HELP US CELEBRATE OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY!

A look back at the last 30 years presented by the IADD Board of Directors.

Wind and Solar Farm installation continues to grow.  Illinois law prevents Drainage Districts from prohibiting or regulating these projects.  However, you can still take actions to protect your facilities.  Learn the steps to take to minimize damage to your facilities during construction of these complex and complicated projects.  Presented by Don Wauthier, Berns, Clancy & Associates.

The Illinois State Water Survey has been monitoring water quality in small, rural watersheds in Illinois for decades.  High-frequency, water quality storm sampling provides insights on the variability of nutrient and sediment transport from small watersheds.  Storm-scale variability of nutrient and sediment transport will be presented to provide possible insights into targeted drainage management efforts for agronomic sustainability.  Presented by Erin Bauer, Illinois State Water Survey.

Communication between commissioners and parcel owners is extremely important at this time, especially those who are absentee parcel owners.  As our drainage systems age and energy projects are coming into districts, communication with all parcel owners is essential as we move forward with activities within our drainage districts.  Presented by Richard Lyons, IADD.

Agencies that regulate drainage districts will talk about their jurisdictions and will answer questions from the audience as well as those submitted with registration forms.

Come VOTE in the Election of Directors, learn about "The State of the Association", and our Legislative efforts.

Stephen Anderson of Water Management Solutions will discuss drainage district macro trends, look at if there is a method to the madness, common frustrations and notes of optimism.

A representative from Bliss McKnight will discuss why Drainage Districts need insurance, what types of claims can affect Drainage Districts and insurance clauses that should be included in contracts.

Tile Drainage is essential to ensuring high crop yields and agronomic-economic returns on fertilizer investments.  At the same time, tile drainage has been critiqued for facilitating nutrient losses by serving as a conduit for off-field export.  Here, we review the potential of tile drainage to further increase agronomic and economic nutrient use efficiency, and whether tile drainage contributes to non-point source losses of nutrients indirectly via impacts on watershed hydrology.

Sara Smith, IADD Executive Director, will provide the required OMA training for Drainage District Commissioners.  Upon completion, all attendees will be presented with a certificate of attendance.

  Learn how the USDA Rural Development loan program can help you finance your next drainage project.

 This presentation will cover important underlying principles as well as basic requirements of FOIA. This presentation will also focus on best practices in responding to FOIA requests and include explanations of public records, time for responses, and reasonable searches for records. DPAC Boggs will also be on hand to address concerns and discuss best practices with respect to the requirements of the Open Meetings Act.

Drainage water management (DWM) studies in Illinois and Iowa show little change in soil water nitrate concentration during DWM, suggesting that denitrification is not the mechanism for nitrate removal.  These studies find the reduction in tile nitrate loss during DWM is due to the reduction in tile flow; however, most of these same studies list lateral seepage as a possible fate for the missing water.  This presentation discusses how to estimate lateral seepage and its impact on DWM performance.

  Attorney Amy Rupiper with Foltz & Rupiper will discuss the various responsibilities of drainage district commissioners. 

Attorney Kyle Emkes, with Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes will review the procedure for consolidation and factors that should be considered.

Are you a local government official or staff member looking to optimize your investments? Join us to learn about  the basics of investing, and the Illinois Funds, a Local Government Investment Pool offered by the Illinois State  Treasurer’s  office. You will receive practical insights and real-world examples to help you make informed  investment decisions. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of investment principles and explore how Illinois Funds can benefit your district

Explore how drone flyovers can quickly spot problems in ditches and satisfy the annual inspection requirements of 70 ILCS 605/4-15. Learn why having updated drainage district maps and archiving old maps is key for better documentation and long-term planning. By combining historical records with modern GIS data, districts can streamline their operations and improve efficiency. See real-world examples of Agrowhere’s work in Illinois and how it can help meet district needs.

Biochar Now produces a unique carbon that effectively binds nutrients from water. They offer passive filters that can be placed in water bodies to bind the nutrients that come in contact with our filters. Presented by James Gaspard of Biochar Now.