Registration is now open for the 2026 Designated Erosion Control Inspector (DECI) Webinar hosted by SMC. Join us on Tuesday, February 10, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. via Zoom to learn about creating successful green infrastructure, sustainable practices, local case studies, and more.

This webinar is best suited for current DECIs. Once you've registered, you will receive a unique meeting link from Zoom. You will receive 4.5 professional development hours for attending.

2026 DECI Workshop Tuesday, February 10 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. 2026 DECI Workshop Agenda

If you have questions regarding the webinar, please email Mea Blauer or call 847-377-7701. REGISTER

Last fall, in August of 2025, the Illinois DOT ‘Bureau of Design and Environment’ announced that all Erosion Control Blankets used on IDOT projects must have a “natural fiber net” (or Leno-weave), thereby eliminating the use of plastic-netted erosion control blanket.  To carry out this change, revisions were made to Section’s 41 and 59 of their BDE Manual which included:

1. the removal the Heavy Duty ECB pay item and,
2. revised the remaining Pay Item to be defined as “bionet or EC Blanket-products containing a “leno weave net with moveable joints.”

This will ensure that their projects are both wildlife friendly and more friendly to humanity. This announcement came on the heels of a research Study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, completed in 2023, which evaluated bio-net performance and showed equivalency. Also, the Illinois Tollway has an ongoing study to look at the environmental effects of microplastics in the environment from the breakdown of plastic-netted blankets. For this research, Northern Illinois University will be using cutting edge technology to detect microplastics in stormwater. Similar actions have been taken by other State Transportation Departments recently, but mostly by internal guidance as there is no Federal Directive or ban on plastic netted products (only advisory guidance from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at this time). IDOT BDE Procedure Memo - Manual Revision Chapters 41 and 59 related to BDE Special Provision Erosion Control Blanket (ECB) Aug 2025 ICOT Evaluation of Net-Free Erosion Control Blankets Nov 2023 ECB with plastic net        Leno weave natural bio-net

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.