A team of high school students from the University of Chicago Lab Schools took top honors at the 2022 Illinois Envirothon State Competition, the 26th annual competition. The winning team will now represent Illinois at the national Envirothon competition hosted by the National Conservation Foundation (NCF) at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from July 24... Continue reading→

Join us! It is our pleasure to invite you to the 2022 Annual Meeting & Summer Training Conference scheduled for Sunday, July 17th – Tuesday, July 19th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield! This years theme is “Building Resilience: What’s Old is Now New”. The Association of Illinois Soil and Water... Continue reading→

DWIGHT, Ill. — The 1970s was a pivotal decade for agriculture, not only for the economic struggles that would follow, but also for concerted efforts to step-up soil conservation efforts.   Commodity prices spiked in 1973 after the Soviet Union signed a substantial three-year trade agreement to purchase U.S. grain. Grain exports doubled from 1972... Continue reading→

SYCAMORE, Ill. — Dean Johnson knows what it feels like, as a farmer, to see a season’s hard work washed away by flooding. “I farmed right along the Kishwaukee River. I always tell people it’s because of that river that I have this job today, because flooding was an issue when I was farming. It... Continue reading→

Mark your calendar and register today for SWCD Legislative Day, held virtually on Tuesday, March 8th, 2022. We need your voices more than ever to tell our legislators what we do and why we are essential to the health of soil and water in Illinois! From the home office to the tractor cab – we hope this... Continue reading→

Simply put, Illinois cannot meet its water quality targets without new investment in conservation practices. The state must act now to get back on track with the goals of the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) and protect public health, the state’s agricultural sector and the environment.  SB 3471 is the first step that is... Continue reading→

In view of the recent surge in the number COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant, AISWCD has fielded a number of questions inquiring about the continued ability to host public meetings remotely. The answer is yes – SWCDs can still meet remotely at this time, but must meet a few requirements in doing so.... Continue reading→

Each year, AISWCD recognizes a lawmaker who has shown an understanding as well as a commitment to the principles of soil and water conservation. AISWCD was pleased to present this year’s award to Senator Ram Villivalam. For the past two consecutive years, he served as the lead sponsor of two incredibly important bills that addressed the... Continue reading→

AISWCD is excited to release it’s 2021 Annual Report which celebrates the many successes of 2021! Despite the continued challenges presented from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) continued to deliver natural resource and conservation management for working lands across Illinois. Click HERE to view and download the report! Continue reading→

Join us! The Annual Meeting of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts will occur Sunday, December 5th – Monday, December 6th, 2021 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield. Registration will be accepted until November 20th. Please complete the registration form and return via email to info@aiswcd.org, or simply... Continue reading→