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Vermilion Headwaters Watershed

The Vermilion Headwaters Watershed Partnership is a collaboration of stakeholders, including farmers, community leaders, government agencies, research institutions, and non-profit organizations, working to reduce nitrogen loss from farmland in the VHW. By adopting conservation cropping systems, which include practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, nutrient management, and tile water treatment, farmers can help protect water quality and improve their bottom line.

The Vermilion Headwaters Watershed is a 305,573-acre rural watershed encompassing parts of Illinois's Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, and McLean Counties. This watershed has been identified as one of Illinois's top five non-point source nitrogen-loading watersheds. It is a major contributor to nitrogen-loading in the Mississippi River. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy has also identified the watershed as a high priority.

VHW partners include American Farmland Trust, NRCS, The Wetlands Initiative, Livingston and Ford Counties Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Precision Conservation Management, and Compeer Financial. These partners are working to develop a 9-element watershed plan to achieve water quality goals within the Vermilion Headwaters. The watershed management plan includes an overview of the current conditions of the watershed, including physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the stream network, as well as current land use and potential sources of impairment.

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NEW: VHW Watershed-Based Plan

American Farmland Trust, The Wetlands Initiative, and Northwater Consulting recently finished work on a watershed plan for the Vermilion Headwaters Watershed. The plan was made possible by a grant from the Illinois EPA, and includes information on nutrient loading in the watershed, proposed locations for best management practices, and a comprehensive education and outreach plan.

View the Full Plan

Map

How Can Farmers Get Involved and What Are the Benefits?

Many farmers in the watershed are already successfully implementing conservation practices to reduce non-point source nitrogen loading and improve their profitability. Farmers in the watershed are encouraged to get involved by adopting conservation practices that improve soil health and economic returns. Through engaging with the VHW partnership, farmers can gain technical and financial assistance to try reduced tillage, efficient nutrient management, and cover crop adoption.

For a brief overview of Farm Bill cost-share programs, Click Here

Through individual action, farmers in the watershed can collectively improve water quality while maintaining or improving farm profitability. The adoption of a well-managed conservation cropping system leads to improvements in a farmer’s bottom line by contributing to:

The adoption of a well-managed conservation cropping system leads to improvements in a farmer’s bottom line by contributing to:

Better Drainage

and more moisture when you need it.

Reduced Costs For

fuel and fertilizer.

Improved Soil Health

and less erosion.

How can you help?

Our work would not be possible without you.

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