blog posts

• Calumet Stormwater Collaborative

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  Since 2014, the Calumet Stormwater Collaborative has convened stakeholders to solve flooding and water quality problems in the Little Calumet River and Cal-Sag Channel watersheds. Representatives from more than 40 organizations participate in the collaborative. During monthly meetings, group members exchange information on water quality and flooding needs as well as worthwhile projects and initiatives. The collaborative 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. It developed four watershed plans: the Little Calumet River, Cal-Sag Channel, Des Plaines River in Cook County, and Poplar Creek. These plans were approved by Illinois EPA and recommend best management practices, such as green infrastructure, to reduce nutrient pollution from stormwater.
  
  As of 2023, the Calument Stormwater Collaborative has completed the first iteration of the green infrastructure baseline inventory, led by the Metropolitan Planning Council, and the urban flooding baseline, led by the Center for Neighborhood Technology. 

  More information on the green infrastructure baseline can be found at www.metroplanning.org/work/project/23/ subpage/7. 
  The urban flooding baseline tool can be found at ufb.cnt.org. 

• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Technical Assistance

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Local Technical Assistance Program supports communities in northeastern Illinois and aligns with the region’s current long-range plan — ON TO 2050 — and its principles of regional resilience, inclusive growth, and prioritized investment. Since 2012, the program has assisted communities in developing more than 200 projects with local governments, nonprofits, and intergovernmental organizations to address local issues at the intersection of transportation, land use, and housing, including the natural environment, economic growth, and community development. The program helps communities plan projects that build local capacity, engage marginalized groups, and connect local partners with implementing agencies and capital funding for infrastructure investments, including stormwater management. For more information, see www.cmap.illinois.gov/programs/lta.

• DuPage County Water Quality Improvement Program

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  DuPage County Stormwater Management recognizes the financial burden a property owner may face when undertaking a project that improves regional water quality. The county’s Water Quality Improvement Program, WQIP, offers financial assistance to projects providing a regional water quality benefit to local waterways. The grant funds up to 25% of eligible construction costs for water quality improvement projects. DuPage County initiated the grant program in 2000 and has awarded nearly $6.3 million across 108 projects. DuPage County government agencies, organizations, and individuals are eligible to receive funds under the WQIP. The WQIP story map provides information on the grant and application process and gives examples of eligible projects, such as rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavers, and streambank stabilization. The story map also includes animated infographics, photos, project descriptions, and an interactive map of previously awarded projects.

  For more information, see dupagecounty.gov/government/departments/stormwater_management/grants/water_quality_ improvement_program.php.

• Illinois Department of Transportation Stormwater Programs

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT, maintains a chartered Stormwater Committee composed of members from a variety of backgrounds and agencies to inform and guide policy creation, advise IDOT staff on relevant stormwater issues, and oversee erosion control training for staff and consultants. The committee also coordinates with other stormwater groups and initiates research through the Illinois Center for Transportation to study aspects of the stormwater management program and determine whether improvements can be made to best management practices.

  IDOT continues to research alternatives to erosion control blankets that use plastic mesh, which is known to entangle wildlife and contribute to microplastics in waterways. The literature review is completed, and field trials are planned, with a report expected at the end of 2023. When applicable, IDOT will utilize research and practices generated through other state departments of transportation, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, and the Illinois Urban Manual. IDOT also continues to revise Specifications and Standards based on implementable research or when otherwise warranted.

   For more information, see idot.illinois.gov/transportation-system/transportation-management/planning/other-plans/storm- water-management-plan.html.

• Illinois Groundwork

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  From 2021-23, University of Illinois Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant developed a website, Illinois Groundwork, based on multidisciplinary green infrastructure research and an extension process piloted in the Chicago Calumet region. By improving access to data, research, and other resources, Illinois Groundwork increases the effective use of green infrastructure to address stormwater management challenges. For more information, see IllinoisGroundwork.org.

• Lawn to Lake Midwest

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  In 2021–22, the Lawn to Lake Midwest Program used insights from the 2019 Lawn Caretaker Survey to develop five outreach tools, distribute 50,000 copies of each across the state, and create a comprehensive website to showcase them. A social media campaign raised awareness of the new resources by generating 85,000 impressions, or views, and driving 10,000 users to the new website. For more information, see LawntoLakeMidwest.org.

