Progress from CMAP

Since the unanimous approval of Water 2050, the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan, by the Regional Water Supply Planning Group in March 2010, CMAP has worked with numerous partners to support implementation efforts across the region.  This newsletter summarizes major accomplishments to date as well as upcoming projects.  We are interested in your ideas for heeding the call of Water 2050 and ensuring that the region avoids any water demand and supply imbalances in the future while providing for a diverse and growing number of users.  Please send your comments to Tim Loftus (312-386-8666 or tloftus@cmap.illinois.gov).  Thank you for your interest and support. 

Water resource forums. In 2011, CMAP cohosted four well-attended Water 2050 forums on topics including groundwater quality and regulations; regional flooding and stormwater management; the science and planning behind groundwater protection; and the true, full value of water. 

CMAP Model Water Ordinance. To help decision makers throughout region implement Water 2050, CMAP developed the 2010 CMAP Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance to provide a thorough roadmap for practicing sensible demand management.  The ordinance covers application areas of residential, commercial, rainwater harvesting, water waste, and pricing.

Water 2050 Bill Insert Program. In the spirit of implementing Water 2050 and assisting public water suppliers, CMAP created a Bill Insert Program to serve as a method of public information outreach. The five inserts (available for both electronic and paper distribution) cover a variety of topics including aging infrastructure, household leaks, lawn watering, groundwater recharge, and Lake Michigan policy. 

As an early result, Illinois American Water used the program to provide public information to their customers about water issues in the region. Both the lawn watering and infrastructure needs inserts were distributed to 290,000 customers to increase awareness of the importance of outdoor water conservation and the value of water service. Provision of public information to customers has been found to be a cost-effective way to promote water conservation behavior, with reductions in water use averaging two percent for a cost of as low as $0.02 to $0.10 an insert according to a 2009 study.  In winter 2011, CMAP began working with two Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) members, the City of Batavia and McHenry County, to include the groundwater bill insert in their publications.  McHenry County included the insert in their December 5, 2011, E-news publication, reaching 1,400 residents across 40 communities. Batavia included the insert in their January/February 2012 Neighbors of Batavia publication (page 19) that reaches nearly 14,000 people.  In 2012, all 80 NWPA member communities are expected to distribute one or more of the bill inserts to their communitiesas part of a larger public information and outreach effort.

Regional watershed planning.   CMAP staff and local stakeholders developed four watershed plans in 2011 for Ferson-Otter Creek, Blackberry Creek, Silver Creek / Sleepy Hollow Creek, and Hickory Creek.  In addition to addressing the plan components required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), plans also address groundwater protection as an outcome of what was learned during the Water 2050 planning process.  All CMAP-developed watershed plans can be found on-line.  Additionally, a fifth plan, led by The Conservation Foundation with assistance from CMAP, was developed for the Lower DuPage River.  

Water outreach and education. CMAP staff members have given numerous Water 2050-related presentations to a variety of audiences throughout the region, state, and across the nation.  Presentations have been a staple of our outreach and education efforts.  The issues covered always elicit questions and lively discussion.  Select presentations are available on-line, and the CMAP staff is available for presentation to a particular audience that is eager to learn about regional water resources and circumstances.  Contact Tim Loftus (312-386-8666 or tloftus@cmap.illinois.gov) for more information.

LTA water conservation and efficiency plans.  Both the Village of Oak Park and the City of Evanston are developing water conservation and efficiency plans through CMAP’s Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program.  The plans outline specific actions that each community and their residents can take to reduce water use including many that align with the recommendations made in Water 2050.  Conservation coordinators, leak detection and repair, fixture rebate programs, outreach and education strategies, and outdoor water use are all addressed in the plans among other topics.  Both plans will be finished this summer. 

A new water conservation code for Orland Park.  On June 4, 2012, the Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees reviewed the final draft report for the Orland Park Water Conservation Program.  As part of the implementation of Water 2050and through the LTA program, CMAP and the Village of Orland Park partnered to incorporate elements from the 2010 CMAP Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance into existing ordinances and regulations.  This eight-month process was conducted with the assistance of a Steering Committee including Village Staff and community stakeholders and was overseen by the Village’s Plan Commission and the Development Services Committee.  Comments and input from the public were solicited during February and March open houses and during several commission and committee meetings.  The Village of Orland Park is one of the first communities in northeastern Illinois to demonstrate leadership in increased water conservation practices by considering the incorporation of ordinances and programs.

Lake County water quality planning.  With a grant from the IEPA Bureau of Water, CMAP will lead a new planning process in southwestern Lake County to improve water quality and restore designated uses in nine lakes.  The purpose of the Clean Water Act grant is to develop a TMDL (total maximum daily load) implementation plan for the lakes and their combined watersheds.  The two-year project will follow a watershed-based planning process and will begin with a meeting at the Wauconda Village Hall on June 20 at 3:00 p.m.   Contact Tim Loftus (312-386-8666 or tloftus@cmap.illinois.gov) or Holly Hudson (312-386-8700 or hhudson@cmap.illinois.gov) for more information.

Facility Planning Area reviews. One of the many objectives of the region’s Areawide Water Quality Management Plan is the “reduction, by all practical means, of wastewater volumes in the region.”  Water 2050’s emphasis on demand management, particularly conservation and efficiency, supports this objective.  Volumes 1 and 2 of the plan are available on our website  As part of CMAP’s staff Facility Planning Area review of applicant ordinances in place to protect water quality, staff now recommends adoption of some or the entire model water use conservation ordinance. Such a review practice and subsequent recommendations promote integrated planning in the region.

Enhanced water web pages. Remember to visit the updated Water section of CMAP’s website.  Changes include new web page about Volunteer Lake Management Program and other water quality planning activities, updated information on Water 2050 Implementation programs, and additional resources for increasing water conservation and efficiency throughout the region.  

IISG Partnership.  CMAP has partnered with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) to bring a water resource economist to the Water 2050 implementation program and launch several collaborative projects throughout the region. With grant support from the NOAA Coastal Communities Climate Adaptation Initiative,CMAP and IISGundertook the Managing Drought Impacts to Regional Water Supplies project.   A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative helped this partnership launch a collaborative effort to reduce pesticide, fertilizer, and water inputs to the Great Lakes Basin. The effort promotes and implements sustainable lawn and landscape practices at the community and household level.  CMAP and IISG have also developed a series of training initiatives to help communities develop and implement sustainable water services financing. Both agencies are working in region to form technical assistance partnerships and provide information and guidance to other agencies, public water suppliers, city councils, and the general public on full-cost pricing.

IISG 30th Anniversary Water 2050 intern. As part of the IISG's 30th anniversary celebrations, a new summer internship program has brought Sahana Rao, a water supply economics and planning intern to CMAP this summer. Sahana will be working with CMAP’s water resource economist on programmatic implementation, focusing on outdoor water conservation and pricing.

Toilet rebate conservation program. Water 2050 provides regional direction for guiding local actions and integrating water supply issues into planning decisions and programs. Demand management is one of the main strategies of Water 2050 that can be implemented through local conservation programs.  One of the early results of the new water supply plan is a rebate program in Batavia that provides a $50 incentive to residents who replace their toilets with high-efficiency models. These toilets use an average of 1.28 gallons per flush and are on the U.S. EPA WaterSense list. To qualify to be on that list, toilets need to use 20 percent less water than the 1992 Energy Policy Act standard of 1.6 gallons per flush. About 35 residents took advantage of the program in 2010 and a similar number is expected for 2011 results.  The City of Aurora also administered a rebate program in the summer of 2010.

Progress in the Region

Lake Zurich water plan. The final report of findings and recommendations for Lake Zurich’s water supply is now available on-line.  On March 7, 2011, the Lake ZurichVillage Board signed a memorandumthat approved hiring an integrated water resources management team to advise the community as it develops its future water plan. The team, led by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), included CMAP, IISG, and the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT).  It was tasked with assisting the village with exploring strategies for addressing its water, wastewater, and stormwater needs. In addition to the team, this year-long project incorporated experts from a wide variety of backgrounds from academic to consulting to review village data and policies to provide insight on the integration of water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems. 

Northwest Water Planning Alliance.  As an outcome of Water 2050’s call for self-organization and collaborative management among the groundwater-dependent communities in our region, the NWPAwas established in September 2010. The Alliance was formed via intergovernmental agreements between five counties (Lake, McHenry, Kane, DeKalb, and Kendall) and five Council of Governments (COGs -- Lake County Municipal League, McHenry County COG, Barrington Area COG, Metro West COG, and Northwest Municipal Conference). 

The NWPA formed to address growing concern for demand on the deep-bedrock aquifer that is thought to be unsustainable and overpumping of the shallow-aquifer system.  The NWPA’s goal is to “provide a sustainable water supply for the NWPA region in a manner that is both economically and environmentally sound.”  NWPA features an Executive Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee.   CMAP staff supports the NWPA Technical Advisory Committee as they discuss developing a recommendation to the Executive Committee for an outdoor lawn watering ordinance.  Other notable accomplishments include member use of the CMAP water-bill insert library of educational messages and becoming a U.S. EPA WaterSense Partner.

CNT Wetrofit Service Survey. CNT is working with three communities to pilot its Wetrofit program. The program aims to provide families a one-stop wet weather retrofit, or Wetrofit service, and is currently recruiting 100 households in Wilmette, Chicago’s Albany/North Park, and Rogers Park neighborhoods to install and test fixes for flooding with a focus on rain gardens.  To work with CNT to reduce flooding in your property or neighborhood, fill out the survey on-line or contact Ryan Wilson (rwilson@cnt.org or 773-328-7014). 

