Illinois Farm Bureau continued to build and strengthen relationships with drinking water suppliers and wastewater treatment utilities across Illinois throughout 2021 and 2022, as a part of ongoing efforts to build connections between point source and nonpoint source sectors to address key concerns about nutrient loss reduction.
In 2021 and 2022, IFB actively supported several drinking water supply projects across the state. This work included providing financial and in-kind support for several Regional Conservation Partnership Program and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 grant projects. As a part of their ongoing support of Springfield City Water, Light, and Power’s work in the Lake Springfield watershed, IFB and Sangamon hosted a cover crop field day in 2021, as well as shared relevant updates with local stakeholders. In addition to supporting City of Decatur watershed planning efforts, including RCPP and 319 applications, IFB and CFBs across the Lake Decatur watershed hosted field days in 2021 and 2022, focused on several watershed and NLRS-related topics. For many years, IFB has also partnered with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago on shared interests in bridging gaps between point sources and nonpoint sources in addressing nutrient loss reduction.
In 2021 and 2022, this work included collaboration on several education and outreach opportunities, including field days at the Fulton County research site, and farmer tours of MWRD facilities to see how point source groups like MWRD address nutrient reduction goals.
In 2021, IFB began a series of concerted efforts to develop partnerships with the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies. This work has included several presentations and opportunities to explore areas for future collaboration. In addition to work with IAWA, IFB was also able to build additional relationships with wastewater treatment plants at a national level throughout 2022. Through numerous virtual and in-person meetings, IFB helped develop a framework to partner with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. This work has included identifying common views of agriculture and wastewater contributions to meeting nutrient reduction goals, as well as presenting on IFB’s work at NACWA’s annual meeting.
For more information, see www.ilfb.org/ruralurban.
