Let's Taco 'Bout Agriculture: Summer Ag Institute
2024-07-22 08:30 - 16:00 UTC | Warren James Winery, 5600 Lerna Road, Mattoon, IL, 61938, United States
Teachers are invited to Warren James Winery on Monday, July 22nd to “Taco ‘Bout Agriculture” and learn about the many conservation and agriculture resources available for your classrooms. The morning will start with lessons from Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, followed by a salsa making lesson led by a local farm-her, and we will end the day touring a local agriculture business!
Visit https://coles-ag-institute.cheddarup.com to register for the event. $10 registration fee includes light breakfast, lunch, and materials. Final agenda will be sent in early July, but the day will tentatively run from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. CEU credits will be available for teachers from ROE 11 (districts in Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, & Shelby Counties). Contact the Coles County SWCD for more info at info@colescountyswcd.org.

Butterfly Festival
2024-08-03 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | IL
Charleston to Host Butterfly Festival on Saturday, August 3rd
Celebrating our Natural Resources: Kids Activities, Expert Advice, Nature Walks, Kite-Flying Performances, Food Trucks, Kayak Demos, and more!
Come and learn about all the natural resources Charleston has to offer for leisure, mental and physical health, and best practices for conservation. Celebrate the efforts of the Urban Butterfly Initiative (Coles County SWCD’s 2022 Conservationist of the Year!) to increase biodiversity. Get advice for your own gardens, lawns, and pollinator plots. Bring the kids to see native creatures up close and participate in fun activities! All at beautiful Lake Charleston!
Exhibitors and participants will include the Coles County SWCD, Urban Butterfly Initiative, Grand Prairie Friends, Douglas Hart Nature Center, Fox Ridge Foundation, Charleston Birders, IDNR Fisheries, Charleston Tree Commission, Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Pheasants Forever, Charleston Parks and Rec, Coles County Arts Council, Charleston Carnegie Library, Charleston CAN Play, Charleston Scouting America, University of Illinois Extension Coles County, and more.
August 3rd is also the second to last day of the Urban Butterfly Initiative’s annual “Butterfly Blitz.” Participants in the Blitz can stop by the UBI table at the Festival and receive a special patch! Additional mini-events are planned for the week leading up to the festival. For more information about the event, exhibitors, and a detailed agenda, please visit https://www.charlestonillinois.org/community/charleston_tourism/butterfly_festival.php
Parking Note: Due to limited parking at Lake Charleston, a free shuttle (handicap and stroller accessible) will run continuously between Linder Sports Complex and the Lake. Please park at Linder Sports Complex to take the shuttle and watch the kite-flying performance while there. David Zavell, kite enthusiast and owner of Chicago Kite/Kite Harbor, will be bringing a team of experienced kite fliers to Linder Sports Complex for kite demonstrations. If you are interested in taking a walking trail to the Lake, parking is also available at Sister City Park and Woodyard Conservation Area.

Board Meeting
2024-08-13 07:30 - 08:30 UTC, 2024-09-10 07:30 - 08:30 UTC, 2025-02-11 07:30 - 08:30 (America/Chicago), 2025-03-11 07:30 - 08:30 (America/Chicago), 2025-05-13 07:30 - 08:30 (America/Chicago) | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States

Pond Management Seminar (Free and Open to the Public!)
2024-08-28 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | IL
Bring your questions and a lawnchair! Jim Garavaglia, IDNR Fisheries Biologist, will be on hand to discuss Fish Management, Aquatic Plant Control, Fish Species Identification, Stocking Recommendations, Pond Construction, Pond Maintenance, and more. Light refreshments will be provided. A map to the location can be found at https://maps.app.goo.gl/naojiMseoba5kH3w8
To RSVP for this FREE event or if you have questions, please call the Coles County SWCD (217) 345-3901 ext 3 or email info@colescountyswcd.org

Fall Fish Sale Orders Due
2024-09-13 16:00 (America/Chicago) | IL

Fall Fish Sale Pickup
2024-10-02 11:00 - 23:30 UTC | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States
There is no longer a need to bring pond water to transport fish home. Please bring containers to pick up your fish! 5-gallon buckets work great.

