Funding Shortfall Imperils Conservation Work in Will County and South Suburbs

FRANKFORT -- Conservation efforts that protect farmland, drinking water, and public health in Will County and the south suburbs are at risk as Illinois enters a second year of severe underfunding for its Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). The FY26 state budget provides only $4.5 million for 97 districts statewide — nearly a 50% reduction from funding levels two years ago — leaving local districts struggling to maintain essential services.

“This translates to roughly $40,000 per district — barely enough to employ one full-time staff member with benefits, let alone the two each district needs,” said Eliot Clay, Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD). “The state is forcing critical conservation offices to cut staff, even as farmers face climate volatility, rising input costs, and mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices.”

In Will County and surrounding south suburban areas, SWCDs are on the front lines of efforts to reduce nutrient runoff, manage stormwater, and protect local waterways and drinking water sources. The stakes are high: just last month, communities near Kankakee were warned not to give infants tap water due to dangerously high nitrate levels, a problem likely tied to agricultural runoff. Clay pointed to that alert as a reminder of what’s at risk. “That’s a direct result of agricultural runoff,” he said. Similar threats could impact watersheds serving the south suburbs if conservation staffing and programs are diminished.

Speaking during a June 13 WTAX Radio interview, Clay also raised concerns about the potential consolidation of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, which co-house many SWCDs. If those federal changes go forward, districts could face the loss of office space on top of funding challenges. “There’s a real chance that we could be facing things as practical as, do we have office space?” Clay said.

AISWCD had championed Senate Bill 2387 this spring to create a dedicated, tax-neutral funding stream for SWCDs, but despite bipartisan support, it was left out of the final budget package. Clay urged residents of Will County and the south suburbs to contact legislators. “Tell them that you care about public health, that you care about the long-term sustainability of agriculture in this state.”

To hear the full interview, visit: Budget Cuts Threaten Future of Conservation Districts. For more information, visit www.aiswcd.org.