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Illinois
Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy
In response to the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force and the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the University of Illinois collaborated to develop the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) in 2015.
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Implementing the NLRS with a multi-faceted approach.
From fall leaves to field strips to cover crops, there are many ways to make a positive impact towards achieving the goals of the NLRS. Contact our office to learn about opportunities to get involved.
Light Pollution
The magic of seeing a shooting star or the sprawling Milky Way is only possible when skies are dark. We can all do our part to reduce light pollution and share the beauty and wonder of the skies with all.
Reducing artificial light and improving stargazing.
​ Here are 5 ways to reduce light pollution and improve stargazing:
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1. Warm colored LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs)
2. Dimmers, motion sensors, and timers
3. Outdoor lighting fixtures that shield the light source to minimize glare and light trespass help prevent light pollution.
4. Unnecessary indoor lighting — particularly in empty office buildings at night — should be turned off. This will help prevent leakage of interior light into the night sky.
5. The use of blue lights at night should be avoided
source: https://darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/light-pollution-solutions/
Spotlight on Insects: Bees, Pollinators, and Fireflies
One of the great pleasures of a languid summer evening is the glow of fireflies, yet they receive little conservation attention though 1 in 3 may be at risk of extinction. And three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce.
Cultivating healthy polllinator communities.
Join us in the fall to establish plantings of native wildflowers and grasses to provide habitat for pollinators. No project too big or small. From fields to front yards, there are countless spaces to create habitat.
Food Forest Corridors
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Edible Rain Gardens
Anyone in Clinton County can receive technical assistance and plant, tree and seed resources to install a food forest of native, local foods. An example project includes: pecan, elderberry, paw pay, hazelnut, blackberries or raspberries, asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, horseradish or burdock, wine cap mushrooms and coral honeysuckle or wild grapes. Projects can be designed to function as rain gardens if water is a concern. Note that plant selection will be limited.
Local, native foods in every backyard and frontyard.
Agroforesty adopted for 8x8 or 20x20 sites that include 7 vertical layers or native foods, pollinator and wildlife habitat, stormwater runoff benefits and manage excess phosphorus by composting leaves. Participation in this project provides trees and plants while connecting participants to a community of conservationists who build knowledge, share plants and seeds, and gather in community to build food sovereignty and achieve food justice by making local food more accessible. And we have excellent community meals that feature the best in local, native foods with storytelling and fun galore. Join us.
