Governor Awards $14.5 Million in Grants to Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced $14.5 million in grants to conservation programs that preserve Illinois farmland.

The grants are awarded to the state's 98 county Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the projects they administer. This fiscal year's appropriation represents a 13 percent increase over the $12.8 million spent on the programs by the state in FY 2000.

"The responsible use of natural resources has enabled Illinois farmers to become world leaders in the production of food and agricultural products," Ryan said. "This funding increase not only demonstrates the state's commitment to protect the environment, but also ensures the state's rich, fertile soils will remain productive for future generations of farmers."

$5.8 million of the funding will pay the operating expenses to keep open SWCD offices and employ local staff to help farmers reduce soil erosion, protect water supplies, control flooding, preserve wetlands, and improve wildlife habitat. SWCD staff also work with urban planners to promote orderly community growth that does not unnecessarily destroy farmland.

In addition, SWCD offices will share $8.7 million in Conservation 2000 funds, the majority of which will provide grants to farmers for the implementation of conservation practices. The grant funds will be distributed through a variety of programs, including:

• $5.2 million through the Conservation Practices Program, which reimburses 60 percent of the cost to install terraces, grass waterways, filter strips, and other soil conservation measures.

• $800,000 through the Streambank of Stabilization and Restoration Program, which promotes the use of low-cost techniques like vegetation to halt the erosion of stream banks.

• $750,000 through the Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program, which funds research into new methods of crop production that improve profitability and enhance the environment.

The Conservation 2000 appropriation also funds competitive grants to encourage SWCD offices to develop new or expand existing conservation programs and to help offices convert soil surveys and other natural resources data to Global Information System (G.I.S.) computer software.

"Former University of Illinois President Andrew Sloan Draper summed up the importance of conservation programs well when he said, 'The wealth of Illinois is in her soils and her strength lies in its intelligent development,'" Illinois Agriculture Director Joe Hampton said. "These grants will make sure our farmers continue to implement the most modern management practices and Illinois agriculture continues to develop intelligently."

Operating funding for SWCD offices is up 8.5 percent, or $450,000, compared to FY 2000; Conservation 2000 funding has increased 17 percent, or $1.25 million, over the same period.

The following table lists each SWCD and the funding it will receive in FY 2001: