Illinois River Watershed Ptr

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership is a diverse group of stakeholders who directly affect the water quality of the Illinois River. This group is holding itself accountable by striving to improve the water quality of the Illinois River through personal endeavors and through the education, the encouragement and the positive reinforcement of fellow Illinois River Watershed residents.

We are not a politically charged organization, but rather a group that works at the grassroots level with other organizations to seek changes in environmental issues for the betterment of our region. We look beyond the river banks and focus on how the Illinois River will support our lives into the next centuries.

Our conservation efforts include working with volunteers to plant over 4,000 native trees per year along Riparian corridors, installing green infrasructure such as rain gardens, bioswales, pervious parking and green roofs, and working with landowners to help enhance their streamside property with cost-share programs available through local agencies.

In 2012, the Partnership was able to raise funds to purchase a 32 acre site in Cave Springs, Ark. to provide education and raise awareness about water to our community. The site features a cave, spring, lake, two endangered species (Gray Bat and Ozark Blind Cavefish), an urban forest, and a church building that is being renovated into our new Watershed Learning Center.

Our vision is big for this site, as we are working to create a desitination for students, residents, organizations, counties, cities, and the public to learn and understand how we can grow and develop in a sustainable way as a region. We want this to be a nexus of demonstration projects for land and water applications, as well as an educational facility for groups to visit.

Our organization and mission could not be possible without our supporters and no donation is too small or too big! Help us achieve our goals!