The Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District will once again be hosting a Soil Erosion and Sediment Control and MS4 workshop on Thursday, February 26th, from 7:30AM to 3:00PM. The event will be held at the NIU - Rockford campus, located at 8500 East State Street, Rockford, IL 61108. For those who only want to attend the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Session, the topics include: •Permitting requirements with the Army Corp of Engineers •Product spotlight – Gabion baskets and stabilization of steep slopes (addressing overland flow) •Inspector panel – Inspections, Communications & Follow-up •High flow inlet protection and dewatering devices •Addressing water quality concerns through nature-based solutions •What went wrong – common misuses of practices or products In the afternoon, for those who work with MS4 communities and the ILR40 permit, we will discuss: •New MS4 Permit Requirements •Implementation of Municipal Pollution Prevention Best Management Practices Registration will start at 7:30AM, with the morning session running from 8:00AM-12:00PM with a mid-morning break. There will be lunch available (optional) for those attending the afternoon session, which will run from 1:00 to 3:00PM. The full agenda will be provided at the workshop. Four (4.0) Professional Development Hours will be awarded for the morning session, and two (2.0) for the afternoon session. REGISTER  deadline February 18

Lake County Stormwater Management Commission has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for wetland mitigation projects within the Des Plaines River Watershed in Lake County, IL, using funds collected in the SMC Wetland Restoration Fund (WRF). The mitigation acreage goal is 6.57 acres, at a minimum, and approximately $716,395 of WRF funds are available. Eligibility is open to any landowner (public or private) whose ownership property lies within the Des Plaines River watershed in Lake County, IL. The proposal submission deadline is Wednesday, January 21 at 11 a.m. (CST). The complete RFP is available on their website.

Free DECI 101 Training Webinar on Tuesday, January 13 at 10am. This one-hour virtual training is specifically designed for new and prospective Designated Erosion Control Inspectors. The Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) will explain what the DECI program is and how it functions, how one becomes a DECI, what the responsibilities of a DECI are, and how to maintain one’s status. For those new to erosion and sediment control field work, SMC will also discuss the most commonly used measures in the field, how to inspect them properly, and how to properly fill out an inspection report. The webinar will conclude with a question and answer session. Register for this free Zoom webinar. If you have questions regarding this training, please email Mea Blauer.

January 21-23 join Illinois LICA's Annual Convention & Members' Meeting in Bloomington, IL

Bringing together land improvement contractors and industry partners for education sessions, networking opportunities, and fresh insights into the latest innovations.

EPA’s SWIFT initiative works directly with drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities, technical assistance providers, and other water sector stakeholders across the Nation to increase system resilience to natural hazards and disasters. Water sector utilities can request free technical assistance HERE