Menard County Soil and Water Conservation District

Conservation Programs

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a variety of financial incentives to producers and landowners interested in conservation programs.                                   Some programs offer annual payments for a conservation use, others offer one-time lump sum payments for long-term easements for a conservation use, and most include government funds to share in the costs of installing conservation measures.  The Menard County SWCD works closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of USDA to help plan and use conservation practices on private lands.  Below is a listing of different programs currently available through our office and the eligibility requirements for each.                           Current Sign-Up Notices and Changes will be posted on the What's New page of this website.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)                                                                                                                This program is available for landowners with highly erodible cropland that has been planted for 4 of the 6 years preceding enactment of the 2002 law.  Marginal pastureland is also eligible.

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)                                                                                                                   Most private wetlands converted to agricultural use prior to 1985 are eligible.  Wetland must be restorable and suitable for wildlife benefits.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)                                                                                                         All private land is eligible, unless it is currently enrolled in CRP, WRP, or a similar program.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)                                                                                                     All private land in agricultural production is eligible; includes cropland, grassland, pastureland and non-industrial private forestland.

Conservation Security Program (CSP)                                                                                                                  All private agricultural land and forested land that is an incidental part of an agricultural operation is eligible.

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)                                                                                                Private landowners who have land in the 100 year floodplain, highly erodible land with an erodiblity index of 12 or greater adjacent to a riparian area, or land that qualifies as wetlands, wetlands farmed under natural conditions, or prior converted wetlands are eligible.

Illinois Landowner Incentive Program (LIP)                                                                                                                 Privately owned land located in the Lower Sangamon River Watershed.  This program is aimed at aiding species in greatest need of conservation.

Conservation Practices Program (CPP)                                                                                                                    Landowners must have sheet and rill erosion or ephemeral/gully erosion on the cropland upon which the eligible conservation practice will be installed. Applicants must be SWCD Cooperators and have a conservation plan documenting needed conservation practices. 

Illinois Water Well Abandonment Program                                                                                                              Any individual who owns or manages an abandoned water well within Illinois is  eligible for this program.

Streambank Stabilization and Restoration Program                                                                                                        All landowners and project sites (rural and urban) in each Illinois county are eligible for cost-share assistance, provided that the project site meets the assessment and selection criteria established for successful streambank stabilization using willow posts.

Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program                                                                                                                       Any unit of government, organization, educational institution, non-profit group or individual is eligible to receive funding through the Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program provided they can demonstrate: (1) an understanding of sustainable agriculture practices and systems, and (2) the ability and skills to carry out the project in a timely and professional manner. Cooperative projects with two or more organizations are encouraged. Successful projects should include a method to disseminate information to the agriculture community and the public, and to provide information on the social, economic and environmental benefits of the project.

Ecosystem Program - Lower Sangamon Valley Partnership (LSVP)                                                                                                   The Ecosystems Program is made up of Ecosystem Partnerships, which are coalitions of local stakeholders -- private landowners, businesses, scientists, environmental organizations, recreational enthusiasts, and policy makers. They are united by a common interest in the natural resources of their areas' watershed.  The Lower Sangamon Valley Partnership (LSVP) assists landowners in Cass, Christian, Logan, McLean, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, Shelby and Tazewell counties.

For more information on these programs, please call the Menard County SWCD office at 217/632-7590 Ext. 3

or visit these sites:

http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/wildliferesources/theplan/                     http://www.whmi.nrcs.usda.gov

http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/Conservation_programs/LIP/              http://www.usda.gov/farmbill