Decatur has been awarded $6.72 million in federal funding to help protect Lake Decatur and improve water quality.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture selected a regional partnership led by the City of Decatur to receive the funding through its 2026 Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
The grant will help farmers use conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till farming and grassy waterways to reduce soil erosion and keep pollutants out of local waterways.
The project will focus on Big Creek, Long Creek, Sand Creek and Finley Creek.
The new funding builds on a $9.88 million grant awarded in 2022. That project helped prevent 22,000 pounds of nitrogen, 3,160 pounds of phosphorus and 2,940 tons of sediment from entering Lake Decatur.
The latest round of funding was competitive, with just 42 projects selected from 179 applications nationwide. Decatur’s partnership was the only project selected in Illinois.
City officials say the strong partnership between the City of Decatur and the Sanitary District of Decatur was a factor in the selection, particularly efforts to reduce phosphorus levels affecting the Sangamon River.
For more information about the program and local watershed protection efforts, visit DecaturIL.gov.
Photo courtesy: DecaturIL.gov
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