The SWCD reminds landowners who have qualifying vegetative filter strips on their land that they may file for a reduced property tax assessment on those acres.

Vegetative filter strips are an extremely beneficial conservation practice. Filter strips protect and improve water quality, provide shelter for small birds and mammals, and reduce soil erosion. Filter strips filter runoff and remove contaminants before they reach bodies of water. The vegetative filter strips slow water flow, causing contaminants like sediment, chemicals and nutrients to be trapped and collected in the vegetation. Accumulated nutrients and chemicals are utilized by the vegetation rather than entering the water supply. Filtered water then enters the water bodies.

Per a standing Illinois state law, qualifying filter strips shall be valued at 1/6th of its productivity index equalized assessed value as cropland.

Qualifying vegetative filter strips must follow NRCS specifications for width (based on average slope) and must contain vegetation that has a dense top growth, forms a uniform ground cover, has a heavy fibrous root system, and tolerates field pesticides. 

Landowners who have established filter strips on their land may visit the Woodford County SWCD office to complete an application form. Landowners should bring the property tax ID numbers for each filter strip area. SWCD staff will determine eligibility of the filter strip(s). Once eligibility has been determined, it is the landowner’s responsibility to file said form with the County Tax Assessor’s office for processing.