|
Click here for the Executive
Summary
Chapter 1: Introduction
The
introduction describes the status of our natural landscapes and the efforts of
Chicago Wilderness members to protect them, provides the rationale for
protecting biodiversity and natural resources, and establishes the essential
role of local governments in that effort.
Guidebook
text / PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 2: Comprehensive Land Use Planning
This chapter describes how comprehensive land use
planning can be used by municipalities, counties, and park districts to guide
the type, intensity and quality of land use to achieve balanced and
self-sustaining communities that nourish and expand human opportunities, as
well as protect and enhance the natural landscape. Local examples of this technique are included.
Guidebook
text / PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 3: Compatible Zoning and Subdivision
Regulations
Zoning and subdivision regulations are the most
common tools that counties and municipalities use to control the use of land
after policies have been outlined in the comprehensive plan.
Recommended approaches that protect natural areas include setbacks,
buffers, overlay zones, cluster development, and open space requirements.
Local examples of these techniques are included.
Guidebook
text /
PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 4: Improved Stormwater Management
Uncontrolled stormwater runoff is a major cause of
water pollution and flooding damage in the region. This chapter provides techniques to utilize stormwater runoff
as a resource and thereby reduce its adverse impacts. Techniques include natural drainage and detention,
infiltration practices, and reduced imperviousness.
Local examples of these techniques are included.
Guidebook
text /
PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 5: Stream, Lake and Wetland Protection
Streams, lakes and wetlands provide habitat,
recreational opportunities, and other benefits to our communities.
This chapter describes techniques for protecting and restoring these
valuable resources including regulation, natural buffers, streambank
stabilization, and habitat enhancement. Local
examples of these techniques are included.
Guidebook
text / PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 6: Natural Landscaping
Natural landscaping is the use of plants native to
northeastern Illinois, such as prairie grasses and wildflowers, as an
alternative to traditional landscaping techniques. This chapter describes benefits of and approaches for using
natural landscaping on our public and private properties.
Local examples of natural landscaping techniques are included.
Guidebook
text / PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 7: Improved Wastewater Management
Despite major improvements to the quality of our
treated wastewater, it is still discarded as a waste product and is not
utilized as a resource. Wastewater
can be more sustainably treated and utilized with a variety of techniques such
as regional treatment, wetland polishing, and wastewater reuse.
Local examples of these techniques are included.
Guidebook
text /
PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 8: Open Space Preservation
Protecting remaining habitat and open space is one of
the most direct and effective means of enhancing the survival of our native
species, as well as providing a number of community amenities.
Techniques include dedication and donation, property rights
acquisition, conservation easements, and outright purchase.
Local examples of these techniques are included.
Guidebook
text / PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 9: Natural Area Management and Restoration
Our natural communities have been substantially
altered and degraded by human activities.
Our continued involvement in managing and restoring these natural areas
is essential to protecting regional biodiversity. Local examples of a variety of approaches are included.
Guidebook
text / PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Chapter 10: Education
Education is the common thread that binds all of
these tools and techniques together, and is essential to enhancing their use
and success. A number of
techniques are described, including local examples of their implementation.
Guidebook
text / PowerPoint /
HTML hi-resolution /
HTML
low-resolution
Appendices
Technical Assistance, Land Conservancies, and
Conservation Easements.
Guidebook
text
Protecting Nature in Your Community:
Technical Assistance
Communities around the region are recognizing that
natural areas, trails, parks and open space are
favored by residents,
improve the quality of life, and can attract tax-paying businesses.
How will you make your community
more naturally attractive and environmentally
sound?
We are pleased to offer local governments the services of NIPC’s staff in providing
assistance and training based on our new publication entitled
Protecting Nature in Your Community: A Guidebook for Preserving and
Enhancing Biodiversity. This guidebook has been widely distributed to
local governments throughout the region, including counties,
municipalities, park districts, and wastewater authorities.
To
access "Protecting Nature" slide show presentations and
individual chapters from the guidebook, please click
here.
We can provide information on the relevance and importance of
protecting natural resources and natural areas within local communities
and present a number of techniques to accomplish this objective. We also
can share information from numerous innovative and successful programs and
projects in the region such as
- the City of Woodstock, whose comprehensive plan identifies and
inventories high quality natural areas around which future development
will be planned;
- the new Matteson Village Hall, incorporating trails, benches, and
naturalized stormwater detention into an attractive and environmentally
beneficial native landscaping plan;
- the Mill Creek conservation development in Kane County, utilizing
open space designs, natural drainage techniques, and an innovative
wastewater treatment and reuse system;
- the Village of Schaumburg wetland protection overlay district, which
establishes development standards to protect wetlands;
- the Crystal Lake Park District, which has left nearly 60 percent of
its land in a natural state, and is planting other lands with native
species; and
- the Village of Frankfort, whose integration of a polishing wetland
into its wastewater treatment process protects the high quality of
Hickory Creek.
Assistance will be tailored to the needs and interests of the audience,
and can range from a brief slide presentation and discussion to half-day
seminars involving greater depth of information on specific preservation
techniques and local examples that can be applied in your community.
We cordially invite you to participate in these free technical
assistance sessions. Please feel free to notify other interested parties
in your community, including citizen groups, homeowners’ associations, and
non-profit organizations.
We look forward to working with you in this unique opportunity.
Please contact us as
soon as possible to schedule a session. You can do so by contacting
Kerry Leigh at 312-454-0400.
|
