Pat Quinn, Governor

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News Releases - 2002

Governor Ryan Announces $116,115 To Continue Nutrient Management Plan Efforts In Lake George Watershed

Springfield, Ill. -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced approval of another $116,115 in federal funds for the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts to continue efforts to improve water quality in the Lake Georgetown watershed through management of nutrient runoff resulting from fertilizer application.

The Lake Georgetown watershed is primarily located in Vermilion County with portions also extending into Champaign and Edgar counties.

A similar grant of $511,053 was awarded in 2000 for this watershed and the watersheds of Big and Long creeks in Macon County; Paris Twin Lake in Edgar County; Lake Bloomington in McLean County; and a sub-watershed of the North Fork Vermilion River in Vermilion County.

"Illinois farmers are firmly committed to providing food for the nation's tables as well as protecting the environment they share with the rest of us," Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano said. "Efforts like this help them to strike the fine balance required for successful farming practices that factor in environmental protection needs."

The Lake Georgetown watershed was selected for continuation because a monitoring effort is being conducted in this watershed to evaluate the effects of nutrient management plans on water quality.

Nutrient management plans use economic evaluations to determine amounts and timing of fertilizer application on crop fields. Important factors in the development of these plans are recent soil test results and realistic yield goals. The Lake Georgetown project uses incentive payments to operators to implement nutrient management plans, and provides payment to third party vendors who write plans for the operators.

An additional educational component has been added, calling for a survey of operators to identify potential barriers that might deter adoption of nutrient management plans. Survey results will also be used to formulate future nutrient management plan projects.

Funding comes from the U.S. EPA Section 319 financial assistance grant program, which is administered by the Illinois EPA.

All work on the Lake Georgetown watershed project is expected to be completed by December 2003.