31, 2004.