Board of Directors

The IRWP is intentionally structured to involve a wide diversity of entities, and thus a diversity of opinions and motivations. Our Board of Directors is compromised of 3 members in each of the following 6 categories: Agriculture, Business, Conservation, Construction, Government and Technical, Research and Education. Additionally, there are between 3 and 13 other members in an At-Large category, designed to give our Board flexibility in growth as well as to maintain its diversity and balance. By encompassing such a broad spectrum of society, we hope to develop solutions that are ultimately sustainable.

2008 Board of Directors

Larry Adair, Treasurer
Trevor Bowman
Steve Butler
Dan Douglas
Mike Faupel
Colene Gaston
H.L. Goodwin
Jay Hale
Sheri Herron, Secretary
Jerry Hunton

Uvalde Lindsey
Jimmy Mardis
James Mathias
Roger McDaniel
Karen McSpadden
Jennifer Michaels
Gene Pharr
Terry Rakes
Bev Saunders
Larry Seward
Jan Skopecek

Mark Simmons
Jackie Smith
Tim Snell
Evan Teague, Vice President
Katie Teague
Susan Thomas, President
Scott Van Laningham
Mark Weathers
Joe Woolbright

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the health and vitality of Illinois River. What separates this partnership from the other environmentally minded organizations is our method – a uniquely holistic approach to addressing the needs of the Illinois River.

The concept for the IRWP began with 9 individuals from Northwest Arkansas who recognized that true progress for the Illinois River would necessitate a cooperative effort from the various stakeholders and entities in the watershed. To this end, these individuals formed a steering committee and hosted an Upper Illinois River Summit in September of 2005. They invited key stakeholders and decision-makers to the Summit with the goal of creating an effective watershed partnership and developing a management plan that would address the challenges of rapid development, expanding infrastructure needs and degrading ecological Illinois River watershed. Delegates to the Summit voted unanimously to establish the IRWP, which was officially formed on December 15, 2005.