Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)

Contact your local FSA office first for the Federal CREP contract; then contact your local SWCD to start enrollment in the State (Illinois CREP) easement. INHS Conservation Resource Specialists also assist.

Deadline text on the page: No sign-up window published; enrollment follows execution of a Federal CREP contract with FSA.

General office

CREP Hotline

Justin Ramey

Program Manager

Kristen Ragusa

Private Lands Ecologist

After a landowner signs a 15-year federal CREP contract with FSA, IDNR buys a state easement that extends protection for 15 more years or permanently, paying a lump sum based on easement length and soil rental rate. IDNR also covers the remaining 50% of practice establishment costs. It is limited to flood-prone, environmentally sensitive cropland in the Illinois and Kaskaskia River watersheds.



- Land in the Illinois or Kaskaskia River watersheds
- Land must first be enrolled in a Federal CREP contract with FSA (e.g., in the 100-year floodplain or a previous wetland, with cropping history 4 of the last 6 years)
- Additional contiguous acres may be enrolled in the easement (no cost-share on additional acres)

Payment per unit of land to do or avoid certain practices related to land management.

Easement

Easement of 15 years or perpetual beyond the federal contract; lump-sum payment; IDNR reimburses the second 50% of cost-share; changes to easement acreage need SWCD and IDNR pre-approval.

Published amounts: Upon execution of the Easement, the landowner will receive a lump sum payment for the Easement. The payment will be based on the Easement length chosen by the landowner and the site-specific soil rental rate. IDNR will reimburse the remaining 50% of the cost-share to establish the conservation practice on the Federal CREP acreage. (What is CREP? fact sheet, rev. May 2022)

Apply online (CSP Online Application & Landowner Login) or mail the application, assessor's map, aerial stand map, schedule of practices and tax bill to Conservation Stewardship Program, IDNR, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702.

Deadline text on the page: There is no deadline established in the Conservation Stewardship Law or in the rules prepared by IDNR. However, to improve the likelihood that CSP valuation has been put on your property before January 1st annually, applications and supplemental documents must be submitted no later than November 1st.

Conservation Stewardship Program

Owners of at least five acres of unimproved land outside Cook County who carry out an approved habitat management plan get their property tax valuation cut to 5% of fair market value. IDNR reviews the plan, and the Department of Revenue tells the county assessor.



- Landowners outside of Cook County
- At least five acres of unimproved land
- Willing to develop and implement a habitat management plan
- County assessor can confirm whether CSP beats your current assessment

A reduction or waiving of fees for meeting a certain criteria.

Discount

No enrollment fee; special valuation begins January 1 after certification; not pro-rated.

Published amounts: Land accepted into the Conservation Stewardship Program will be valued at 5% of the fair market value for property tax purposes. (FAQ PDF)

Contact your District Forester to inquire about the availability of funding. If funds are available, you will need to sign an FDA Cost-Share Application, fill out a W-9 form, and return them to the District Forestry Office.

Deadline text on the page: FDA Cost-Share funds may be available. When available, cost-share funds may be requested for any recommended practice in your plan. However, FDA funds are limited and Cost-Share funds MUST be applied for and approved prior to the start of any work toward that recommended practice.

IDNR

Cost-share for private forest landowners enrolled in the Forestry Development Act program to carry out practices in their approved forest management plan, such as tree planting, timber stand improvement, invasive control and prescribed fire. It is paid from the state's 4% timber harvest fee, funds are limited, and work must be approved before it starts.



- At least 10 contiguous acres systematically managed for timber and conservation
- Forest management plan written to Illinois Forest Management Plan standards and approved by IDNR
- Land kept in forest condition at least 10 years; grazing not allowed
- Cook County excluded (tax incentive)

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Must be approved before work begins; landowner may do the work or hire a contractor and track expenses.

Published amounts: No rate published in the booklet or HTML page; see 17 Ill. Adm. Code 1536.

Contact the IDNR District Forester serving your county; get a plan written (district or consulting forester); once approved, the District Forestry Office processes certification — you need do nothing else to get the forestry tax assessment.

Deadline text on the page: Preferential assessment level associated with the FDA program goes into effect beginning January 01 of the calendar year, after the calendar year of District Forester approval.

Forest land enrolled under an IDNR-approved forest management plan is assessed at one-sixth of its farmland value, which can sharply cut property taxes. The landowner gets a plan from a district or consulting forester, and IDNR certifies it to the county assessor through the Department of Revenue.



- All counties except Cook County
- At least 10 contiguous acres managed for timber and conservation
- No acres with permanent buildings
- Forest condition maintained at least 10 years; grazing not allowed
- Plan to IL Forest Management Plan standards, re-written every 10 years

Plan recommendations must be followed or land can be removed from the program; plans transferable to new owners.

Published amounts: by law, a landowner enrolled in FDA is guaranteed an equalized assessed valuation of 1/6 that of agricultural use of that particular acreage.

The landowner completes and submits an enrollment form and mails it to IRAP (IL Dept. of Natural Resources, Attn: IRAP, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271).

Deadline text on the page: No enrollment deadline published; landowner mails the enrollment form.

IRAP

IDNR leases private land for set public hunting and fishing activities, paying the landowner a yearly stipend per activity. Leases run four years and include liability coverage, a habitat or forestry management plan, and help with habitat projects.



- Private landowners in Illinois (more than 52 counties have participated)
- Property deemed eligible after a site visit with the IRAP coordinator

Leases are written for 4 years; payments annually; landowner chooses activities (turkey, archery deer, waterfowl, upland, squirrel, rabbit, fishing).

Published amounts: In exchange for the lease, IRAP pays the landowner a nominal fee ... Landowners will receive a yearly stipend for each IRAP activity they enroll in. (no rate published)

List of Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Funding Opportunities