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Soil & Water district and Illinois River Partnership brief committee on projects, funding requests
Summary
The Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District requested $20,000 for fiscal year 2026; the Illinois River Watershed Partnership reviewed restoration, septic and youth education programs and asked for ongoing county support.
Representatives from the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Illinois River Watershed Partnership updated the Finance and Budget Committee on conservation and watershed projects and funding needs.
Sarah Overton, presenting for the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District, summarized last fiscal year's work, including writing nutrient management plans (130 completed), assistance to poultry producers after state registration changes, earthen dam maintenance and beaver‑related work. Overton asked the county to continue a longstanding $20,000 annual contribution under the existing memorandum of understanding; committee members noted the MOU and that the amount has been stable for several years.
Leif Kinberg, executive director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, described riparian restoration and septic replacement programs the partnership has run in Washington and Benton counties. Kinberg said the partnership completed projects that enhanced or protected more than 21 miles of stream and that the septic‑replacement program has delivered nearly $751,000 of investment in Washington County projects. He outlined recent grants the partnership obtained — including dual‑state funding and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awards — and asked the county to consider increasing its contribution to match Benton County's support.
Committee members asked about stormwater, impervious surface, unpaved road programs and the partnership's priorities; both presenters described state and federal grant programs that can be paired with local funds (including the state 319 dirt road programs) and offered to schedule field tours for committee members and other officials to view completed projects.
The Soil & Water district signaled it will submit a formal invoice under its MOU for the requested $20,000 and the partnership said it will follow up with additional information on potential county investments and program priorities.
