The Sangamon Conservancy Tr

Programs: Sct easement program- the sangamon conservancy trust, a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization, was formed to help support the goals and objectives of the sangamon county soil & water conservation district (swcd)- reduction of soil erosion, enhancement of water quality, and preservation of prime farmland protection are among the goals of the swcd. The primary coverage area consists of sangamon, christian, macon, logan, menard, cass, morgan, macoupin, and montgomery counties. Our mission is to foster exceptional conservation activities for the benefit of all persons. Our organization helps to support those concerned about the future of their farmland. We also help farm owners that believe in sustainable agriculture, environmental improvement, and those that believe uncontrolled development threatens prime farmland and natural areas. We monitored our easements pursuant to our monitoring program. (see sch d, part ii) our organization has been utilizing a multi-year marketing program to bring about the awareness of our existence to local farmers by meeting local farm bureau groups and adjacent county soil and water conservation district boards.

prairie creek habitat - this project is a joint project with the pleasant plains cusd 8 that showcases 3 types of habitat-prairie, woodlands and wetland. The site is 17 acres used as an outdoor classroom. Curricula has been developed according to the illinois learning standards for students and teachers to utilize. These resources are provided to the district's teachers visiting the habitat,along with activities to do with their students before they visit and after they return to their classroom. This information is also available to schools unable to make the trip to the habitat, but wish to teach their students about ecosystems, habitat and their interaction with today's society. A 5-acre riparian buffer has been planted to illinois native grasses, hardwood trees and shrubs on bottomland along prairie creek. A 1. 2 acre wetland was constructed with a control valve to allow for seasonal variance and a viewing blind. Seven acres are devoted to woodlands, with native trees grouped as to how they would have been originally dispersed on this varied topography. Conifer windbreaks have been established and annual food plots seeded for wildlife. A walking trail meanders throughout the site and a paved, handicapped accessible path leads to a centrally located pavilion. Trail side learning stations, bird houses, tree identification stations and rest area shelters are strategically located throughout the area. Grant funds provided by a private foundation to the sangamon conservancy trust, and matched by the pleasant plains cusd 8, have been used to maintain this habitat. Wood chips, trail spraying and maintenance, tree watering (when necessary), weeding, prairie grass burns, and selective pesticide treatments are just a few of the many tasks undertaken annually to properly maintain the area.

overhead expenses