Resources

LTA 2012 call for projects. For the second year, CMAP is making staff resources and grants available for community-based projects through the GO TO 2040 LTA program. Municipalities, counties, multijurisdictional groups, or nongovernmental organizations (in partnership with local government) are encouraged to apply for CMAP staff assistance by responding to the new LTA 2012 Call for Projects.  Applications related to watershed-plan recommendations and other water related ideas are encouraged.  Applications are due by Wednesday, August 1, 2012. For more information, please contact Pete Saunders (psaunders@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8654). Applicants that would prefer to receive grant funds should consider applying for funding through CMAP's Community Planning program -- see http://rtachicago.com/community-planning/community-planning.html for more details.

Water News

ISWS report.  The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) has released Contract Report 2012-03 “Opportunities and Challenges of Meeting Water Demand in Northeastern Illinois.”  The ISWS was called out in Executive Order 2006-1 to coordinate with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in defining a comprehensive program for state and regional water supply planning and management and more.  ISWS modeling and participation was instrumental during the regional water supply planning process that culminated with publication of Water 2050, which summarized preliminary ISWS findings. The new report suggests that the study results “should be viewed with optimism” despite concluding that the deep-bedrock aquifer is being mined and the withdrawals from shallow aquifers have the effect of reducing discharge to wetlands and surface waters (e.g., headwater and tributary streams.)  As for the region’s two inland river sources, the Fox River is thought to be underutilized as a source of water, while the Kankakee River awaits further study to determine its potential for additional withdrawals.  Lake Michigan, serving over three-quarters of the region’s population, is expected to remain in compliance with the Consent Decree while still accommodating an increase in domestic water use allocations.  The report concludes that there is still 10-30 years to pursue source and management alternatives, but given the time it takes to construct and implement projects and plans, “planners should act now.” 

Graywater reuse and rainwater harvesting.  Water 2050 calls attention to graywater reuse and rainwater harvesting as viable options for either indoor nonpotable use, such as toilet flushing, or outdoor irrigation. Illinois House Bill 4496 amends the Illinois Plumbing License Law.  It provides that by January 1, 2013, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) shall amend the language of the law to reflect current thinking, codes, and recommendations so that the State’s plumbing code standards are consistent with the leading technologies and methods that more efficiently utilize natural resources while continuing to protect public health.  New language is expected to allow for rainwater harvesting and graywater reuse, as Water 2050 recommends.  Our colleagues at MPC have facilitated a number of roundtable discussions to assist IDPH with the pending new language.  HB 4496 passed both houses on May 15 and awaits Governor Quinn’s signature.    

Events

Sustainable infrastructure planning workshop. On June 18 and 19, McHenry County will host a sustainable infrastructure planning workshop developed as part of CMAP's Water Financing Program. This training assists communities in identifying actions to foster sustainability, including project development, water conservation, energy efficiency, and asset management. Register on-line. For more information, contact Bud Mason (bmason@iacaanet.org) or Margaret Schneemann (mschneemann@cmap.illinois.gov).
 

Lawn to Lakes retail program. An outreach program for lawn product retailers to promote availability of phosphorous-free and natural lawn care products is underway this summer. Participating stores are listed in an interactive mapas a local resource for consumers. Lawn to Lake project coordinators are also providing stores with display materials and to hold on-site educational events and staff trainings. For more information, visit www.lawntogreatlakes.org.

Progress from CMAP

Water-Energy Nexus Survey Summary.  The Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association's (ISAWWA) Water Efficiency Committee has released a Water-Energy Nexus Survey Summary Report.  The report is the result of a two-year effort to collect water and energy data from public water suppliers with the purpose of better understanding the energy embedded in the state's water supplies. Energy intensity was one of the seven metrics that was analyzed both in terms of water source and utility size among respondents.  Fifty utilities participated in the first round of data collection and utilities can still participate in the survey.  The deadline for survey submissions is June 1.   Fill out the survey on-line or contact Amy Talbot (atalbot@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8646) to request a paper copy. 


 

Resources

Spring lawn care.  Although the region has experienced early spring weather, the Lawn to Lake program reminds residents that early spring fertilization is not only unnecessary, but can have detrimental effects on our water resources -- the fertilizer and pesticides we put on the lawn ends up in our water.  U.S. EPA's website has a series of videos on healthy lawn care practices.   Contact Margaret Schneemann for more information (mschneemann@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-7455).

Water Usage Calculator.  The Alliance for Water Efficiency recently released the Water Usage Calculator, an on-line tool that automatically compares estimated water use of an average home versus a water-efficient home in the same region with the same number of residents.  The Water Usage Calculator also estimates the carbon footprint of a household's hot water use and helps identify areas where improved water efficiency may be possible.  Visit the Alliance website to search the on-line water conservation and efficiency Resource Library, information on water efficient products, water news, and a water conservation tracking tool.  For more information or to become a member of the Alliance, contact Mike Piskur (michael@a4we.org).

New unwanted medicine disposal website.  University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Indiana Sea Grant have developed a new website addressing proper medicine disposal.  Medicine disposal is of concern because studies have found pharmaceuticals are present in U.S. waterways and in drinking water.  IISG works with communities to develop local medicine collection programs.  For more information, contact IISG Pollution Prevention Specialist Laura Kammin (lkammin@illinois.edu or 217-333-1115).

Climate change and water resources.  The Natural Resources Defense Council has released Ready or Not:  An Evaluation of State Climate and Water Preparedness Planning, an on-line resource regarding our state’s climate change preparedness.  The U.S. EPA has also opened a public comment period on a draft of its National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change through May 17. 


 

Water News

Great Lakes states sign deal on offshore wind farms.  The State of Illinois, along with New York, Minnesota, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Obama administration to streamline development of offshore wind farms in the Great Lakes.  The MOU is designed to facilitate and coordinate federal, state, and local interests as processes and proposals are considered for the development of wind farms in these  states.   Benefits of wind farms include the creation of jobs that for example, for every megawatt of wind power, up to 20 jobs could be created.  In New York, it is estimated that 143,000 megawatts of power could be harnessed offshore.  Aside from job creation, many other interests such as environmental impacts, social preferences, national defense, and water supply operations would need to be considered before any potential projects would move forward. 

Illinois Coastal Management.  The Illinois Coastal Management Program now makes the State of Illinois eligible for $2 million per year to address local priority projects such as invasive species, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable and economic development. The program received the Certificate of Approval from Governor Quinn in March.

Illinois plumbing code amendment.  On March 28, 2012, the Illinois General Assembly passed HB4496, which recommends the Illinois Plumbing Code be amended to “reflect advances technologies and methods that more efficiently utilize natural resources and protect public health.” This amendment could signal increased water resource sustainability for the state.   Currently, the code does not include provisions for rainwater harvesting for indoor non-potable uses.


 

Events

Climate and water resources workshop.  On April 17, a team of scientists from the University of Leeds will participate in "Water in a Changing World: A Comparison of Midwest and European Approaches" at the I-Hotel and Conference Center (1900 S. First Street, Champaign) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The workshop will feature short presentations followed by panel discussions, including one on Urbanization and Water where CMAP's Tim Loftus will speak about Water 2050.  There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.  Contact the European Union Center at 217-2650-7515 for registration or more information.

Watershed Academy webcast.  IEPA will host a free Watershed Academy webcast titled “Using the Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for Nonpoint Source and National Estuary Projects” on April 17 from noon to 2:00 p.m. CT.   The CWSRF is a large, flexible, and largely untapped source of funding for watershed protection projects.  Each year the CWSRF provides funding stormwater and wastewater projects, as well as nonpoint source projects, such as land conservation, agricultural best management practices, and clean-up of contaminated sites.  Register for the webcast on-line.

Earth Day luncheon. The Village of Winthrop Harbor will host an Earth Day Luncheon on April 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club. The event will focus on economic development along the Illinois Lake Michigan Shore and includes a lunchtime panel conversation where CMAP’s Hala Ahmed will speak.

Buffalo Creek Watershed. On April 25, the Buffalo Creek Clean Watershed Partnership (BCCWP) will hold its first public meeting at the Village Council Chambers (50 Raupp Boulevard, Buffalo Grove). The goal of BCCWP is to address issues including flooding, erosion, habitat loss, and water quality along Buffalo Creek, an 11-mile long stream that drains parts of eight communities in northern Cook and southern Lake Counties. Regional agencies including CMAP will participate and lead discussions of these issues, providing opportunities for citizens and communities to learn and voice their concerns. For more information, contact Jeff Weiss (marjeff1@aol.com or 847-224-0965). 

Progress from CMAP

Fox River Watershed restoration and education report. CMAP has completed the "Fox River Watershed Restoration & Education" report.  It highlights four individual projects aimed at controlling nonpoint source (NPS) pollution within the Fox River Basin from the Village of Streamwood, Dundee Township, the Village of West Dundee, and the St. Charles Park District. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) receives federal funds through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act to help implement IEPA's NPS Management Program. The program supports several types of activities to protect water quality by controlling NPS pollution. CMAP provided financial, administrative, and technical assistance to each grant recipient during design and implementation of various best management practices for NPS pollution control. Project highlights include:

• The Village of Streamwood stabilized approximately 2,160 feet of eroding streambank along a 1,080 foot segment of the South Branch of Poplar Creek located between the Streamwood Oaks Golf Course and Whispering Drive.
• Dundee Township conducted, reclaimed, and restored a 160-acre site on Jelkes Creek, a tributary of the Fox River, located southwest of the Village of Sleepy Hollow.
• The St. Charles Park District implemented streambank and streambed stabilization of a 1,700 foot segment of Norris Woods Creek, a tributary of the Fox River located in the Norris Woods Nature Preserve.
• The Village of West Dundee constructed two bioretention facilities near the Fox River. One facility is approximately 1,000 square feet in size and is located at the end of Oregon Street, and the other facility is approximately 600 square feet in size and is located at the end of Fay Avenue.

