Partners for Conservation

Partners for Conservation is a state funded cost-share program administered through the Soil and Water Conservation District. Partners for Conservation provides cost-share assistance for the construction of projects that promote soil conservation and protect water quality, reduce soil erosion and improve water quality, and reduce potential groundwater pollution.

Eligible conservation practices in the Partners for Conservation program include:

For most practices, cost-share is 60%, while other practices are on a rate per acre basis. Construction may begin once applications have been approved by the Henry County SWCD, surveying of the site has been done, and designs have been completed. When construction is finished and a check-out of the project has been conducted, bills need to be turned into the Henry County SWCD for payment on the project. Cost-share payment is made on the estimated cost or actual cost, whichever amount is lower. The Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District has state cost-share money available for construction or implementation of conservation practices.

Contact the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District for Partners for Conservation details! For information about the state cost-share program, download or print a copy of the Partners for Conservation pamphlet.

 

 

Henry County SWCD accomplishments in 2009

Partners for Conservation projects cost-shared so far in 2009:
1 well decommissioned
9.5 acres of hayland planted
10 grade stabilization structures built
10.8 acres of waterways constructed
575 feet of terrace constructed
5 (1070 feet) water and sediment control basins built

  • Provided $56,902.90 in cost-share money for conservation practices to date
  • Saved 205 tons of soil with the installation of conservation practices
  • Held a breakfast for local contractors to inform them of state and federal conservation programs and guidelines
  • Held tree, fish, bulb and native plant sales twice a year
  • Held annual rain barrel sales to promote water conservation
  • Sell nature field guides to promote education of the ecosystem
  • Sell soil testing kits to promote water quality and soil health
  • Attend watershed group meetings to address concerns within the watershed
  • Attend Agricultural Literacy Coalition meetings to address needs of agriculture education in Henry County
  • Write monthly articles in the Henry County Farm Bureau paper on conservation related topics
  • Conduct interviews on conservation issues and topics at the local radio station on a regular basis
  • Provided schools with information to compete at the Envirothon - teaching students about aquatics, forestry, soil and wildlife. 11 teams of students from Henry County participated in 2009.
  • Provided 675 trees to Henry County third grade students. An information sheet accompanied each tree explaining Earth Day, Arbor Day, the importance of trees, the state tree of Illinois, Illinois forest facts, and how to plant a tree.
  • Donated Eastern White Pine seedlings to local FFA Chapters and 4-H Club to plant for an Arbor Day project
  • Sponsored Women in Agriculture Seminars with the Henry County Farm Bureau
  • Provided Soil and Water Stewardship materials at no cost to 12 churches in Henry County
  • Taught a recycling session at Stark County SWCD Conservation Camp
  • Assisted with a environmental scavenger hunt at Bureau County SWCD Conservation Day
  • Provided 350 Soil and Water Stewardship activity books 1st and 2nd grade students
  • Provided “All American Soils” posters to Henry County agriculture classrooms
  • Provided “Dig It!” bookmarks to students and libraries
  • Sponsored a poster contest for kindergarten through twelfth grade students in Henry County - 100 students participated
  • Write and distribute a bi-monthly conservation education newsletter, Conservation Trail, that reaches 4100 students and teachers in Henry County. Educates on the subjects of plants, mammals, insects, birds, fish, soil, water, and other agriculture, conservation and environmental topics.
  • Operated Conservation Kids booth at the Henry County Fair that provides conservation games and activities related to the Soil and Water Stewardship theme. Provide a variety of plant and wildlife information to the public.
  • Taught a session on soil color and painted using various soils at Stark County Conservation Camp
  • Provided "Soils in Your Everyday Life" posters to Henry County elementary school teachers
  • Facilitated a Forestry Management Workshop with Mercer and Rock Island counties. Urban and rural residents attended sessions with a range of topics concerning timbers.
  • Assisted with technical support of the Section 3 FFA Soil Judging Contest