• National Green Infrastructure Certification Program

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The National Green Infrastructure Certification Program Training Center is located at Parkland College in Champaign. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ownership transition of the certification program, the center did not hold any trainings in 2021. The center successfully held its first virtual training in spring 2022 and plans to hold two to three trainings annually. Faculty in the center are also involved in the Curriculum Committee to update the program curriculum. For more information, see www.ngicp.org.

• Conservation@Home

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  Developed by The Conservation Foundation, Conservation@Home is an educational program that recognizes and certifies properties that demonstrate environmentally sound landscape practices. Through the Conservation@Home certification program’s guidance and education, residents can shape their private and community landscapes in an environmentally-minded way. Conservation@Home is a northeastern Illinois regional program. A map of participants is available at tcfwatersheds.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/ index.html. In Cook County, this program is a partnership between University of Illinois Extension and The Forest Preserves of Cook County. For more information, see extension.illinois.edu/cook/ConservationHome and theconservationfoundation.org/conservation-home.

• Rainscaping Education Program

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Rainscaping Education Program is a collaboration between University of Illinois Extension, Purdue University Extension, and community partners to provide training to communities interested in building rain gardens. From 2021-22, Illinois Extension offered seven events with 98 participants. As part of the curriculum, four demonstration rain gardens were built or renovated, one program taught hands-on maintenance, and 11 homeowners qualified for stipends to build residential rain gardens. Illinois Extension and Purdue Extension also taught 10 additional Illinois staff members how to host and teach the Rainscaping sessions. For more information, see iiseagrant.org/work/sustainable-community-planning/ programs-initiatives/purdue-rainscaping-education.

• Red Oak Rain Garden

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Red Oak Rain Garden is a demonstration landscape on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, managed by Illinois Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. The garden reduces flooding, improves water quality, increases green infrastructure literacy, and models best practices for rain garden design, construction, and care. In 2021, the plant and species numbers were expanded to 13,000 individual plants and 59 species. In 2022, Extension hosted a public engagement event at the rain garden, expanded options for volunteer stewardship, and established a campaign for a maintenance endowment. Throughout 2021-22, Extension provided green infrastructure education via several virtual presentations. For more information, see go.illinois.edu/RORG.

• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is developing a watershed-based plan for a 16-square-mile area in northeastern Illinois that drains to Indian Creek and the adjoining Fox River. The planning area spans eastern Kane and western DuPage counties and involves numerous planning partners, including the cities of Aurora and Batavia, counties of Kane and DuPage, the Fox River Study Group, the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership, Fermilab, and the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District. The plan will be completed in early 2023. For more information, see engage.cmap.illinois.gov/indian-creek-watershed-based-plan.

• DuPage County Stormwater Management

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  Using funds awarded through the Illinois EPA’s Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grant program, DuPage County Stormwater Management completed a watershed-based plan for the East Branch DuPage River watershed. The East Branch DuPage River watershed spans more than 52,000 acres and is located in central DuPage County, with a small portion extending south into Will County. It has been classified as an impaired waterway by the Illinois EPA due to several pollutants, including total phosphorus, sediment/ siltation, dissolved oxygen, and aquatic algae. The Illinois EPA is reviewing the plan.

• Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission

  Dec 8, 2023 12:30 pm

  The Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission has an active role in the development of watershed-based plans in southern Illinois. Two watershed-based plans were completed during the reporting period: Western Crab Orchard Creek watershed, a collection of three HUC 12 watersheds encompassing Carbondale and Makanda; and Kinkaid Creek watershed, a HUC 10 watershed containing Kinkaid Lake. For more information, see GreaterEgypt.org/watershed-based-planning.

  • The Kinkaid Creek Watershed-based Plan was approved in 2022. Partners include US Forest Service Shawnee National Forest, Jackson County Emergency Management Agency, Kinkaid-Reed’s Creek Conservancy District, Jackson County IL League of Women Voters, Sierra Club Shawnee Chapter, and citizens of the Kinkaid Creek Watershed. Entities will use the plan to apply for funding for various water quality management grants.
  • The Western Crab Orchard Creek Watershed-based Plan was approved in 2021. Partners include Green Earth, Inc. Carbondale, Carbondale NAACP, City of Carbondale, Sierra Club Shawnee Chapter, Village of Makanda, Jackson County Emergency Management Agency, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Jackson County IL League of Women Voters, and citizens of the watershed. Entities will use the plan to apply for funding for various water quality management grants.