New water conservation code for Orland Park. On February 22, 2012, the Village of Orland Park and CMAP will hold the first public meeting for the development of a new water conservation code at Orland Park Public Library (14921 Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park)from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Village is seeking to tailor the CMAP Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance and use recommendations from the Water 2050 and GO TO 2040 plans to emphasize water conservation and efficiency through Orland Park's codes and programs. The new water conservation code will recommend ordinance language for increased water conservation practices in a unified Water Resources Chapter to be added to the Village Land Development Code. This project is part of CMAP's Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, which is sponsored by a three-year $4.25 million HUD Sustainable Communities grant that helps local governments, nonprofits, and other organizations to help implement the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan.

GO TO 2040 implementation report. CMAP recently released its first annual GO TO 2040 implementation report, which includes water-related case studies that implement recommendations from Water 2050 as well as GO TO 2040. A poster/brochure accompaniment to the report is available upon request (contact Justine Reisinger).

Progress in the Region

Physical barriers against invasive species. The Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, with support from six funders, has completed “Restoring the Natural Divide: Separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin" to identify engineering options for Chicago’s waterway system that will prevent interbasin movement of aquatic invasive species, including Asian carp. Initiated in July 2010, the study also examined potential improvements to the waterway’s roles in commercial navigation, recreational boating, flood and stormwater management, and water quality. CMAP staff participated as a member of the project advisory committee that included representatives from throughout the Great Lakes Basin. Watch this video explaining the study.

MWRD approves green infrastructure for stormwater management. In January, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) established new guidelines for implementing its Sewer Permit Ordinance (SPO) to allow the use of green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff. Since the 1970s, the SPO has regulated drainage from developed properties in Cook County, requiring the use of detention basins or other facilities to slow down runoff during heavy rain storms to protect downstream property owners from flooding. Under the new guidelines, developers can employ “green infrastructure” techniques that mimic natural systems, such as devices that promote uptake of rainfall by plants or that allow water to filter into the soil. Since green infrastructure keeps part of the runoff onsite rather than draining it offsite, using green infrastructure can now be counted toward part of the SPO’s required detention. On smaller sites, all of the detention can be provided through green infrastructure, while on larger sites a quarter of the detention requirement can be met this way. As a result, developers can now expect to save money on site infrastructure costs while simultaneously enhancing water quality and maintaining the SPO’s flood control benefits. Read more about this development in CMAP's Policy Updates blog.

Resources

New pollutant discharge tool. A new discharge pollutant loading tool is available through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). It allows stakeholders to access important information about pollutants that are released into local waterways under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. With the tool, users can easily search and create maps of water pollution into waterways by watershed, company, local area, industry sector, and pollutant. Users can view when discharges are above permitted levels, violations, and enforcement actions taken by the U.S. EPA to address the violations. The tool can be used to protect the health of the community and the region.

Sustainability handbook. A new handbook, "Planning for Sustainability: A Handbook for Water and Wastewater Utilities," is available to help water sector utilities build sustainability considerations into their planning. The handbook will help ensure that water infrastructure projects, including those funded through the state revolving loan fund programs, support long-term sustainability. It is an important milestone in the U.S. EPA's ongoing efforts to implements its clean water and safe drinking water infrastructure sustainability policy, which was initiated in September 2010.

Coastal planning resource. The National Ocean Council launched a new website as a one-stop resource for data and information to support coastal planning -- including in the Great Lakes region. The website includes data, tools, technical guidance, regional planning resources, and a networking forum for all those engaged in protecting our coastal resources.

Mayoral water conservation challenge. From March 30 to April 30, mayors can pledge to conserve water and cut pollution in the third annual National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Through this nonprofit competition, mayors will be asking their residents to undertake water conservation and energy saving measures such as fixing leaky faucets, walking or biking short distances, and washing only full loads of laundry. CMAP encourages mayors in the northeastern Illinois region to participate in this challenge and is willing to offer assistance where needed. Read more at American City & County.

Sense of Water contest. In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. EPA is focusing this year's Rachael Carson Intergenerational "Sense of Wonder" Contest on water. Contest submissions must be on the properties of water and what water means to individuals and the region. Submissions may include poetry, essay, a dance video, or photography. The deadline for entries is June 1, 2012.

Water News

Marketing summit highlighted.The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s (IISG) Asian Carp Marketing Summit is featured in the Telegraph's top 10 local stories of 2011 as the summit invited restaurants, commercial fishing, processing and related businesses, agencies, and academic institutions to discuss the Asian carp threat and foster solutions.

Funding water infrastructure projects. In January, the Regional Infrastructure Improvement Zones Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would allow private businesses or individuals to contribute tax-deductible funds to support the construction or maintenance of public infrastructure, including transportation and water projects. Read more about the bill at CMAP's Policy Updates blog. In related news, the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread released a report outlining strategies for financing water infrastructure in January. The Natural Resources Defense Council released a report on financing stormwater retrofits as well.

Events

Fix a Leak Week. March 12 to 18 marks the fourth annual Fix a Leak Week, sponsored by the U.S. EPA's WaterSense Partnership Program. In addition to featuring a pledge, information will be available on WaterSense partner events throughout the week.

Lawn to Lake Spring 2012 Natural Lawn Care Workshops. The calm before the growing season provides a perfect opportunity to learn new water-friendly lawn care practices. Did you know that the water requirements of natural lawns range 30 to 50 percent lower compared to conventionally maintained lawns? The Lawn to Lake program is partnering with CMAP and other national and regional lawn experts to offer several workshops on Natural Lawn Care this spring, including:

• From March 21 to 22, learn about the latest in natural lawn care techniques at Indiana Natural Lawn Care workshops featuring nationally known expert Chip Osborne. The March 21 Natural Lawn Care workshop is targeted to professionals and municipalities. The March 22 workshop will be for schools and childcares looking to learn about how to use Natural Lawn Care, comply with pesticide regulations, and protect children’s health.
   
• From March 30 to 31, the Illinois Lawn and Landscape Summit will offer techniques to create and care for lawns and landscapes using organic methods at the Botanic Gardens in Glencoe, Ill. The summit will feature Paul Tukey, founding editor and publisher of People, Places & Plants magazine and author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual. On March 30, the all-day summit will be directed to the needs of lawn care professionals. On March 31, homeowners can take part in presentations and discussions that run all morning.
   
• On April 13, the Division of Water Resources from McHenry County's Department of Planning and Development and partners will host the McHenry Natural Lawn Care and Sustainable Landscapes Workshop. The workshop will introduce natural lawn and sustainable landscaping techniques, resources, and implementation; address contract and ordinance review; and discuss managing stormwater with rain-friendly landscaping. For registration materials visit http://www.mchenryh2o.com/ or call 815-334-4560.

World Water Day. Water and food security will be the theme for the 2012 World Water Day on March 22. Started by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992, the day was designated for global action on implementing UN recommendations and water activities.

Water pricing and planning for climate change. On April 25, Margaret Schneemann, Water Resource Economist with CMAP and IISG, will present "Reducing Water Supply Vulnerability in the Chicago Metro Region: Water Pricing as an Adaptive Climate Change Strategy" to the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC). The presentation will discuss the role of water pricing to promote sound regional water management, provide at-risk water systems options to manage climate impacts, and will ensure ongoing infrastructure adequacy as communities face increasing uncertainties. Visit the ISTC calendar for more information.
 

WaterSense Update

NWPA. In January 2012, the Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) Executive Committee agreed that all members should also become WaterSense Partners in an effort to promote a unified outreach and education message throughout all 80 groundwater-dependent member communities. A WaterSense partnership is a free and easy way to support water efficiency and conservation in your community, and there are already 26 WaterSense promotional partners in our region. For more information, contact Cary McElhinney at McElhinney.Cary@epa.gov or 312-886-4313.

WaterSense Fact. If one of every ten homes in the U.S. were to install WaterSense labeled faucets or faucet accessories in their bathrooms, it could save six billion gallons of water per year and more than $50 million in the energy costs to supply, heat, and treat that water. Learn more about how you can save water and help make a positive impact. CMAP is a WaterSense partner.

Progress from CMAP

Watershed planning.CMAP’s watershed planning activity in the Fox River Basin is coming to a successful close. Final draft plans for Silver Creek/Sleepy Hollow Creek, Ferson-Otter Creek, and Blackberry Creek are due to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) on December 31, 2011. Draft plans and executive summary documents have already been approved by IEPA, and CMAP staff are preparing for meetings this month that will end the current phase of planning.

The newly formed Ferson-Otter Creek Watershed Coalition will meet on December 19 with CMAP staff and our local watershed coordinator and outreach manager, The Conservation Foundation (TCF), in South Elgin. The Silver Creek/Sleepy Hollow Watershed Coalition, also newly formed, will meet with CMAP and our local watershed coordinator and outreach manager, The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, on December 20 in Crystal Lake. CMAP and TCF staff will meet with Blackberry Creek stakeholders on December 20 in Sugar Grove. Details about the upcoming meeting venues can be found on the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership’s (FREP) website. FREP will continue to update news and information about these and other watershed planning activities through 2012 via a one-year contract extension with CMAP.

