While the snow was falling January 11, 2011, some 30 people gathered in Rossville, IL for an agricultural conservation workshop. The workshop was sponsored by Lake Vermilion Water Quality Coalition, a group devoted to reducing water pollution in Lake Vermilion, Danville’s drinking water supply. Prairie Rivers Network sits on the Board of the Coalition and helped organize the event.
Lake Vermilion is impaired by too many nutrients, which results in nuisance algae blooms during the summer. The lake also contains the herbicide atrazine, a possible carcinogen that must be removed by water supplier Aqua Illinois. Atrazine and much of the nutrient pollution comes from agricultural fields that drain into the North Fork of the Vermilion River, which feeds Lake Vermilion.
The workshop discussed conservation practices that farmers can adopt to reduce nutrient and atrazine pollution. There are a number of federal and state programs that provide financial and technical assistance to farmers willing to adopt these practices. Farmers interested in conservation can visit their county NRCS office to find out more information. Thanks to all our speakers and participants for making this a successful event!
