Lake Springfield Watershed Resource Planning Committee Meeting - March 8th 2023.
Regenerative Agriculture for Soil Health Benefits - Speaker Monte Bottnes. Monte Bottens operates a multigenerational, 2,800-acre farm in Cambridge, Illinois. Bottens Family Farm has been practicing no-till for 22 years. They produce corn and soybeans with cover crop rotations. In 2016, they added grazing livestock to their operation to improve soil health. In early 2018, Monte started Grateful Graze to market direct to consumers. While consumer sales was important to offset the costs of grazing for Monte, he incorporated livestock first and foremost for the soil health benefits. He also see increased potential for Regenerative Agriculture with larger, aggregated systems.
Todd LaFountain - CWLP's Water Division Manager. "Lake Springfield's Historical and Ongoing Water Quality Issues and Successes".
Dr. Laura Gentry - Director of Water Quality Research for IL Corn. "Business Case for Conservation: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Conservation Practices".
How Urban BMPs Can Improve Water Quality and Enhance Our Environment
The Sangamon County Soil and Water Conservation District along with our partners held an Urban BMP meeting on Wednesday August 31, 2022 at the Bridgeview Park Building. The presenters for this meeting were Joe Barletti on "Urban BMPs, Small Steps for Landowners, Giant Leaps for Watershed Health", Tom Rothfus on "Mussels, Plastic and Plankton: An Update on Some UIS Projects", Quentin Jordan on "Mayor's Monarch Pledge and Monarch Conservation", and Vern LaGesse on "What is a Wetland: History of Wetlands in Illinois, Their Demise and Restoration Efforts at Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary Near Loami, Illinois".
Atrazine Issues in Lake Springfield Watershed
Todd LaFountain, CWLP Water Division Manager, gives a presentation on the atrazine issues in the Lake Springfield Watershed
Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition
Keegan Kult, Executive Director of the Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition.
Lunch and Learn Webinars
Farm Leasing with Conservation Considerations and Landowner's Responsibilities'
Mark Cochran and Andrew White, Attorneys with Bellatti, Barton, Cochran & White LLC. Mark and Andrew will provide their expertise in agriculture law on farm leasing with conservation considerations, landowners' responsibilities for their farms, environmental compliance, government farm programs, electric and gas utility easements and conservation easements.
Water Quality Best Management Practices - How These BMPs Can Improve Your Farm
Dr. Laura Gentry - Director of Water Quality Research for IL Corn Growers Association. Dr. Gentry will discuss the importance of implementing water quality Best Management Practices on your farm and how the Precision Conservation Management (PCM) Program can provide information on conservation practices and financial data to help farmers understand how specific management changes can impact both their environmental impact and their bottom line.
Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) and Section 404 Permitting Update. How WOTUS Rules Might Impact Your Farm.
Jim Kelley (US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District) & Kamren Metzger (USACE, St. Louis District). Jim and Kamren will coordinate this presentation to provide information on the current Waters Of The US rules and the latest information on proposed changes to these rules that are now under consideration and how the proposed WOTUS rules might impact your farm and its operations.
Carbon Market Considerations: Opportunities & Challenges
Jean Brokish – American Farmland Trust’s Midwest Program Manager. Jean will provide an overview of current and future opportunities in carbon markets at multiple scales including: 1) defining key terms, players and motivations; 2) summarizing current approaches to program design; and 3) highlighting considerations for producers, ag professionals, and university and agency staff as they continue to navigate this rapidly evolving space.
Best Management Practices for Water Quality and Soil Health
Jean Brokish - American Farmland Trust's Midwest Program Manager. Jean will provide an introduction to water quality in Illinois with connections between water quality and soil health, including an overview of conservation practices that improve soil health and water quality and support more profitable and resilient farms.
"Tracking the Yearly Variability of Nitrate Levels in Lake Springfield"
Dan Schaefer - Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association - Director of Nutrient Stewardship
Legacy Phosphorus: An Opportunity and Need for Linking Soil-Water Research
Dr. Andrew Margenot - University of Illinois - Assistant Professor of Crop Sciences
"Economics of Conservation Practices on Corn and Soybeans"
Dr. Gary Schnitkey - University of Illinois - Professor and Farm Management Specialist
Lake Springfield Watershed Resource Planning Committee Meeting
PRESENTER - DAVID BRANDT
2021 Nutrient Stewardship Field Day
Link to full video and more information on the Nutrient Stewardship Field Day: www.ilfb.org/Sangamon
National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Information Webinar
Lake Springfield Urban BMP (Best Management Practices) Workshop
Vern LaGesse - Executive Director of The Friends of the Sangamon Valley
"Lake Springfield Woodland Management Project and the History of Lake Springfield."
"Lake Springfield Woodland Management Project and the History of Lake Springfield."
Dr. Thomas Rothfus - UIS Field Station Director
"Opportunities available at UIS Field Station."
"Opportunities available at UIS Field Station."
Quentin Jordan - CWLP Lake Manager
"Mayor's Monarch Pledge - How you can participate."
"Mayor's Monarch Pledge - How you can participate."
Pamela O'Neill - UIS Assistant Ground Gardener
"Matrix Gardening. How to create a beautiful self-sustaining garden."
"Matrix Gardening. How to create a beautiful self-sustaining garden."
Lake Springfield Watershed Informational Meeting
Dr. Jerry Hatfield - USDA National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment
"How can we manage soil to overcome the variation in weather and achieve production and environmental quality goals?"
"How can we manage soil to overcome the variation in weather and achieve production and environmental quality goals?"
Barb Mendenhall - EPA 319 Grant Project Manager
"Implementing our Watershed Plan now and into the future."
"Implementing our Watershed Plan now and into the future."
