Since 2014, the Calumet Stormwater Collaborative has been convening stakeholders to solve flooding and water quality problems in the Little Calumet River and Cal-Sag Channel watersheds. More than 40 organizations participate in CSC. During monthly meetings, group members exchange information on water quality and flooding needs, as well as worthwhile projects and initiatives.
CSC has developed free, online green infrastructure design templates for communities, a new data-mapping tool for the region, a repository of stormwater management resources, and a logic model for green infrastructure training and maintenance.
CSC developed four watershed plans: the Little Calumet River, Cal-Sag Channel, Des Plaines River in Cook County, and Poplar Creek. These plans, which were approved by Illinois EPA, recommend BMPs, such as green infrastructure, to reduce nutrient pollution from stormwater. Communities and other stakeholders in the watersheds can apply for Section 319 grants to help support key projects.
Specific items in CSC’s work plan include developing a green infrastructure baseline inventory, developing an urban flooding baseline inventory, developing relevant training and recommendations for green infrastructure maintenance and service sharing, and assessing municipal capacity to manage stormwater flooding issues. The target geography for these components is the Calumet region of Illinois, but lessons and resources are intended to be applicable to a broader geography.
As of 2023 CSC has completed the first iteration of the green infrastructure baseline inventory (led by MPC) and the urban flooding baseline (led by CNT). More information on the green infrastructure baseline can be found at www.metroplanning.org/work/project/23/subpage/7 and the urban flooding baseline tool can be found at ufb.cnt.org.
For more information, see www.metroplanning.org/work/project/23/subpage/1.
