By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

DECATUR, Ill. — The Illinois Land Improvement Contractors of America (ILICA) is returning to Decatur’s Progress City USA for Conservation Expo 2008, slated for Aug. 19-21. New conservation techniques will be on display during the event, according to ILICA Executive Director Janet Burtle-Doubet.

“We installed practices to improve water quality and reduce soil erosion on the site in 2006 and have some new techniques to showcase during this year’s expo,” she said. “We’re featuring a couple of new practices from the IEPA Urban Handbook and installing a bio-swale and pervious roadway near the American Selection gardens, between Richland College and the Progress City site.”

She said past ILICA Conservation Expos have been centered on improving agricultural property to increase productivity, while minimizing ecological damage. But as the land improvement industry has become more involved in water quality and erosion issues pertaining to urban development, ILICA has responded.
“The property at Progress City USA is unique in that it provides both agricultural and urban utilization, allowing ILICA the opportunity to expand on the traditional practices demonstrated at prior expos,” said Burtle-Doubet.

Tours will showcase installed conservation structures and practices which include wetland restoration and enhancement, rock chute construction, pervious pavement installation, bio-swale construction and turf reinforcement matting installation.

Conservation professionals will be on hand throughout the show to discuss installation techniques, construction costs and benefits to the property owner and affected watershed.

“Although most of these practices are a normal part of ILICA Conservation Expos, the bio-swale and pervious surface installations are new and exciting additions for our contractors to tackle,” Burtle-Doubet said.

In addition, one of the retention ponds built during the initial construction of Progress City USA will be utilized for this year’s wetland enhancement practice.

“This practice will not only beautify that area but also increase the filtering properties while maintaining the retention capacity it was designed for. (Another) retention pond will have updates to the existing rock chute and the addition of a turf reinforcement chute to hold the soil in place where surface water enters the pond,” Burtle-Doubet explained.

“The block chute installed in 2006 continues to provide the needed erosion protection at the point where the area’s main waterway enters the retention pond.”

Tiling of Progress City USA’s main parking area used during the Illinois Farm Progress Show will continue at the north end of the property and will tie into the main that carries water through the control structures and ultimately, into the bio-reactor, which filters the water before it leaves the property for Lake Decatur.

“This year’s expo will also feature urban practices for improving water quality, which is being monitored by the Illinois EPA (IEPA). The addition of the Agribusiness center and its parking at Richland College has changed the stormwater handling of that area and has provided an opportunity for ILICA to demonstrate proper installation of stormwater storage and infiltration, pervious pavement and natural filtering of storm water through a rain garden or bio-swale,” Burtle-Doubet continued.

“IEPA is a relatively new partner of our organization, but again, provides the means for our contractors to educate others on the latest methods and materials and showcase another kind of conservation program.”

The hours of the Conservation Expo are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. There is no charge to attend.

“Everyone is welcome to attend, including landowners, farmers, agribusinesses, conservationists, planners and the general public,” said Burtle-Doubet.

Food and drink concessions will be available at the show site. For more information, go to the ILICA website at www.illica.net or call the ILICA office at 309-446-3700.