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Embarras River Management Association

Contact
Greg Sherwood
P.O. Box 278
Toledo, IL 62468
erma@rr1.net
(217) 849-3762

On the Web: http://www.eiu.edu/~geoscience/erma/

Activity: Rainfall Simulator Units

Geographic location: East Central Illinois

Brief activity description: ERMA built six rainfall simulator units to be utilized by conservation and environmental groups and agencies located in the Embarras Watershed and surrounding counties. The rainfall simulator unit provides a very effective visual demonstration of the power of a raindrop on the soil surface, and the value of vegetation or crop residue in reducing soil erosion and nutrient leaching, while improving soil moisture retention and water quality. The added benefit of enhanced wildlife habitat can also be emphasized. These units are an effective conservation education tool to be utilized at field days, tours, schools and other events.

Primary goals or focus:

  • Nutrient reduction
  • Sediment reduction
  • Water quality improvement
  • Development/implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • Education/information sharing

Projected outcomes/impacts, if known: Increased implementation of conservation practices.

Activity type:

  • Education
  • Demonstration

Scale of activity:

  • Watershed
  • County
  • State

Lead organization(s)/organizer(s): Embarras River Management Association

Other partners and participants: Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Monsanto

Timeline/duration: Initiated in the summer of 2004, this project should run for years and years.

Funding sources:

  • Federal government
  • State government
  • Corporations/Business/Industry
  • Members
  • Individual donors

Follow-up activities that will/might result from this activity: Additional demonstrations and field days.

Publications

Conservation Technology Information Center
Article on the Rainfall Simulator Units was published in CTIC's magazine
Read more

Embarras River Management Association
RSU articles in ERMA's newsletter

Newspapers in the watershed.
Articles on the RSU in area newspapers.