Agriculture is the largest source of surface water pollution in the U.S. with the State of Illinois being the most responsible.  Pollutants making their way down the Mississippi River have created a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.  A study completed by the Nature Conservancy and University of Wisconsin looked at simple practices farms could implement to reduce water pollution.  This study took place in the Pecatonica River watershed in Wisconsin.  Nitrogen, phosphorous and silt deposits were reduced about 40%.  We feature the study below and it is also available from the the University of Wisconsin–Madison website.

The Center for Governmental Studies is looking to partner with University of Illinois Extension and other conservation agencies to replicate this work in Illinois.