Condition of Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetland Easements in Illinois Annual Progress Report 31 August 2017 – 30 September 2018

During the 2018 fiscal year (1 October 2017 –30 September 2018), the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) conducted wetland monitoring and wetland quality evaluations for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on Agriculture Conservation Easement Program -Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE; n= 69). We visited each wetland easement twice; once in autumn/winter (November–January) and again during spring (February–March) totaling 138 easement visits. Easements were located in Union (n= 38), Crawford (n= 30), and Lawrence (n= 1) Counties. Monitored easements in Union Countycomprised23Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) easements and 15 Emergency Watershed Protection Program-Floodplain Easements (EWPP-FPE). Monitored easements in Crawford Countycomprised8Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) easements and 22Emergency Watershed Protection Program-Floodplain Easements (EWPP-FPE).The only monitored easement in Lawrence Countyconsisted of anEmergency Watershed Protection Program-Floodplain Easement(EWPP-FPE). The WRP and EWPP-FPE easements were enrolled in NRCS programs prior to 2014 Farm Bill restructuring of wetland easements that now fall into the ACEP-WRE program.We previously submitted easement monitoring worksheets and detailed photographs of easement conditions, and this report contains a summary, descriptive management plans (Appendix 1) that detail conditions of the easements,and giverecommendations for improvements to vegetation communities and easement infrastructure for all 69easements.U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Agreement Number: 68-5A12-18-503unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe