The SWCD and NRCS are appointment only. Contact the office at 309-452-3848 ext 3
Save the Dates
2021 McLean County Plat Books Available! Plat Books are $35 Cash/Check or $40 Credit. Add $5 per plat book for shipping
Orange Marking Flags Available Orange marking flags are available in bundles of 100 for $12.00 per bundle. Contact our office to purchase.
2022 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Classic Signup Applications for CSP can be submitted. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. However, applications submitted by January 7, 2022 will be considered for 2022 funding.
-Become an SWCD Newsletter Sponsor- For $150 you will be included on our SWCD website, monthly E-newsletter, and bi-annual 1600 person newsletter. To sponsor, include a $150 check to McLean County SWCD and your business card.
McLean County Conservation Review
The following accomplishments were executed in patnership with local partners and McLean County farmers and landowners. The SWCD provides many conservation services to the public. The experienced staff and strong dedication to conservation gives landowners professional options and solutions to protect our natural resources. To learn more about the McLean County SWCD, click the below button for our 2021 McLean County Conservation Review.
Inquire about your CRP Burn Plans and Permit Applications for Mid Contract Management. Contact Brodie Eddington, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist in our office.
Congratulations to Mike Steffa for being awarded the 2021 McLean County Conservationist of the Year! Mike has served our community for 33 years as supervisor, park police and now Park Director at Comlara Park. The Park offers roughly 1900 acres of recreation, including 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, 900 acres of surface area for boating and fishing, camping, hunting, photography, and swimming. In the last 8 years Mike has successfully planted more than 5,000 trees including Dunstan Chestnuts, Illinois Pecan, White Oak, Bur Oak, and Swamp White Oak throughout the park. Enhancing and converting the invasive areas to incorporate these important species to generate high quality habitat and community enjoyment. Mike, his wife Leanne and two children live in Lexington, IL. Mike can be found volunteering for the Friends of Everbloom and is the coach of the Lexington High School Bass Fishing Team. He was sportsmen of the year in 20021 and remains an active volunteer for the McLean County Sportsmen Club. Thank you, Mike Steffa for your service to our precious land and water resources.
2021 Plat Books On Sale
The McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District offers the 2021 McLean County Plat Book for purchase. Plat Books are $35 Cash or Check or $40 by Credit Card. Contact our Office at 309-452-3848 ext 3 to purchase.
Fish Structures Available
Porcupine Fish Attractors For Sale
$60 each or two for $100 Orders can be placed by contacting Brett Irwin 309-452-3848 ext 3 Attractors include everything needed to assemble
Porcupine Fish Attractors improve spawning habitat while providing valuable structure for all species of fish in all size lakes. From farm ponds to big reservoirs these fish attractors help anglers biologists and professional lake management companies enhance quantity and quality. Used by professional guides tournament anglers and more to attract fish to specific locations. Works great around piers boathouses docks or main lake creek channels and flats. Designed to help you catch fish without losing hooks or lures!
Easily assembled and installed. Stays put. Shows up good on LCR and flasher sonar units. Mark your spots with GPS or landmarks for both night and ice fishing trips. Fish relate to them quickly as algae and plankton form to attract baitfish luring larger fish to their locale. Provides refuge and shade to young fish too increasing survival rates. Make great fishing spots out of unproductive waters. Doesn't deteriorate when submerged. Environmentally friendly.
4% Fee for Credit Cards, shipping not available
Bloomington Monarch Habitat Project
The McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District and Illinois Department of Transportation have partnered on converting 1 mile of roadside space to native diverse pollinator habitat on I-55. The project began in the spring of 2021 with the removal of invasive shrubs. The ongoing effort has been focused on site preparation to chemically control invasive and cool season plants. This partnership aims to promote more monarch friendly space in McLean County, while enhancing the esthetic views of Bloomington Normal. The project will be on-going and a planting will take place before spring of 2022.
Invasive Species ID
Callery pear (Bradford pear)
Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford', produce sterile fruits because they do not self-pollinate. They have been widely planted throughout the United States since the early 1900s as an ornamental. New cultivars of Pyrus calleryana were bred to reduce the tree's tendency to split in snow or high winds. The Bradford pear cultivar, other P. calleryana cultivars and P. betulifolia or Asian pear, can hybridize and produce fertile fruit. In addition to this, fertile pear varieties are commonly used as the rootstock when grafting. If the grafted crown is damaged the fertile rootstock can them dominate, producing fertile fruit. These factors and others may have contributed to the trees seeding out into natural areas and becoming an invasive problem.
To control this invasive species, learn more by: Clicking Here
McLean County contractors can provide conservation services to you for the installation of practices and programs. For a full list of contractors and their services, click the below link. If you would like to be added to our contractors list. Please return the below application to our office at 402 N Kays Drive, Normal IL 61761
Selective timber harvesting is an important woodland health practice to promote native species and wildlife habitat. Professional consulting foresters are available to assist woodland owners with a variety of forestry-specific needs: Forest Management Plans, Timber Sales, and Wildlife Habitat Projects; and management plan implementation practices such as Crop Tree Release / Timber Stand Improvement, Invasive Species Control, Prescribed Fire, Pruning, and Tree Planting. The University of Illinois Extension Forestry has an incredible website to connect landowners with consulting foresters, woodland information and other resource professionals.
The McLean County Pheasants Forever chapter has made three Truax Drills available for wildlife habitat installation in McLean County. These drills were purchased in cooperation with Illinois DNR through Habitat Stamp funds purchased by Illinois Hunters. Reporting of seeding is required to maintain records of habitat installed. The Drills are located at the SWCD office for rental.
Rental Agreement Details: Checks made payable to: Pheasants Forever
$250 Security Deposit (Returned when equipment is returned in good working order. **Operable and Clean) Drill inspection is made by Resource Conservationist, and must be dropped off with the employee present.
$50 per Business Day Cost. (Planter to be picked up and returned on same day. If not, an additional $50 charge for each day utilized.
- Minimum 50 Horsepower Tractor
- Drill has Pioneer ends and 2 hydraulic Lines for raising/lowering
- A truck with a hitch pin needed for transport (45mph max speed)
- Drill is pulled with a tow bar
- Drill is 8 feet wide and does 5 feet of planting
- The three seed boxes are capable of planting native seed mixes, pollinator habitat, food plots, and cool season plantings.
Reduced Property Tax Assessments
Under the state of IL Vegetative Filter Strip Assessment Law. Contact the office for application. The Vegetative Filter Strip Assessment Law provides for a reduction in the assessed value of cropland certified as meeting the requirements of the law to 1/6th of its productivity index equalized assessed value as cropland. Please contact our office to request an application, or email brett.irwin@il.nacdnet.net . Public Act 89-606
CRP Practices outside of the Filter Strip practice also may qualify. Provide your CRP Contract, FSA Map, and Parcel Number to the McLean County Tax Assessors Office.
Special thanks to the following sponsors for their support of our conservation mission in McLean County.
These sponsors are advertisers in our SWCD publications and not an endorsement of the company or services provided. We are an equal opportunity farm advertiser.
-OUR POLICY-
The McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status or disability. This policy covers all programs, services and procedures of the District, including employment. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
-SWCD BOARD MEETINGS-
SWCD board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at our office. Contact our office for changes and details.
Our mailing address:
402 N Kays Drive Normal Illinois 61761
309-452-3848 ext 3
mcleancountyswcd@gmail.com
