CCFB News» By Carrie Steinweg, Freelance Writer

The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS), coordinated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), University of Illinois Extension, and a multi-stakeholder working group, was established in 2015. Its creation follows a 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan to achieve at least a 45% reduction in total nitrate-nitrogen (N) and total phosphorus (P) discharged into rivers. The U.S. EPA recommended provided framework in 2011 and in 2015, the IL NLRS was developed with its first goal of reducing the total P load by 25% and the N load by 15% by 2025.