Farmers and landowners in Benton and Washington counties have until March 20 to submit applications to receive financial aid to implement conservation practices through the Illinois River Sub-Basin and Eucha-Spavinaw Lake Watershed Initiative.
Applicants can sign up at county U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service field service centers.
Land treatment and structural practices will be installed on a voluntary basis.
Water quality issues in the area have been identified by the U.S. Geological Survey as high concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediments and bacteria.
Possible sources that have impacted water quality are runoff after application of animal manure and litter as fertilizer, soil erosion, nutrients from poultry production and livestock farming operations, among others.