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 The 2015 Illinois NLRS established a goal to reduce the amount
of nitrogen and phosphorus in Illinois waterways by 45%, with
interim reduction goals of 15% nitrate-nitrogen and 25% total
phosphorus by 2025. Implementation of the statewide Strategy is
guided by the Illinois EPA, Illinois Department of Agriculture,
and University of Illinois Extension with the Policy Working
Group and other stakeholder groups and councils. Like other
states, Illinois faced unprecedented challenges, including
extreme flooding in 2019, followed by the global pandemic in
2020. Despite these events, partner organizations, working both
collaboratively and independently, remained committed to the
Strategy with the assistance of virtual meetings and continued
engagement.
“The report highlights the progress we are making in programs
like our cover crop incentive program, Fall Covers for Spring
Savings,” said Jerry Costello II, Department of Agriculture
Director. “This program is creating awareness and encouraging
Illinois’ farmers to look at methods that will reduce nutrient
loss.”
“The 2021 Biennial Report highlights accomplishments and new
efforts from each sector, which were noteworthy given the
increase in precipitation events experienced in Illinois and
other states within the Mississippi River basin,” said Illinois
EPA Director John Kim. “Work continues by all partners to
incorporate additional recommended practices to achieve needed
nutrient reductions. We remain committed to the goals
established in the 2015 Strategy and look forward to continuing
our efforts alongside all stakeholders as we address these
challenges.”
It has been evident that additional resources, outreach, and
land and facility improvements are necessary to meet the
Strategy’s main object of improved water quality in Illinois.
Illinois has seen progress in application of agricultural
conservation practices, wastewater treatment plant improvements,
and government support at the local/watershed level. That said,
shifting climate conditions require the need for continued
reductions from all sectors.
During 2019-2020, the agriculture sector reported spending
nearly $27 million implementing the Strategy outside of
traditional government cost-share programs. In addition, the
Nutrient Research and Education Council invested $6.9 million
for nutrient research and education programs. During that same
period, over 72,000 people attended more than 1,020 outreach
events including field days, conferences, or workshops to learn
about practices that can be implemented to reduce nutrient loss
from farm fields.
Through its Partners for Conservation cost-share program, the
Illinois Department of Agriculture assisted farmers by
redirecting funds to implement an additional 93,750 acres of
cover crops after a historic flooding in 2019.
The Department’s Fall Covers for Spring Savings program also
supported 50,000 additional acres of cover crops in 2019. This
year’s report shows Illinois farmers are reporting increased
knowledge of the Strategy, which resulted in an increase in
cover crops, with 1.4 million acres planted, representing a 135%
increase from 2011. Illinois also saw a significant decrease in
phosphorus fertilizer application rates in 2019 with 11.2
million acres of croplands reported as having less applied
compared to 2011.
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Spending by the point source sector increased
significantly from $65.1 million in 2019 to $185.2 million in 2020.
Point source sector reductions are largely regulated through
Illinois EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
permit program, with 36% of major municipal wastewater treatment
facilities having permit limits for total phosphorus. Facilities are
taking additional steps, and since 2018 have developed 71 nutrient
reduction optimization studies and 59 nutrient reduction feasibility
studies. Outreach and education have also continued in the point
source sector with 13 events held, reaching more than 2,600
stakeholders.
Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program continues to
provide low-interest loans for wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
In 2019 and 2020, Illinois EPA invested over $200.2 million to
projects to improve nutrient removal, green infrastructure, urban
stormwater treatment, and control of combined and sanitary sewer
overflows.
Thanks to online platforms, the urban stormwater sector continued to
reach a broad audience of more than 14,000 stakeholders, sharing
tips for homeowners to reduce nutrient loses from their property.
Additional practices from this sector showed more than 77% of
Illinois’ Municipal Separate Storm Sewer system communities have
implemented street sweeping and approximately 64% have implemented
leaf collecting. With leaves representing a significant source of
urban phosphorus loads, implementation of both practices results in
decreased loading. In 2020, Illinois EPA launched the Green
Infrastructure Grant Opportunity program, providing funding to
projects that reduce stormwater reaching Illinois waterways.
Illinois EPA saw great interest in the first year of the program and
provided $5 million in funding, with an additional $4 million being
provided by local match, which will support 11 projects.
It is well documented that increased precipitation results in higher
nutrient loads. Higher nutrient loads are expected to occur in
wetter years compared to drier years. Illinois EPA continues to
partner with the United States Geological Survey to monitor and
analyze water quality data and will continue to discuss options to
analyze the data to account for variations in flow. Ultimately, the
2015 Strategy was built to incorporate flexibility into
implementation, thus allowing the addition of two new practices –
saturated buffers and terraces – to the list of recommended
agriculture conservation practices. Additional recommendations may
be added in future Biennial Reports.
The Full 2021 Biennial Report is available at:
https://www2.illinois.
gov/epa/topics/water-quality/watershed-management/excessnutrients/Pages/
nutrient-loss-reduction-strategy.aspx. The next Biennial
Report will be published in 2023. The agencies and organizations
leading this effort will continue to collaborate and invest in
programs that meet the goals of the Illinois NLRS.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |
