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The natural resource base of northeastern Illinois is one of its primary
assets. Urban development has numerous complex impacts on the
region’s air, water, land, and wildlife, with both environmental and
economic consequences. NIPC's Environment and Natural Resources
(ENR) group helps the six-county region
preserve air, water, land, and wildlife, which are important for the
environment, economy, and quality of life. The NIPC staff provides
technical assistance to local governments and private organizations in:
For more information, see ENR's annual
Water Quality Activities Report. Also
click here to read more about the Environmental and Natural Resources
group.
More About
Environment and Natural Resources
The watershed – all of the land area that drains to a
single body of water – has become the planning and management unit of
choice for many water resource issues. NIPC provides technical assistance
to consortia of local governments and private organizations working to
develop and implement watershed-based plans. NIPC has also coordinated
over $5 million in federal grants for watershed restoration and non-point
source water pollution control projects in the watersheds of the Upper Des
Plaines and Fox Rivers and Salt Creek. Technical assistance has included
the identification of best management practices and the development of
public education materials. In cooperation with Chicago Wilderness, the
commission is preparing an inventory of these stream restoration projects
to assess restoration techniques, success rates, and cost effectiveness.
Stormwater Management. NIPC has a long
history of efforts in stormwater management. The agency has provided
technical assistance to the county stormwater management agencies in the
development of their plans. It has also coordinated basin-specific flood
control studies such as that on the upper Des Plaines River. NIPC has
prepared model local ordinances for floodplain management and stormwater
drainage and detention, and provides assistance to communities in their
implementation.
Water Supply.
NIPC is part of the Southern Lake Michigan Regional Water Supply
Consortium, which is funded by a grant to NIPC from the
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant program and the Joyce Foundation.
Lake Restoration and Protection. NIPC
provides assistance to local governments in carrying out restoration and
protection projects on small lakes. Many of these projects have been
funded by the Illinois Clean Lakes Program. The commission also
coordinates the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program through which data on
water conditions is routinely collected for over 70 lakes. The IEPA
Lake Notes series of fact sheets drafted by NIPC provides information
to lake managers and property owners on a variety of problems and
management techniques.
Mapping of Wetlands. NIPC has worked with
several counties to inventory and map their high-quality wetlands. A
project sponsored by Chicago Wilderness has developed a wetlands
conservation strategy using GIS-based modeling techniques. The
commission's model ordinance on wetland and stream preservation has been
adopted by many of the region's local governments.
Best Practices for Sensible Development.
NIPC has developed manuals of best practices for natural landscaping and
conservation design. These are directed primarily at local
officials, though private developers and landowners may also benefit from
them. The conservation design manual includes model ordinance
language needed to incorporate or allow conservation design elements in
current subdivision and zoning codes. A
guidebook on
sustainable development has been
prepared in collaboration with the state Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity and the Campaign for Sensible Growth. |