Lake Zurich water supply planning. CMAP continues to work on water resource management for Lake Zurich as part of a team led by the Metropolitan Planning Council. Other partners on this project include the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and Center for Neighborhood Technology. The What Our Water’s Worth (WOWW) campaign website recently profiled Lake Zurich. The water resources management team is in the process of preparing its final report to present to the village this winter. This project is also part of CMAP's Local Techincal Assistance program.

Water rates. CMAP’s water resource economist has convened a Water Pricing Advisory Committee to help guide the development of a forthcoming white paper that aims to address full-cost water pricing. The committee met this fall to discuss moving the region forward toward full-cost water pricing, which would enable the continued provision of safe, reliable water service to residents. As part of their work, the pricing advisory committee has reviewed a draft document that will frame the complex issue of water pricing and will serve to inform efforts in the region to implement full cost pricing of water services, building upon previous water rates work conducted in northeastern Illinois. To learn more, contact Margaret Schneemann (MSchneemann@cmap.illinois.gov).

Progress in the Region

Water infrastructure investment. The City of Chicago’s recently approved water-rate increase, a component of the City's 2012 budget, will affect many communities throughout the region. However, it is important that future rate-increase discussions include the plans necessary to address the region’s water infrastructure maintenance needs. As identified in Water 2050, there are great opportunities to improve both conservation and efficiency of the region’s use of our water resources. CMAP staff wrote an October Policy Update to help inform some of these ongoing discussions, including general perceptions of the value of water and the ongoing need to recalibrate such perceptions.

New water quality standards for Chicago River system. In November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) announced its approval of new water quality standards for the Chicago River system. The U.S. EPA had notified the State of Illinois in May that revised water quality standards would be necessary to protect the health of recreational users of the river system. As noted in The Economist, the Chicago River system is increasingly gaining importance as a recreational resource among residents and tourists. The new standards apply to five branches of the river system, including the North and South Branches of the Chicago River, the North Shore Channel, the Cal-Sag Channel, and the Little Calumet River. Revised standards for the Chicago Area Waterway System and the Lower Des Plaines River proposed by the State are still under review by U.S. EPA.

Mayors commit to Great Lakes restoration. During its December meeting, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative passed a resolution committing member mayors to promoting green urban restoration. “I am committed to the restoration and revitalization of the Chicago River as the City’s next recreational frontier, as well as the protection of the Lake Michigan shoreline,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, who also hosted the meeting. Other local cities involved with the initiative include Evanston, Highland Park, and Waukegan.

Resources

Water quality initiatives.On October 28, U.S. EPA announced the development of an integrated planning process to achieve clean water more efficiently and cost effectively. The new approach is intended to help municipalities prioritize infrastructure investments to address water quality issues. It will focus on multi-benefit solutions that improve water quality and enhance community vitality, e.g. green infrastructure practices. The U.S. Geological Survey has also released an initiative to provide decision support for water quality improvements. The Spatially Referenced Regressions on Watershed attributes model (SPARROW) details nutrient conditions in each region of the country (Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, Midwest/Central, and Eastern Regions) based on geospatial data on soils, land use, fertilizer, manure, wastewater, and other watershed characteristics. The decision support system allows users to “evaluate combinations of source reduction scenarios that target one or multiple sources of nutrients and see the change in the amount of nutrients transported to downstream waters -- a capability that has not been widely available in the past,” according to Stephen Preston, USGS hydrologist and coordinator for the regional models.

New IISG brochure and RFP. IISG released a brochure of program impacts, including progress on green infrastructure, water conservation, and more. IISG has an ongoing partnership with CMAP to implement the Water 2050 plan recommendations. IISG has also issued a request for pre-proposals (RFP) for development research projects relevant to Lake Michigan. For questions on the RFP, contact Carolyn Foley.

RFP for Urban Waters Small Grants.The U.S. EPA announced $1.8 million to $3.8 million in funding for urban water restoration. The funding is part of U.S. EPA’s Urban Waters program, supporting community efforts improve urban waters and the surrounding land. U.S. EPA expects to award the grants in summer 2012, and the application deadline is January 23, 2012.

Water News

Septic system improvements.On November 8, 2011, U.S. EPA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 16 partner organizations to promote collaboration in septic system improvements. The objective of the MOU is to improve system performance through enhanced management practices and technology transfer, expanded accountability and oversight, and improved local decision making through additional public awareness, education, and information programs. A majority of existing septic systems are over 30 years old, with a significant percentage currently malfunctioning. Malfunctioning septic systems are considered potential sources of fecal coliform contamination in the region’s rivers and streams. This collaboration may serve as a model for addressing septic system impairment at the local level. Read more at WaterWorld.

Changes to WaterSense. The U.S. EPA released a Notification of Intent to modify the WaterSense Final Specification for Single Family New Homes, including the removal of the 40 percent turfgrass restriction for landscaping, among other changes. Send comments on the proposed modifications to watersense-homes@erg.com. Read more at Lawn & Landscape.

National water infrastructure legislation. In response to aging national water infrastructure, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced H.R. 3154, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2011, on October 11. This legislation proposes a five-year $13.8 billion investment in water quality improvements. The bill would establish a new water infrastructure loan guarantee program and, along with a proposed Clean Water Trust Fund, is intended to leverage billions of dollars to meet local water infrastructure needs. The Clean Water Trust Fund would be used to encourage projects that utilize green infrastructure approaches, energy or water efficiency improvements, and the implementation of best management practices or measures identified in an approved nonpoint source management program under section 319. These proposals support recommendations from both the Water 2050 plan and concurrent watershed planning efforts along the Fox River.

Clean Water Act clarification on “Waters of the United States.” Last year, U.S. EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued draft guidance for clear guidelines to determine which water bodies should be protected under the Clean Water Act. Following public comment on these guidelines, a mandate emerged for U.S. EPA to propose a rule clarifying U.S. waters protected under the Clean Water Act. Now, the U.S. EPA and Army Corps of Engineers are in the process of defining this rule and anticipate a public comment period on it in 2012. The rule will focus on protection of smaller tributaries feeding protected waters and wetlands which remove pollutants from water and provide flood control for communities.For updates on the issue, visit http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/CWAwaters.cfm.

Events

Natural Lawn Care workshop.Natural lawn care is a solution that can reduce energy, pesticide, fertilizer, and water inputs necessary to have a healthy lawn. On March 21, 2012, the Lawn to Lake program will sponsor a Natural Lawn Care workshop for landscape companies, turf managers, municipalities, and school districts at Indiana University Northwest. The workshop will feature sustainable landscape expert Chip Osborne and the latest in natural lawn care techniques. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn about the latest in natural lawn care techniques and principles, plus explore how to expand your clientele and develop a profitable program. Visit www.spcpweb.org/training for more information about the workshop.

The Lawn to Lake program is a collaborative effort to protect water resources in the Great Lakes by promoting healthy lawn and landscape practices. As part of implementing Water 2050, CMAP has an ongoing partnership with IISG, who, with funding from the U.S EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), is coordinating a pollution prevention campaign addressing the needs of those responsible for lawn and landscape care in the Southern Lake Michigan Basin. Lawn to Lake works with homeowners, schools, Master Gardeners, professionals, retailers, municipalities, and others across our region to change the way we care for our lawns and landscapes. For more information visit www.lawntolake.org/GreatLakes or contact Lawn to Lake program manager Margaret Schneemann (MSchneemann@cmap.illinois.gov).

WWW conference. On February 22 to 23, 2012, the Wisconsin Wetland Association willhost its Urban Wetlands Conference in Lake Geneva, WI for the regional wetland community to discuss science, management, restoration, and protection.

Progress from CMAP

IDNR newsletter features Water 2050 recommendations. The August edition of the Lake Michigan Water Allocation newsletter from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) highlighted Water 2050, specifically the recommendation to create a Model Water Conservation Ordinance.   CMAP completed a model ordinance and is looking for communities to implement all or a portion of it at the local level.   INDR recommends that permittees review and consider the model ordinance for use in their communities.  For assistance or comments about the model ordinance, please contact Amy Talbot (atalbot@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8646).

St. Charles Park District/Norris Woods Creek stabilization project. Construction has begun for the St. Charles Park District/Norris Woods Creekstabilization project.  Funded under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) FY 08 Section 319 grant cycle to CMAP, the project includes stabilizing the streambank and streambed of a 1,700 foot segment of Norris Woods Creek, a tributary of the Fox River, located in the Norris Woods Nature Preserve.  The Norris Woods project will include reconfiguration of accumulated sediment in an on-line pond to facilitate installation of wetland plant species to slow and filter streamflow; reconfiguration of a basin located in the lower third of the project site into a vegetated swale to collect and filter runoff before discharging to the creek; and development and installation of two interpretive signs to be installed at the project site.
 

Progress in the Region

SOM launches new Great Lakes website. The global design firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) recently launched a website, the Great Lakes Century, as a forum to discuss strategies for protecting the Great Lakes.  The Great Lakes Century is a free initiative of SOM’s City Design Practice -- architects and urban planners working under worldwide urban planning partner Philip Enquist, who conceived of the idea as the firm’s contribution to the 2009 Burnham Plan Centennial.  The new website features SOM’s graphic vision document, journal article, presentations, posts from various contributors, and areas to respond to the posts.  

