Keeping the Water Clean: Dunlap Lake’s Effort to Capture Pollutants

Wildlife and people need clean water to survive. Soil erosion, and the chemicals it brings with it, is one of the major causes of water pollution in southern Illinois. So, when the Dunlap Lake Property Owner’s Association (POA) in Edwardsville asked for help reducing the amount of eroded soil from entering their lake, we were excited to help.

Working with the upstream properties, the POA, Madison County, and the State several things happened. First, rocks and plants were installed to hold in soil on the creek banks that flow into the lake. Then, a soil capture area was added to one of the inlets of the lake. This new basin captures the soil carried by water from upstream fields before it enters the lake and further into Mooney Creek. As the soil settles, the pollutants stay out of the lake and are filtered by plants.

Funded in part under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act

Help is Available for Clean Water and Soil Erosion

If you or someone you know is interested in enhancing land to support cleaner water and reduce soil erosion, HeartLands Conservancy and our partners have several cost-share opportunities. Here are a few:

Wood River Watershed, which covers parts of Brighton, Godfrey, Alton, East Alton, Rosewood Heights, Bethalto, and Moro. Financial assistance for landowners experiencing streambank erosion, gully erosion along streams, or topsoil loss during storms.

Southern Illinois conservation opportunities in the Kaskaskia River, American Bottom (Mississippi River in Illinois), and Cache River watersheds. Through a partnership with Ducks Unlimited, funding will be available from the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to reduce soil erosion, enhance soil productivity, and support clean water and forestry projects. More information will be available soon.