Martin Luther King Day (Office Closed)
2025-01-20 | IL

Polecat Creek Watershed Streambank Erosion Meeting
2025-01-21 12:30 - 16:30 UTC | The Seed Shed, 11207 N Co Rd 2570 E, Ashmore, IL, 61912, United States
Landowners in the Polecat Creek Watershed are invited to join us for lunch at The Seed Shed on January 21st to hear the results of streambank erosion and phosphorus loss research that has been conducted in the watershed by researchers from the University of Illinois Soils Lab! Assistant Professor Andrew Margenot, Research Scientist Shengnan Zhou, and Research Technicians Robert Yanes and Jorge Serrano will present information about the data collected via several “erosion pins” that were placed along the creek back in 2021.
The Embarras River was identified as a phosphorus priority watershed in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. This means that it is one of the state’s most critical watersheds in terms of phosphorus losses. Polecat Creek is a tributary of the Embarras River.

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Lunch will be served at 12:30pm, with the meeting to follow.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact the Coles County SWCD at (217)345-3901 ext. 3, or call or text (865) 438-1742.

Election of Directors
2025-02-06 07:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States
To All Owners and Occupiers of Lands Lying Within the Boundaries of Coles County Soil and Water Conservation District: Notice is hereby given that an election will be held on the 6th day of February, 2025 from 7:00am to 5:30pm at 6021 Development Drive, Ste. 2, Charleston, IL 61920. Three (3) Directors will be elected to serve the Coles County Soil and Water Conservation District of the State of Illinois. All persons, firms or corporations who hold legal title or are in legal possession of any land lying within the boundaries of the said district are eligible to vote at said election, whether as lessee, renter, tenant or otherwise. Only such persons, firms, or corporations are eligible to vote.

President's Day (Office Closed)
2025-02-17 | IL

Board Meeting
2025-04-08 07:30 - 08:30 (America/Chicago) | IL

Lake Mattoon/Paradise Watershed Committee Meeting
2026-06-03 18:00 - 19:00 UTC | Mattoon Water Treatment Plant, 2941 Lake Rd, Mattoon, IL, 61938, United States
We are partnering with The City of Mattoon to create a Lake Mattoon and Lake Paradise Watershed Committee. The purpose of this group is to have productive meetings where we work together to brainstorm and implement creative solutions to better the watershed. You do not have to live in the watershed to be a part of the committee, just a willingness to help in your capacity.

Our first meeting is on June 3rd at 6 pm. We will be meeting at the Mattoon Water Treatment Plant. Helping with this meeting will be Jeff Boeckler, from Spheros Environmental. Jeff is currently working on writing the Mattoon/Paradise Watershed Plan.
Please RSVP using the link below so we can get a rough head count.
https://forms.gle/TfiEtxbBnBacNpUD9
The RSVP form has an option to receive future email updates. If you cannot attend this meeting but would still like to receive updates, please email us at mattoonandparadisewatershed@gmail.com to join.

June 2026 Board Meeting
2026-06-09 07:30 - 08:30 UTC | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States

July 2026 Board Meeting
2026-07-07 07:30 - 08:30 UTC | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States
Please note, this meeting was moved from 7/14 to 7/7 due to the second Tuesday intersecting with the Illinois Association of Soil and Water’s Summer Conference.

August 2026 Board Meeting
2026-08-11 07:30 - 08:30 UTC | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States
This meeting may be moved to 8/4 or 8/18 due to staff scheduling conflict. If you are planning to attend, please call the office to confirm August date.

September 2026 Board Meeting
2026-09-15 07:30 - 08:30 UTC | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States

October 2026 Board Meeting
2026-10-13 07:30 - 08:30 UTC | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States

November 2026 Board Meeting
2026-11-10 07:30 - 08:30 UTC | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States

December 2026 Board Meeting
2026-12-08 07:30 - 08:30 UTC | CCSWCD, 6021 Development Drive, Suite 2, Charleston, IL, 61920, United States