City plans for new Chicago River boathouses.  The City of Chicago announced plans to build four new boathouses in the ongoing effort to increase access to and interest in the Chicago River. The boathouses will be located along four spots on the Chicago River, including a new park by Bubbly Creek, Ping Tom Park in Chinatown, Clark Park in North Center, and River Park in Ravenswood. Construction of the boathouses will cost an estimated $4 million each, to be funded through both the City and private donations. Recent federal mandates have pushed for improvements to the quality of the waterway.

IDNR to review Allocation of Water from Lake Michigan rules. IDNR will review the Allocation of Water from Lake Michigan rules, focusing on updating the water efficient plumbing section and updating methodology to calculate LMO-2, according to the IDNR newsletter (also mentioned above). Both proposed changes are in line with the recommendations in Water 2050 and could increase the efficiency of region’s collective water supplies.

The first area IDNR intends to focus on is the updating the water efficient plumbing section (Section 3730.307(c)(4)) to be more in line with the fixture flow rates in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the WaterSense Program-both new developments since the original rules were adopted.  The second area is updating the methodology of the LMO-2 form with the removal of the “unavoidable leakage” component of the calculation (Section 3730.102 Definitions and also in Section 3730.307(b)).  The unavoidable leakage component represents a significant quantity of lost water and dollars. 

The incorporation of these two changes would be important in terms of increasing the efficiency of our region’s collective water supplies, not only for the communities on Lake Michigan but also for groundwater communities that are in the midst of obtaining Lake Michigan water both now and in the future.  Understanding the effects of these proposed changes on communities will need to be considered throughout the process. However, it is evident that these rules need to be reviewed and revisited as technology, population, and the water supply environment has changed and will continue to change over time.

Water in the News

Proposed Chicago budget would increase water rates.  Yesterday, the City of Chicago announced plans to increase water and sewer rates in Chicago’s 2012 proposed budget. The proposed budget prioritizes improving the City’s water system to address aging infrastructure, citing city water rates that are currently among the lowest in the country. Under this proposed budget, water and sewer rates would double over the next four years, an increase for the average Chicago household of $120 in 2012. The budget includes other provisions to raise revenue as well, such as a “congestion fee” charged to car owners that park downtown and a fee for larger vehicles that contribute disproportionately to street wear. Ultimately, this plan would fill a $636 million budget shortfall without needing to raise property, sales, or income taxes.

New Illinois medicine collection laws.Governor Quinn has signed legislation that will facilitate collection of unused meds by law enforcement agencies. The signing of House Bill 2056 and House Bill 3090 was a result of thePrescription Pill and Drug Disposal program (P2D2). In northeastern Illinois, the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG), in partnership with the P2D2 program, developed The Medicine Chest, a collection of activities and learning resources for students to learn about stewardship of water resources. For more information about starting a program in your community, contact Laura Kammin at lkammin@illinois.edu. Emerging contaminants of concern.  The Chicago Tribune ran a special report on emerging contaminants in Chicago tap water. To learn more about emerging contaminants in the Great Lakes, see the International Joint Commission report “Chemicals of Emerging Concern in the Great Lakes Region.”  Some pesticides were found to be particularly high in urban areas due to lawn care activities. CMAP has partnered with IISG in developing the Lawn to Lake program to help those in our region change their lawn and landscape practices to reduce pesticide inputs into local waters.  A follow-up article from the Tribune focused on a screening process for lead-contaminated water.  

President Obama backs bill for water infrastructure bank. In a speech on September 8^t to a joint session of Congress, President Obama spoke in support of a bill that would create a federal water infrastructure bank.  The American Water Works Association (AWWA) supports a federal water infrastructure bank as a means of addressing necessary repair and replacement of our aging water services infrastructure for systems in economic need. The AWWA acknowledges that the ideal is a water system that is able to sustain itself though full cost rates and charges. CMAP will be issuing a full cost of water services white paper later this fall.

Judges deny request to close Chicago-area locks.  A federal appeals panel has denied a request from five Great Lakes states to close the Chicago-area locks. The suit was an effort to control the invasion of Asian carp entering Lake Michigan through the Chicago waterways. Currently, the locks are operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) to control flooding during heavy rains and to enable shipping to pass through the area. The federal lawsuit by Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin requested that the Great Lakes and Mississippi systems be physically separated as quickly as possible. Critics of the request, however, say that such a closure could have a significant economic impact on the area and put flood-prone communities at greater risk.

Another potential water supplier for Lake County communities. Waukegan officials are positioning their water plant to be a prospective water vendor to the North-West Lake County Lake Michigan Water Planning Group. Thenew planning group includes Antioch, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Lake Zurich, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, Volo, Wauconda and the unincorporated areas of Fox Lake Hills and Grandwood Park. In September, Waukegan aldermen authorized contracts for two Chicago-based companies to explore the potential for Waukegan to supply Lake Michigan water to these communities from the city’s current excess capacity. Other potential vendors are the Lake County Public Water District in Zion and the Central Lake County Joint Water Action Agency in Lake Bluff.

Healthy Watersheds Initiate National Framework and Action Plan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) recently released the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) National Framework and Action Plan 2011. It was developed to protect healthy watersheds, accelerate restoration efforts, and prevent watersheds from becoming impaired. The plan provides a framework for action among U.S. EPA’s own programs, as well as the agency’s work with states and program partners, to identify healthy watersheds and develop and implement comprehensive strategies to protect and restore them.

Events

Free IGIG workshops. The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) will host two free workshops on applying for the 2012 Illinois Green Infrastructure Grants Program for Stormwater Management (IGIG). Prospective applicants and interested parties can attend workshops on October 17 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at MPC's offices (140 S. Dearborn St., Suite 1400) or October 18 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at The Centre in Elgin (North Banquet Facility,100 Symphony Way). The grant application deadline is December 15, 2011. Read about local 2011 IGIG recipients at CMAP’s Policy Updates blog.

Public meetings for Chicago-area waterway system. On Thursday, October 20, the Great Lakes Commission and Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative will hold the first in a series of public meetings  on “Envisioning a Chicago Area Waterway System for the 21st Century,” at the John G. Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. Lake Shore Drive) from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The initiative is developing and evaluating options for separating the Mississippi River and Great Lakes watersheds in the Chicago area to prevent the transfer of aquatic invasive species such as Asian carp, while improving other aspects of the system including transportation, water quality, and stormwater management.

Ladybug Bash.  On Friday, November 4,  Safer Pest Control Project will host its annual Ladybug Bash at SPACE (1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston) from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Tickets purchased in advance are $65 per person and $75 at the door.  The Safer Pest Control Project is committed to reducing the health risks and environmental impacts of pesticides, which often can contaminate our groundwater.

Full-cost water pricing webinar. On November 8, the Wisconsin and Illinois chapters of AWWA will co-host “Ensuring Sustainable Water Systems through Innovative, Full Cost Water Pricing,” a webinar for utility personnel, financial managers, and local elected officials. This webinar will provide information on using full cost rates to address cost recovery, finance aging infrastructure needs, and promote water efficiency. Presenters include Jan Beecher, Institute of Public Utilities, Michigan State University; Drema Gross, Austin Water Utility; and CMAP’s Margaret Schneemann, Water Resource Economist. To learn more and to register, visit www.isawwa.org or call 866-521-3595 ext. 2.

The latest Water 2050 Update includes information on free bill insert designs as part of the Water 2050 Technical Assistance program, local watershed planning in the Fox River basin, Green Infrastructure Grants to several Illinois communities, and more.  Approved unanimously in January 2010, the Water 2050 plan the official water supply/demand plan for an 11-county planning area of northeastern Illinois.

Progress from CMAP

Low-cost public outreach. CMAP is providing free bill insert designs to public water suppliers and municipalities as part of the Water 2050 Technical Assistance program. The bill inserts deliver a concise message using text, compelling imagery, and focus on a variety of topics from conservation to groundwater protection, with more to come. For more details and any questions, contact Amy Talbot (atalbot@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8646).

Progress in the Region

Green Infrastructure Grants awarded. A number of Illinois communities were awarded a portion of nearly $5 million in Green Infrastructure Grants funding from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to decrease pollution entering Illinois water bodies. Projects are funded in the categories of combined sewer overflow, storm retention and infiltration, and small projects. . Aging infrastructure coupled with rising populations has placed more pressure on sewers when dealing with runoff from storm events, leading to overflows of bacteria-filled water during heavy rains. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has ordered several Illinois communities without plans to prepare strategies for reducing future overflow occurrences.

Potential new water-purchase group. Five municipalities are considering forming a water-purchasing group to potentially negotiate better water rates once their contract agreement with the Village of Oak Lawn is up for renewal in October. Orland Park Village Manager Paul Grimes says the Village, along with Tinley Park, New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, and Oak Forest, collectively account for 70 percent of Oak Lawn’s water sales. Alternatives to this option would include forming a water commission; entering a purchasing group or authority separate from Oak Lawn; and asking for changes in the existing contract that would establish performance standards, operations oversight, and participation in decision-making for future improvement of water infrastructure.
 

Water in the News

Power plants threaten fish. The Chicago Tribune obtained records indicating that when several Great Lakes power plants take in water to cool equipment, they kill millions of fish annually. Fish are killed when strong pumps suck them through intake screens and the high heat and pressure cook eggs, larvae, and young fish to death. Additionally, the water released back into the Lakes is hotter than the surrounding water. This leads to increased algae growth that depletes oxygen levels, killing fish and dirtying beaches. This “once through” cooling method is banned at newer power plants. A federal proposal was issued in March requiring older plants to reduce the power of the water intakes or meet certain limits of fish kills. However, according to U.S. EPA documents, nearly 60 percent of the facilities affected will remain unchanged.

