Collaboration makes the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy stronger.
A vast network of Illinois partners and stakeholders collaborated to form the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy as part of a national response to nutrient pollution and Gulf Hypoxia. The strategy is steered in partnership between the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois EPA, Illinois Department of Agriculture, IDOA, and University of Illinois Extension, and developed and implemented by a multi-stakeholder Policy Working Group and several subgroups.
The steering committee, comprised of staff members from Illinois EPA, IDOA, and University of Illinois Extension, has several responsibilities. The committee coordinates and facilitates Policy Working Group, subgroup meetings, and an annual conference; collects and manages metrics data and partner contributions following the strategy’s logic model; coordinates the Science Team’s agricultural conservation practice evaluation process; provides leadership for the source sectors; and develops the biennial report. All steering agencies contribute programming and funding to support the strategy.
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Illinois Prairie Research Institute, and University of Illinois research teams provide updated water quality measurements and a science research assessment for each biennial report strategy update.
The Policy Working Group, which developed the strategy in 2015, has representatives from federal and state agencies, agricultural organizations, wastewater treatment agencies, non-governmental organizations, and industries. This collaborative approach between stakeholders is one of the strengths of the Illinois strategy. As shown by Illinois NLRS Biennial Reports, which track progress, this robust partnership has collectively demonstrated increasing financial and staff resources focused on nutrient loss solutions since tracking began in 2017. The reports track local, state, federal, and private resources and programming focused on nutrient loss research, education, outreach, networking, technical services, and land and facility practice implementation.
In addition, other multi-stakeholder working groups were created to address the implementation of the strategy and to monitor progress toward strategy goals. These groups have regular meetings and hold an annual end-of-the-year NLRS conference that highlights research, accomplishments, and facilitates strategy adaptation discussions.
Ongoing Science Assessment Updates
Illinois' Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy biennial reports continue to feature updated science assessments, which are collaboratively conducted and authored by experts from the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute, and various research teams at the University of Illinois.
For more information, visit the Science Assessments sections in the NLRS Biennial Reports Updates at go.illinois.edu/NLRS.
Policy Working Group
The Policy Working Group guides development and implementation of the strategy. Objectives include exploring funding opportunities, identifying needed legislative initiatives, networking with the appropriate people and groups, identifying adaptive management adjustments, and updating the strategy.
Partners
American Bottoms Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, American Farmland Trust, Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Bloomington Normal Water Reclamation District, City of Springfield - City Water, Light, and Power, Downers Grove Sanitary District, DuPage County Stormwater Management, Environmental Law and Policy Center, GROWMARK, Illinois Association of Drainage Districts, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Mississippi River Collaborative, Nutrient Research Education Council, Prairie Rivers Network, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Illinois Extension, University of Illinois, Urbana and Champaign Sanitary District, Village of Deerfield Public Works & Engineering
Performance Benchmark Committee
The Performance Benchmark Committee is comprised of a subset of Policy Working Group members that coordinate with other sector working groups to identify on-the-ground steps needed to meet the 2025 interim milestones and long-term 45% nutrient loss reduction goals of the Illinois NLRS. This committee also provides input on adaptive management strategies and implementation reporting metrics from all sectors.
Partners
American Farmland Trust; Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Illinois Association of Drainage Districts; Illinois Environmental Protection Agency; Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group; Illinois Farm Bureau; Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association; Illinois Pork Producers Association; Illinois Soybean Association; Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; Prairie Rivers Network; Sierra Club; The Nature Conservancy; University of Illinois Extension
Agriculture Water Quality Partnership Forum
This forum steers and coordinates outreach and educational efforts to help farmers and the agricultural industry address nutrient losses. They recommend the most appropriate agricultural conservation practices and programs. They identify needed educational initiatives or training requirements for farmers and industry professionals.
The Technical Subgroup helps determine the best way to share and aggregate agricultural conservation practice implementation data across agencies and determine the parameters to be tracked and how the data will be aggregated.
