Illinois Administrative Code › Title 17 - CONSERVATION › Part 1523 - PARTNERS FOR CONSERVATION - ECOSYSTEMS PROGRAM › Section 1523.160 - Natural Resources Cost-Share

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a)
			 The Department will provide incentives to landowners in the form of cost-share
			 natural resource management practices. These cost-share practices will assist
			 Ecosystem Partnerships in implementing ecosystem management practices and
			 strategies. The success of each Ecosystem Partnership in contributing to an
			 ecosystem based management strategy will depend to a great extent on the
			 cooperation, commitment, and contributions of private landowners within each
			 Ecosystem Partnership Area. The availability of cost-share assistance will
			 further the mission of the Department and the goals of the Conservation 2000
			 Program. The Department may consult with and coordinate the development of
			 their approved practices with other county, State and federal
			 partners.
b) Installed practices
			 shall meet recommended guidelines and specifications as detailed in the Natural
			 Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Technical Guide IL-645-1, and
			 Department adopted modifications to the NRCS Technical Guide for Illinois River
			 2020 conservation practices (April 2001). These specifications will be used for
			 determining the need and practicality of a cost-share practice, for preparing
			 plans in design and layout, and for certifying proper installation of a
			 practice. Guidelines and specifications may be customized to address site
			 specific ecological needs. Copies of these documents are available at the
			 Department's office located at One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Illinois
			 62702-1271, Department Regional Offices, County Soil and Water Conservation
			 District (SWCD) offices, and local NRCS offices.
c) Eligible practices must be recommended in
			 a Natural Resource Management Plan approved by the landowner and the
			 Department. Approved practices will: promote the use of native plants (except
			 where non-native plants can be justified); increase buffer widths; extend
			 de-watering times, interspersion of habitat types, and control of exotic
			 species; and promote the use of prescribed fire.
d) The landowner is responsible for
			 installing, maintaining and performing all cost-share practices for no less
			 than 10 years from the date of installation (date completed practice is
			 approved by the Ecosystem Partnership and/or Department). Other parties,
			 buyers, or heirs can assume custody, rights, privileges and obligations by
			 signing an agreement to adopt the approved Natural Resource Management Plan.
			 Conversion of a cost-share practice to another non-program land use prior to
			 the expiration of the practice or the unwillingness of new owners to assume
			 custody will require a 100% refund of the cost-share payment and a 15% per
			 annum penalty fee.
e) The amount of
			 reimbursement to a landowner from all sources may not exceed 100% of the base
			 cost of the practice established by the federal Farm Service Agency (FSA). The
			 base cost represents the amount upon which the cost-share maximum is derived.
			 Federal cost-share program assistance will be used for initial payment when
			 federal or other cost-share programs' practices are utilized concurrently with
			 Conservation 2000; the cost-share rate shall equal the rate of the other
			 concurrent cost-share program in effect in the county where the practice is
			 installed.
f) Cost-share practices
			 may be attempted a second time if practice failure was not the direct fault
			 (determined by the Department or its designee) of the landowner. Consumption of
			 renewable resources, as identified in the Natural Resource Management Plan, is
			 allowed on cost-share practice areas. Recreational uses of cost-share practice
			 areas is permitted, but shall be compatible with the management objectives
			 specified in the Natural Resource Management Plan.
g) Cost-share funds shall not be used for the
			 establishment or production of fruit and nut orchards, aquaculture, grass or
			 forb seed production, greentree reservoirs, commercial campgrounds, irrigation
			 systems, Christmas tree production, nurseries, licensed hunting preserves, road
			 construction, bridges, gates, boundary fences, contour farming/strip cropping
			 practices, no-till or strip-till planting systems, or establishment of
			 pasture/haylands. Except as approved by the Department, exotic plants and
			 animals shall not be knowingly released or cultured on cost-share practice
			 areas.
h) Cost-share payments are
			 reimbursements. Landowners will not be allowed advance payment for installing
			 practices. Payments to landowners can only occur after the Department or its
			 designee has certified completion of the approved practices. The grantee is
			 responsible for the periodic inspections of all installed practices. Copies of
			 these inspections shall be sent to the Department within four months after each
			 inspection. Where non-compliance situations are determined, the landowner will
			 be required, at his or her own expense, to take steps necessary to restore
			 compliance or refund cost-share payments for those practices in
			 non-compliance.