More evidence of Asian carp. Several water samples taken from above the Chicago canal system electric barriers tested positive for the presence of Asian carp “environmental” DNA, according to the Wall Street Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Scientists with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stressed that positive tests are still a rarity and environmental DNA only establishes the presence of trace amounts of Asian carp DNA, not the presence of actual fish. Of these most recent positive tests, the majority came from Lake Calumet, a water body directly connected to Lake Michigan. Army Corps officials say they remain confident that the barriers are effective.

Contaminated beach waters. A recent National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) study found Illinois beaches to be among the most contaminated in the country. Chicago’s most contaminated beaches include the South Shore, Rainbow, 63rd Street, Montrose, and 31st Street Beaches, while North Point Marina Beach in Lake County made the report's "repeat offender" category. The report cites aging, inadequate sewer infrastructure as one major cause of beach contamination.

Proposed water funding cuts. WaterWorld reports that the proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill from the House Appropriations Committee would cut deeply into U.S. EPA funding, along with funding for other land and water management agencies. For the U.S. EPA, this equals a funding cut of $1.5 billion from last year. The drinking water and clean water revolving funds face the largest cuts of nearly a $1 billion combined. These funds provide money for water infrastructure improvement loans.
 

Events

A Conversation with Charles Fishman. On August 18, the Metropolitan Planning Council, Openlands, and the Union League Club’s Authors Group will present host a luncheon with Charles Fishman, author of The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water. The event costs $30 per person. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

Lawn to Lake workshop. On October 13, CMAP and its partners will host the workshop "Natural Lawn Care and Sustainable Landscaping" for municipalities and landscape professionals at the College of Lake County. The workshop will introduce natural lawn and sustainable landscaping techniques, resources, and implementation; address contract and ordinance review; and discuss managing stormwater with rain-friendly landscaping. To register, visit www.libertyprairie.org or call 847.548.5989 ext.33. This workshop is sponsored through the Lawn to Lakes program. To learn more about the program, contact Margaret Schneemann at MSchneemann@cmap.illinois.gov.

Full-cost water pricing webinar. On November 8, the Wisconsin and Illinois chapters of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will co-host “Ensuring Sustainable Water Systems through Innovative, Full Cost Water Pricing,” a webinar for utility personnel, financial managers, and local elected officials. This webinar will provide information on using full cost rates to address cost recovery, finance aging infrastructure needs, and promote water efficiency. Presenters include Jan Beecher, Institute of Public Utilities, Michigan State University; Drema Gross, Austin Water Utility; and CMAP’s Margaret Schneemann, Water Resource Economist. To learn more and to register, visit www.isawwa.org or call 866-521-3595 ext. 2.

Progress from CMAP

Water 2050 forum.  Today, CMAP hosted its fourth and final water forum of the fiscal year, "Sustaining the Triple Bottom Line: The Full Value of Water Resources."  Part of the ongoing water resources forum series and in collaboration with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG), this event explored water resource sustainability by calling for leadership in meeting financial, environmental, and social objectives -- the triple bottom line.  More information on this and past Water 2050 forums can be found on-line.

Watershed planning.  CMAP and partners, The Conservation Foundation and Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, are continuing watershed planning efforts in the Fox River Basin.  Upcoming meetings will discuss potential plan recommendations and projects.  For more information about upcoming meetings and the planning process, please visit the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership watershed planning website.

Lake Zurich taps into water supply planning. The latest issue of IISG's newsletter The HELM covers a number of pressing issues in the Great Lakes and southern Lake Michigan region.  It includes including an article on water planning in Lake Zurich, involving a water resources management team led by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), and including CMAP, IISG, and the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT).

LUC Summit.  On May 20, CMAP participated in the 16th Land Use Council (LUC) summit organized by the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Sycamore.  CMAP's Hala Ahmed, along with a panel of presenters, provided information on regional water supply planning and implementation.  Attendees learned about the recent findings in water supplies, as well as activities that CMAP is undertaking for the implementation of Water 2050.
 

Progress in the Region

Lawn to Lake.  A new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) program, Lawn to Lake (L2L), promotes healthy landscape practices for healthy lakes. IISG released a new L2L factsheet, What’s in Your Watershed?, explaining watersheds in the Great Lakes Basin in Indiana.  For more information, or to discuss partnering opportunities, contact the L2L project lead, Margaret Schneemann (MSchneemann@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-676-7456).
 

Future water rates. The Elmhurst Press reports that a committee reporting to the city council is preparing a report that would recommend an eight percent increase in water and sewer rates for Elmhurst. The council has been weighing options in response to cost increases projected by the DuPage Water Commission, which provides certain communities with water purchased from Chicago.

Lake Michigan Consortium Pact.  Lake Zurich trustees voted recently to reject the Lake Michigan Consortium Pact.  This agreement would have required the Village to invest toward a plan to bring Lake Michigan water to a consortium of Lake County communities.  While Lake Zurich is interested in participating in the public education portion of the pact, they are exploring alternatives to remaining a member of the North-West Lake County Lake Michigan Water Planning Group.  Lake Zurich believes there might be other, less expensive options than remaining with the consortium given nearby water agencies also bringing Lake Michigan water to the area.
 

Water in the News

Cleaning the Chicago River. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) demanded that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) improve the Chicago River’s water quality, starting with disinfection of the water released to the waterway. The Chicago River earned a spot on American Rivers’ annual list of “America’s Most Endangered Rivers.” Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk, along with other supporters, cited significant economic benefits resulting from increased recreation opportunities if environmental conditions of the river were improved. MWRD had opposed the demands, saying that disinfecting water released to the waterway would be costly. After the Illinois Pollution Control Board issued an order on June 2 requiring all Chicago waterways to be safe for “primary contact,” MWRD voted on June 7 to drop opposition to the U.S. EPA mandate and begin efforts to disinfect partially treated wastewater.

New tools to battle Asian Carp. Efforts continue this spring in the battle to keep Asian carp out of Chicago waterways. Federal and state officials introduced new tools this season to step up resistance to the invasive species. New strategies include an underwater camera, fine nets to capture larvae, and a water gun that emits sound waves to discourage the approach of the fish. Greater effort to stop small fish was this year’s new goal after studies found the water gun to be more effective on larger fish.
 

Events

Great Lakes Restoration.  IISG, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),developed Great Lakes Restoration: Best Management Practices to help those interested in restoring Great Lakes.  You can participate in the National Ocean Policy Regional Listening Session on Monday, June 13, 2011, co-hosted by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. EPA.  The Strategic Action Plans currently in development will implement the first National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes.

Water efficiency and management. The U.S. Green Buildings Council-Illinois Chapter's West Suburban Branch will host "Water Efficient Landscaping: From Airports to Your Own Backyard" on June 16 in Chicago.  Registration and event information is available on-line.  

UCOWR/NIWR 2011 Conference. The Universities Council on Water Resources will host "Planning for Tomorrow's Water: Snowpack, Aquifers, and Reservoirs" from July 11 to 14 in Boulder, CO. To view the preliminary program and register, visit www.ucowr.org.

CZ 11 Conference. The Coastal Zone 11 conference, "Winds of Changes: Great Lakes, Great Oceans, Great Communities!", will be held July 17 to 21, 2011, in Chicago. This is a biennial international symposium bringing together coastal management professionals to address challenges and forge solutions confronting our coastal resources. Register on-line.

Progress from CMAP

Upcoming water resource forums.  CMAP will host two more water resource forums before the end of FY2011 to promote and educate on issues from Water 2050.  On May 6, CMAP will cohost a forum, "Groundwater Protection:  Science, Planning, and Action," with the Delta Institute from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  One panel of speakers will address the state of the science as it relates to policy makers, planners, and water managers, and another panel will consider lessons learned, costs, and benefits of other state programs that are designed to protect groundwater resources.  Elected officials, city managers, and public water supplier staff are encouraged to attend this free event and learn how to improve their position regarding groundwater stewardship.  The agenda will be available in coming weeks.  RSVP to yambriz@cmap.illinois.gov.

CMAP will host the following water resource forum on June 9.  The forum will focus on valuation of water resources.  Economic valuation plays a key role in informing more efficient and sustainable integrated water resources management decisions about our water supply, wastewater and stormwater management, and green infrastructure investment.  This forum will provide information to policymakers, sustainability managers and officers, and others on measuring and incorporating water resource values into decision-making.  More information will be available in coming weeks on our new Water 2050 forums webpage, which also includes information and presentations from our previous forums. 

FPA update.  Facility Planning Areas (FPAs) are defined as areas considered for wastewater treatment service within a 20-year planning period.  Last year, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) announced that it would no longer deny state construction permits for domestic sewer extensions based solely on the projects inconsistency with an FPA boundary.  To date, CMAP and its Wastewater committee challenged IEPA’s position and asked the agency to honor CMAP’s Areawide Water Quality Planning obligations under both the Clean Water Act and the Illinois Water Quality Management Plan.  More information regarding this matter may be found by viewing materials from the March 9, 2011 Wastewater committee meeting.

Progress in the Region

Watershed planning.  CMAP and local planning partners The Conservation Foundation and Environmental Defenders of McHenry County are continuing the watershed planning process in the Fox River Basin.  At the spring meetings, Resource Inventories were presented.  Resource Inventories are a collection of the publically available data in each watershed, including CMAP Land Use, FEMA Floodplain and USDA Soil Data.  These data, when analyzed by staff and stakeholders, yield information that can be used to help formulate watershed-plan recommendations.  The resource inventories also help to make clear where the data gaps are and where new data collection efforts could take place.  For more information regarding the planning process and dates/locations for upcoming meetings, please visit the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership website.