Partners
American Farmland Trust, Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, GROWMARK, Illini FS, Illinois Association of Drainage Districts, Illinois Certified Crop Advisor Program, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Nutrient Research and Education Council, Prairie Rivers Network, Soil Health Institute, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture - National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Illinois / Illinois Corn Growers Association, University of Illinois Extension
Ag Water Quality Partnership Forum meeting archives
Agriculture Water Quality Partnership Forum Technical Subgroup
The AWQPF Technical subgroup is comprised of a subset of AWQP Forum members who help determine the best way to share and aggregate agricultural conservation practice implementation data across agencies. They also determine the parameters to be tracked and how the data will be aggregated.
Ag Water Quality Partnership Forum Technical Subgroup meeting archives
Communications Subgroup
The Communications Subgroup provides input on efforts to educate elected officials, government/professional staff/contractors, business community members, and residents throughout Illinois with a clear, coherent message on the Illinois NLRS and opportunities to participate.
Partners
Illinois Association of Drainage Districts, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Prairie Rivers Network, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, University of Illinois Extension
Nutrient Monitoring Council
This council's goal is to coordinate the development and implementation of monitoring activities that provide information necessary to:
- Generate estimates of 5-year running average loads of nitrate-nitrogen and total phosphorus leaving Illinois compared to baseline conditions (1980-1996)
- Generate estimates of nitrate-nitrogen and total phosphorus loads leaving selected Illinois NLRS priority watersheds compared to 1997-2011 baseline conditions
- Identify nutrient load trends both statewide and in Illinois NLRS priority watersheds over time.
Partners
University of Illinois (Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences and Agriculture and Biological Engineering), Illinois EPA, Illinois Corn Growers Association, U.S. Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois National Center for Supercomputing Applications, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sierra Club, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Fox River Study Group, Metropolitan Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Illinois Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois Extension, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.
Urban Stormwater Working Group
The Urban Stormwater Working Group explores funding opportunities, legislative initiatives, and strategies for tracking urban stormwater. Group members coordinate outreach and education efforts and orchestrate efforts related to green infrastructure expansion and retrofitting, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System program training urban stream, lake, and stormwater monitoring.
Partners
Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, City of Champaign, City of Peoria, City of Urbana, DuPage County, DuPage County Stormwater Management, Fehr Graham Engineering, Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District, Lake County, Madison County, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Parkland College, Prairie Research Institute, Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Rivers Network, Sierra Club, The Conservation Foundation, University of Illinois Extension, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Facilities & Services Division of Safety and Compliance
Urban Stormwater Working Group meeting archives
Urban Stormwater Working Group Education Subgroup
The Urban Stormwater Working Group Education Subgroup is a subset of USWG members who focus efforts on educating stormwater managers on the goals and recommendations of the Illinois NLRS and coordinates education and outreach activities related to nutrient reductions in urban stormwater.
Education Subgroup meeting archives
Urban Stormwater Working Group Tracking Subgroup
The Urban Stormwater Working Group Tracking Subgroup is a subset of USWG members who focus on establishing and tracking the appropriate metrics related to urban stormwater activities that are to be reported in the NLRS Biennial Report.
Illinois Nutrient Science Advisory Committee
The science assessment, originally published as part of the 2015 Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, included an evaluation of Illinois’ major river systems and provided implementation scenarios with recommended practices to achieve water quality goals.
The assessment provides the scientific basis for the nutrient reduction strategy for Illinois by:
- Determining the current conditions of nutrient sources in Illinois and the export from both point and non-point sources by rivers in the state
- Describing practices that could be used to reduce these losses to surface waters and providing estimates for the effectiveness of these practices throughout Illinois.
- Estimating the costs of the statewide application of these methods to reduce nutrient losses and meet Gulf of Mexico hypoxia goals.
The Nutrient Science Advisory Committee held meetings from 2015 to 2018. This committee consisted of science experts nominated by stakeholder sectors represented in the Policy Working Group. The Committee's charge was to help guide Illinois EPA on the development of numeric nutrient criteria. The group worked to develop potential numeric criteria most appropriate for Illinois streams and rivers based on the best available science. Their recommendations were sent in a report to Illinois EPA in December 2018. This group was dissolved after completing its mission.
For more information, visit the meeting archive from the original science assessment.
Illinois Nutrient Science Advisory Committee Meeting Archives