Rock Island Today

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) introduced bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) to preserve and restore the Driftless Area between Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. By empowering farmers with voluntary conservation tools, the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI) Act reduces flood risk, improves water quality, and expands recreation and tourism activities in the Driftless Area. 

"The Driftless Area is a source of immense pride for Northwestern Illinois. Conserving it is critical to the families and farmers who call it home and the visitors who come to see its wonders each year,” said Sorensen. “This bipartisan legislation will continue the much-needed work to improve this unique region, providing cleaner drinking water to families and protecting residents from floods.” 

“DALCI was a conservation success during its authorization – measurably reducing soil erosion and flood risk, helping wildlife, and enhancing water quality by empowering local farmers and landowners with conservation tools. We have an opportunity to build on these successes by reauthorizing this program – at no cost to the taxpayer – and recommitting USDA resources to conservation in the Driftless Area. I’m proud to work across the aisle and across the river with Representative Eric Sorensen to preserve this natural treasure for years to come,” said Hinson. 

"We thank Representatives Hinson and Sorensen for their advocacy to protect the unique Driftless area and bring more USDA conservation resources for farmers in the Driftless Area and to ensure better outcomes for projects across the region," said Environmental Law & Policy Center Senior Policy Advocate Steve Falck. 

"The Driftless is a critically important area of the country, both ecologically and economically. In recent years, the region has been plagued by flooding and water quality issues that harm communities and economies locally and across the nation. HR 4248 is an essential first step toward unifying efforts to address these issues across political boundaries, allowing us to work together toward solutions to protect and enhance the region," said Ross Evelsizer, Natural Resources Projects Director for Northeast Iowa RC&D. 

"We thank Representatives Sorensen and Hinson for this bipartisan effort to re-establish the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative. We have seen the effects that focused and coordinated conservation programs can have with lasting and long-term benefits to the region's water quality, soil health and economy. This initiative will better leverage other funding opportunities as resources are coordinated to protect this unique landscape gem," said Kerry Leigh, Executive Director of the Natural Land Institute. 

The Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI) was launched by the Department of Agriculture in 2012 to help farmers fight erosion and restore cold water stream corridors in the area. The program ended in 2017. The Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI) Act will re-establish the successful DALCI program and provide farmers and landowners with the tools to improve water quality and flood resiliency while preserving the unique ecosystem of the Driftless Area. 

Congressman Eric Sorensen is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to represent Illinois at the federal level and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal. 

Original source can be found here.