Buffalo Creek stabilization.  The Chicago Metro chapter of the American Public Works Association selected the Buffalo Creek Phase 1 Streambank Stabilization project as the recipient of its 2011 "Environment - Less than $5 million" award.  CMAP served as the project coordinator, administrator, and technical advisor, and the project was funded with Clean Water Act Section 319 funds. 

The Village of Wheeling project is located in along the most severely eroded reaches of Buffalo Creek/Wheeling Ditch (Buffalo Creek) and consists of 3,131 feet of Buffalo Creek north of Valley Stream Drive.  A systematic approach in evaluation and repairs of stream bank segments was used, as well as structural and bio-technical techniques to stabilize and enhance the riparian corridor, reduce loss of real estate, and improve water quality and aquatic habitat in Buffalo Creek.  This included installation of gabion baskets which provides stabilization at a variety of flows and bank grading with a stone toe to prevent erosion.  

Regional Stormwater Ordinances.  Several counties in northeastern Illinois are in the process of creating new and revising existing stormwater and floodplain management ordinances.  The public comment period for the Revised DuPage County Countywide Stormwater and Flood Plain Ordinance ended on March 4.  Please visit their stormwater ordinance webpage for future updates and possible revisions.  The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission recently extended the public comment period on the Watershed Development Ordinance Amendments Packet.  The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is currently developing a countywide Watershed Management Ordinance for Cook County.  CMAP staff acknowledges the efforts made throughout the region to continually improve ordinances to further provide protection to our natural resources.

Events

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.  Across the nation, improperly disposed of pharmaceuticals end up in our drinking water.  On April 30, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its partners will hold a nationwide second annual "Take-Back" Day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (CST).  Community law enforcement agencies can register their own local take-back event by calling the DEA Field Division office in their area, and the public can find a collection site by visiting http://www.justice.gov/dea/index.htm.  The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant will be working with communities to help facilitate local collection events.
 
 

Resources

WOWW.  Visit the What’s Our Water Worth (WOWW) website, hosted by Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) and Openlands, to hear about how different businesses and residents value and use water in our region.  This month’s story is on King Car Wash in Westmont.  Last month’s story was about water efficiency practices discovered on the Goose Island Brewery Tour.

Watershed comments.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requesting comments on a draft technical document, “Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds.”  The report includes examples of assessments of healthy watersheds, management approaches, and numerous case studies from across the country.  The comment period ends on June 3 and a final report is scheduled for release in October.

 

Water in the News

Deep Tunnel.  Delays in the completion of the Deep Tunnel project and the impact of recent intense storms in the region were both highlighted in the Chicago Tribune.  The Deep Tunnel system that was expected to be complete by 1983 might take more than a decade before being fully utilized.  At the same time, overflows that are not handled by the Deep Tunnel are funneled to Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, resulting in threats to human health and wildlife as well as potential legal action from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Ask Your Plumber.  CMAP’s Tim Loftus recorded three messages that will be aired on WBBM-AM 780’s “Ask Your Plumber” radio segment.  Sponsored by the Plumbing Council of Chicagoland, the first segment will air on April 16 and feature a short discussion about rainwater harvesting and new legislation that, if passed by the Illinois General Assembly, would allow for the capture and nonpotable use of this abundant source of water.  On May 21, a second segment will air on the importance of installing WaterSense-labeled fixtures.  A third segment will focus on general regional water supply issues at a date yet to be determined.  “Ask Your Plumber” airs at approximately 8:36 a.m. on Saturday mornings.  CMAP thanks the Plumbing Council of Chicagoland for helping to promote some of Water 2050’s messages and for their past support for regional water supply planning.  Water counts!

About the Water 2050 newsletter

Regional water-resource stewardship took a giant leap forward on January 26, 2010, when the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) unanimously approved a plan that aims to avoid imbalances between water demand and regional supplies.  Read more in this press release.  Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan was developed over the past three years by CMAP staff with input and guidance from the RWSPG, the Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

The next steps we must take as a region to implement water plan recommendations are equally important.  A new commitment to water-use conservation and demand management is the cornerstone of the water plan.  Among the attributes of any successful conservation program are political leadership, stable funding, education, and outreach.  This Water 2050 newsletter is designed to be one such outreach mechanism.  This newsletter will be issued on the second Thursday of every other month.  This will be a means to communicate newsworthy items, share valuable resources, and promote ongoing and diverse efforts around water resources planning and management, both at CMAP and throughout the region.  We are interested in your water news!  This newsletter will feature local examples of water planning and conservation, so please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802) with your news and examples.

Progress from CMAP

Water Resources Forum.  On January 27, 2011, CMAP hosted the second Water Resources Forum, "The Problem with Water: Regional Flooding and Stormwater Management."  The forum drew significant interest from practitioners representing various parts of the region.  Attendees learned about the basics of flood insurance, how to reduce premiums through the Community Rating System, and the grant programs available through FEMA.  Innovative funding for stormwater management was the topic of the second panel, in which representatives from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Region V provided examples from across the country on the use of the Clean Water State Revolving Funds for stormwater management utilizing green practices.  The Director of Public Works of the City of Rolling Meadows shared the City’s experience with implementing stormwater utility fees as a mechanism for maintaining their stormwater infrastructure systems.  The final panel delved into two scales of stormwater management.  Attendees heard about the progress to date by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and how green practices may be incorporated in the Cook County Stormwater Management Ordinance.  A case study on the use of Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development funds for the establishment of a recreational facility that manages stormwater in a frequently-flooded area was presented by staff and consultants for the Village of Lisle.

Several attendees indicated that the topics were all very beneficial to their work in communities.  Presentations will be available soon at our Water 2050 website. Medill Reports Chicago wrote about the forum and interviewed CMAP's newest Board member, President Mike Gorman of Riverside, as well as staff member Tim Loftus.  The next Water Resource Forum will be held in the spring on the value of water resources. 

Save the Date: Natural Lawn Care workshop.  As part of implementing Water 2050, CMAP and collaborating partners are presenting a one-day workshop, "Natural Lawn Care," at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines On March 23.  This workshop is for landscape companies, turf managers, homeowner associations, and public employees who are interested in learning from national and local experts how to succeed with organics, build healthier turf naturally, expand their business, and become more sustainable.  Natural lawn care is a solution that can reduce energy, pesticide, fertilizer, and water inputs necessary to have a healthy lawn, thereby enhancing the environment and saving money.  This workshop is part of Healthy Landscapes Healthy Lakes, a project funded by the U.S EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).  For more information on the Healthy Landscapes project, contact Margaret Schneemann at MSchneemann@cmap.illinois.gov.

Progress in the Region

New Lake Michigan permittees.  Water 2050 recommended that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) continue to help communities to transition from deep bedrock aquifer to Lake Michigan water to ease dewatering of the deep bedrock aquifer. Last month they did just that by approving the allowance of 10 Lake County communities to tap into Lake Michigan.  Now, these communities face no small task in determining how to raise the $250 million necessary to make this happen, as well as balancing the costs of obtaining Lake Michigan water against the costs of staying on groundwater and implementing any necessary water conservation and source protection programs.

Watershed presentations.  CMAP and local planning partners The Conservation Foundation and Environmental Defenders of McHenry County are continuing the watershed planning process in the Fox River Basin.  McHenry Water Resources Manager Cassandra McKinney and CMAP’s Tim Loftus were invited to speak to stakeholders within the Sleepy Hollow Creek and Silver Creek Watershed in January.  Loftus’ presentation highlighted key Water 2050 groundwater management recommendations and addressed regional concerns, including implementation of CMAP’s Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance.  McKinney’s presentation highlighted key recommendations of McHenry County’s Water Resources Action Plan.  At the January meetings for Ferson-Otter Creek and Blackberry Creek Watersheds, discussion focused on open-space protection. Please refer to the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership website for information regarding the planning process.

Events

Little Calumet River meeting.  On February 17, the Little Calumet River Watershed Planning Council will meet at the South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association, located at 1904 West 174th Street in Hazel Crest.  The public is invited to attend this meeting, which takes place at 6:00 p.m.

Rebate programs webinar.  On February 18, the Illinois and Wisconsin sections of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) will host the webinar "Planning Effective Toilet Rebate & Other Incentive Programs:  Lessons Learned in the Midwest."  The webinar is free for AWWA members and costs $15 for non-members.

ICMP public hearing.  On February 18, IDNR will host a public hearing on the new Illinois Coastal Management Program (ICMP). Participation is also available via webinar. The ICMP focus areas are included in the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, and the program would provide $2 million to fund a grants program for projects such as local coastal area planning, shoreline buffer zones, economic development of waterfront areas, and more.

Liquid Assets documentary.  On February 24, CMAP will be co-hosting a viewing of the documentary Liquid Assets with the Illinois Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).  Liquid Assets is a 90-minute documentary created by Penn State University and funded by ASCE as a public media and outreach initiative that seeks to inform the nation about the critical role that our water infrastructure plays in protecting public health and promoting economic prosperity.  Prior to the screening, Darren Olson, the current Illinois Section ASCE President, will begin the evening with an ASCE Infrastructure Report Card review.  Registration is free and limited to the first 100 people to register with Katie Owens at owens.katharine@epa.gov.  The event will be held at CMAP offices at 5:30 p.m.

Illinois AWWA conference.  The Illinois AWWA section will hold its annual conference in Springfield from March 21 to 24 with the Illinois Water Environment Association.  The latest in technology, equipment, and best practices related to water and wastewater will be shared.  

