 IRWP
The Illinois River Watershed Partnership is a not-for-profit membership based organization working to protect and restore the Illinois River and its tributaries throughout Arkansas and Oklahoma.
The organization is working together to improve water quality and to educate and encourage others to enjoy and positively affect the Illinois River Watershed.
Our membership is diverse, encompassing individuals and businesses that understand that water quality is directly related to the quality of life in our region.
Our Mission
To improve the integrity of the Illinois River through public education and community outreach, water quality monitoring, and the implementation of conservation and restoration practices throughout the Illinois River watershed.
Our Vision
The Illinois River and its tributaries will be a fully functioning ecosystem, where ecological protection, conservation and economically productive uses support diverse aquatic and riparian communities, meet all state and federal water quality standards, promote economic sustainability and provide recreational opportunities.
 Objectives
- Increase public awareness of the Illinois River as a water resource
- Cooperate with the scientific community to identify water quality impacts, causes and sources
- Educate the public about their contribution to these sources
- Collaboratively identify environmentally viable and economically feasible practices to effectively control those sources
- Work with the membership and the general public to implement water quality improvement and watershed restoration projects that will reduce these identified sources
Goals
- Develop a comprehensive educational program that will increase public awareness of the Illinois River as a water resource and a general membership
- The Illinois River Watershed Partnership’s ultimate goal is to develop, implement and complement a watershed management plan for the entire Illinois River Basin
- The goal of watershed management is to plan and work toward an environmentally and economically healthy watershed that benefits all stakeholders
- Engages stakeholders in activities to implement water quality improvement and watershed restoration in projects that will reduce identified sources
“How could little drops of water know themselves to be a river? Yet the river flows on.”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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