Water Quality

Events

Watershed Steward Program | DeKalb County

May 26, 2026

County

DeKalb

Blog Posts

Tractor plowing a field with a dust cloud behind

Dust storms, starter fertilizer, and conservation tillage

March 27, 2026

In episode 80 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast, University of Illinois Assistant Professor and Extension agronomist...

Nitrogen rates above MRTN, timing decisions, and farm-level insights

March 20, 2026

In part one...

How MRTN works and the economics behind nitrogen rates

February 27, 2026

In episode 79, University of Illinois soil fertility specialist John Jones,...

35 years of USDA wetland restoration

December 17, 2025

Wetlands do a lot of work. In Episode 78 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast, University of Illinois agricultural economist...

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News Releases

March 2, 2026

Study shows 20-year decline in nitrate pollution across portions of the Mississippi River Basin
A new accounting of nitrogen pollution in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB) reveals a significant decline in recent decades, suggesting positive momentum for water quality goals in local watersheds and the Gulf. Surprisingly, the University of Illinois...

Native plant illustrations on a yellow background with the text "Rain Garden Rumble"

February 25, 2026

Root for your favorite native plant to help crown 2026 Rain Garden Rumble champion
URBANA, Ill. — Let the garden games begin with the return of the annual Rain Garden Rumble, where nature and gardening enthusiasts get to pick the champion in this native-plant-playoff. This botanical bout —...

January 16, 2026

Illinois researchers untangle drivers of nitrogen loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin
URBANA, Ill. — Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign can now differentiate between human-derived and hydrological contributions of riverine nitrogen pollution in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The advancement, published in...

January 12, 2026

Extension partners with STAR to support farm conservation goals
LEWISTOWN, Ill. — Healthy soils, cleaner water, and stronger farms, one field at a time – University of Illinois Extension and STAR, Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources, are working together to make it happen.STAR was born out of a...

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Videos

Cover Crop Conversations: Farmer-to-Farmer Insights Across Illinois - Part 2

Illinois farmers discuss how cover crops fit into their systems, what they have learned along the way, and how these practices support soil health, nutrient management, erosion control, and farm profitability under very different soils and climate conditions.

Actions to Reduce Water Pollution

What’s in your water? Learn about common water pollutants, how your daily actions, indoor and outdoor, impact water quality, and how water is treated before returning to rivers and lakes. Simple tips to prevent pollution start with you.

This webinar was recorded on May 8, 2025. Find more...