Partnerships With The Macon County SWCD And Its Foundation

Private landowners of Macon County are our most important partners. We work with the USDA, our State Association, Ill. Dept. of Agriculture and other State Agencies, Farm Bureau, Extension, and the Farm Progress Show. Some of our local urban/rural partners include:

• CITY OF DECATUR
  • Our partnership with the City of Decatur to protect Lake Decatur and the Sangamon River Watershed goes back to 1943.
  • The City contract with our District pays for a Watershed Specialist and Technician and for educational programs. For every $1 paid to the District to reduce sediment and nitrate loads from Lake Decatur, the City saves up to $4.00 on average.
  • Our seven-county Upper Sangamon River Watershed Committee is co-chaired by a full-time farmer and a current City of Decatur Councilperson. This partnership was recognized in 1995 by Lt. Governor Bob Kustra as one of the top 15 watershed projects protecting the Illinois River Basin and has received national attention.
  
  
  
• MACON COUNTY GOVERNMENT- we assist the county in land use planning and provide technical input to encourage smart growth, follow urban storm water management and erosion control and conserve the natural resources of the area. We appreciate their support.



• MACON COUNTY LADY LANDOWNERS organized in 1984 to educate its members about agriculture and related fields and to socialize with women who share a common interest in agriculture. The organization meets January, March, May, September and November with lunch and speaker and also has a summer bus tour to an interesting agricultural site. Membership is open to any woman interested in agriculture with annual dues of only $10.00. For more information call (217)877-5670 Ext 3 during normal business hours.
• AWI-AGRICULTURAL WATERSHED INSTITUTE is located here in our office (Please contact Steve John, tel: 217-877-5640). Its mission is to conduct research and programs to identify, demonstrate and evaluate practices and policies to improve water quality, maintain or restore ecosystem health; conserve and manage land and water resources in agricultural watersheds and enhance economic and social well-being in these watersheds.