Illinois’ Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, NLRS, is rooted in science. Water and best management practice research, as well as water, resources, and land and facilities tracking, guide updates. This information helps the state understand nutrient sources, measure progress, and refine recommendations and solutions over time.
The strategy builds on findings from the 2015 Science Assessment, which provided Illinois’ first comprehensive picture of where and how nutrients move through the landscape. Ongoing studies, ranging from river monitoring and groundwater research to watershed modeling and the evaluation of conservation practices, continue to expand that foundation.
Through the Illinois NLRS working groups and coordinated partnerships, scientists and practitioners share data, align research priorities, and fill knowledge gaps about nutrient transport, legacy impacts, and management effectiveness.
Explore the Research Database to see how projects across Illinois are improving our understanding of nutrient loss, informing policy, and supporting adaptive management statewide.