AISWCD Warns of Conservation Pain from State Budget Cuts

The state association representing soil and water conservation districts complains about state budget cuts to their efforts.

SPRINGFIELD — As Illinois faces the growing consequences of climate change, water contamination, and extreme weather, the state’s failure to restore funding for its Soil and Water Conservation Districts should concern every resident. These 97 locally led offices quietly provide the frontline defense against environmental degradation—helping farmers manage runoff, advising on erosion control, and ensuring Illinois soil and water remain viable for generations to come. Yet, for the second straight year, the state has chosen to fund them at levels below what was provided in the late 1990s. The result: looming staff layoffs, service reductions, and potential district closures that will leave both rural and urban communities more vulnerable.

The Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) is sounding the alarm and continuing its fight for adequate investment in the health of our natural resources. The statement that follows offers a sobering update from AISWCD on the stakes of this year’s budget decision, their efforts to restore funding, and the path forward:

The Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) is sounding the alarm as the FY26 Illinois state budget continues to underfund the state’s 97 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). For the second consecutive year, SWCDs will receive only $4.5 million — nearly a 50 percent reduction from FY24 levels and below what was budgeted more than 25 years ago — leaving many districts facing layoffs, service reductions, or even closure.

“This translates to roughly $40,000 per district — leaving them with barely enough to employ one full-time staff member with benefits, let alone the two each district needs,” said Eliot Clay, Executive Director of AISWCD. “The state is forcing critical conservation offices to cut staff, even as farmers face climate volatility, rising input costs, and mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices.”

In response to last year’s initial cuts, AISWCD launched a statewide petition campaign to restore SWCD operations funding, with a goal of collecting at least 100 signatures from each district. Volunteers and directors gathered thousands of signatures both online and in person, demonstrating deep, bipartisan public support for the work of SWCDs. AISWCD also coordinated legislative meetings and coalition efforts with partners like the Illinois Environmental Council, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and Illinois Soybean Association to advocate for funding restoration in the FY25 and FY26 budgets.

Despite bipartisan support for Senate Bill 2387 (SB2387), which would have created a dedicated, tax-neutral revenue stream for SWCDs, the Legislature adjourned without taking action. AISWCD had worked daily in the Capitol this spring to advance the bill, which gained majority sponsorship in the Senate.

Illinois’ SWCDs are essential to supporting farmers in adopting conservation practices that protect soil health and water quality. Their absence endangers progress on the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, limits the ability to leverage federal funds, and increases risk from extreme weather — evident in Chicago’s largest dust storm in 90 years, which struck just two weeks before the Legislature failed to act.

A troubling announcement just last weekend for communities in and around Kankakee south of Chicagoland advising parents of infants to avoid tap water for high nitrate levels – likely from fertilizer runoff into the nearby river – further underscores our mission and the painful impact of these cuts.

AISWCD remains committed to working with lawmakers, agencies, and citizens to restore funding, expand local conservation services, and ensure healthy soil and clean water for future generations.

Media Contact:

Eliot Clay, Executive Director

Email: eliot.clay@aiswcd.org

Website: https://aiswcd.org