Resource management symposium.  The 17th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM) will be held in two locations this year: June 4 to 8 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and June 13 to 17 at the University of Malaysia in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.  The Madison symposium theme is “Integrating Conservation and Sustainable Living,” and the deadline for abstract submission is February 15.  The Malaysia symposium theme is “Natural Resource Development and Conservation: Negotiating Boundaries, Knowledge and Power.”
 

Resources

New wastewater report.  A report prepared through a U.S. EPA grant for Columbus Water Works evaluates combined heat and power technologies for wastewater facilities.  Wastewater treatment and conveyance processes consume significant amounts of energy.  The report provides methods to conserve energy by reducing energy required during the treatment plant process and includes both process descriptions and performance and cost data.  The report may be used as a planning tool for wastewater professionals since it provides technical information about existing technologies for converting biogas to energy projects within wastewater treatment facilities.

NPDES training.  Web-based training for National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit writers is now available through the U.S. EPA as a five-day course.

NECO website.  Networked Neighborhoods for Eco-Conservation Online's (NECO) website allows individuals to post water conservation and other green practice activities in order to help improve the health of the Great Lakes by providing a venue for sharing case studies and networking.  The website also provides tools to calculate the amount of water saved by rain gardens, rain barrels, and other green landscape practices.  Individuals can also create a report showing the environmental impact of green practices in entire neighborhoods and/or watersheds.

CILER fellowship. The Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research (CILER) announced that its summer internship program is open to students interested in researching Great Lakes issues under professional mentorship guidance. Internships are available in the areas of climate adaptation, education, communications and outreach, invasive species, hydrologic modeling, and more. Applications are due February 28.
 

Water in the News

Coal tar sealants.  Across the nation, there has been increasing concern over use of coal tar-based sealants (CTS), and metropolitan Chicago is no exception.  CTS, used as a periodic coating on driveways, playgrounds, and parking lots, wear over time and enter homes, schools, and our waters.  In January, the Chicago Tribune ran a story on elevated benzo(a)pyrene (a toxic chemical used in coal tar) levels in Lake in the Hills.  A model ordinance on CTS from McHenry is available online.

Chromium in the Great Lakes.  The Tribune also ran a story on chromium in Lake Michigan, which ends up in drinking water and has been linked to cancer.  While the U.S. EPA does not currently require testing of drinking water for chromium, levels of chromium were found to be very high in certain Midwest cities.  The levels of chromium in Madison, WI drinking water were 26 times greater than a proposed safety limit in California.  The amount of chromium in Milwaukee’s and Chicago’s drinking water is three times greater than California's proposed safety limit.

Stormwater fees ruling.  Stormwater Management Fees are just that and are not taxes, according to a ruling by the 111th Congress during its final days.  This bill, signed by President Obama on January 4, is an amendment to the Clean Water Act, which states that such service fees are applicable to federal entities, as well as any nongovernmental entities, and are based on “some fair approximation of the proportionate contribution of the property or facility to stormwater pollution.”  This ruling is consistent with the recommendations of the Land and Water chapter of Water 2050.

Wettest year on record.  An analysis by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) shows that 2010 was the wettest year on record and is tied with 2005 as the hottest since record keeping began in 1880.  Many events make 2010 memorable in terms of global climatology, including the summer heat wave in Russia and the extreme floods in Pakistan, Australia, and many parts of the U.S., as detailed in this article from The New York Times.  Many regions of the Northeast and Midwest of the country are still experiencing remarkable snowstorms, and snowstorms in the cities of Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia shattered records in February 2010.

About the Water 2050 newsletter

Regional water-resource stewardship took a giant leap forward on January 26, 2010, when the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) unanimously approved a plan that aims to avoid imbalances between water demand and regional supplies.  Read more in this press release.  Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan was developed over the past three years by CMAP staff with input and guidance from the RWSPG, the Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

The next steps we must take as a region to implement water plan recommendations are equally important.  A new commitment to water-use conservation and demand management is the cornerstone of the water plan.  Among the attributes of any successful conservation program are political leadership, stable funding, education, and outreach.  This Water 2050 newsletter is designed to be one such outreach mechanism.  This newsletter will be issued on the second Thursday of every other month.  This will be a means to communicate newsworthy items, share valuable resources, and promote ongoing and diverse efforts around water resources planning and management, both at CMAP and throughout the region.  We are interested in your water news!  This newsletter will feature local examples of water planning and conservation, so please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802) with your news and examples.

Progress from CMAP

Healthy Landscapes Healthy Lakes.  On November 15, 2010, CMAP hosted the kick-off meeting for Healthy Landscapes Healthy Lakes, a project funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to reduce pesticide and fertilizer inputs to the Great Lakes Basin.  It will promote natural lawn care, which potentially reduces irrigation and mowing requirements by up to 50 percent as compared to conventionally maintained lawns, thereby saving both water and energy.  The project will provide education and outreach for proper pesticide, phosphorous use, and soil testing for landscape businesses and municipalities.  This past July, the State of Illinois passed a bill (HB6099) restricting application of phosphorous on turfgrass subject to a soil test.  For more information on the Healthy Landscapes project, contact Margaret Schneemann at MSchneemann@cmap.illinois.gov.

Watershed plans.  CMAP and local planning partners The Conservation Foundation and Environmental Defenders of McHenry County are continuing the watershed planning process.  Stakeholders from Blackberry Creek, Ferson-Otter Creek, Silver Creek and Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds have developed planning goals and discussed data to be included in the Watershed Resource Inventories.  The next meetings will focus on groundwater protection.  There will be a Blackberry Creek meeting on December 14 at 2:00 p.m. at 52 Wheeler Road in Sugar Grove, and on December 16 there will be a Ferson-Otter Creek watershed meeting at 10:00 a.m. at 5N082 Old LaFox Road in St. Charles.  The Fox River Ecosystem Partnership will be continually updating their website with information about the planning process including meeting dates and materials.  If you would like to receive more information regarding the plans please contact Megan Elberts (melberts@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8794).

 

Progress in the Region

New WaterSense Partner.  Batavia is our region's newest WaterSense Partner.  Congratulations to Batavia for partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) WaterSense Program.  As a partner, Batavia now has access to all of the WaterSense Partner resources such as bill inserts, public service announcements, and other public information campaign materials to assist in their outreach effort to their customers about water efficiency.  "The City of Batavia is proud to be a WaterSense partner," said Mr. John Dillon, Batavia Water & Sewer Division Superintendent. "We look forward to working with our customers to improve water efficiency awareness and promote WaterSense labeled products and water-saving practices inside and outside the home."

Batavia joins the region's 20 other WaterSense partners, which couldn't have come at a better time. Partnerships and collaboration are a must in today's economic times when many communities and utilities have limited resources. WaterSense is a FREE partnership for utilities, local governments, and non-profits. The real benefit lies in the ready-to-go resources that can help kick off a public information campaign. In many cases, a partner just adds their logo and contact information to make customized yet nationally branded outreach materials, saving money and time. The partnership also gives communities recognition and exposure on the national WaterSense website. Additionally, if a community is hosting a rebate program (for toilets, showerheads, faucets, urinals), WaterSense provides an approved list of third-party tested (both quality and performance) high-efficiency products. Lastly, if the replacement fixtures are purchased from local dealers, the community can benefit economically and environmentally from such a program. CMAP joined WaterSense in January of this year and we have used WaterSense water savings calculations, fixture fact sheets, and bill insert templates (offered to partners only) during the course of the year.  For questions about the program and more information, contact Cary McElhinney (mcelhinney.cary@epa.gov or 312-386-4313).

WOWW launch.  The Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands recently launched the public information campaign What Our Water's Worth (WOWW).  The website and e-newsletter offer a range of educational resources, including a map to show residents where their water comes from.

McHenry water resources.  McHenry County Water Resources Manager Cassandra McKinney invited CMAP and the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP) to speak to the McHenry Groundwater Task Force on Water Conservation and Rate Setting this fall.  CMAP and RCAP have partnered to provide technical assistance to utilities on financial and rate setting.  This partnership is part of Water 2050 implementation and the continuing partnership between Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and CMAP.  McKinney was also quoted on the front page of the November 29 Northwest Herald in an article about road salt use.  For more information on financial and rate setting assistance contact Margaret Schneemann at MSchneemann@cmap.illinois.gov.  

Water conservation film contest.  The DuPage Water Commission is sponsoring a water conservation film contest.  The contest is free to enter and is intended to inspire students to create a 30-second visual message about water conservation and protection in DuPage County, IL.  The contest is open to all high school and college students located within the County.  The winning film will be featured on the DuPage Water Commission's website and will receive a trophy, as well as be eligible for other prizes from participating partners.  Submittals are due January 3, 2011.

In Water 2050, school education is one of the approved strategies for demand management (Chapter 4).  The DuPage Water Commission's Film Contest is a creative example of a school education activity that engages younger generations to start thinking about conservation and what they can do to help.  Ideally, these students would turn this learning experience into a life-long practice of protecting and conserving their water source, Lake Michigan.  However, this conservation-minded perspective can be useful regardless of where life takes these students and what water source they will use in the future.  School education and public information (outreach to a more general audience) are key components to a successful conservation program.  It is important for individuals to understand why protecting their water source is important and how it benefits them and the community, both now and in the future.  This knowledge adds motivation behind water conserving actions like purchasing a WaterSense toilet, installing native landscaping, or other initiatives.

Fox River Study Group annual meeting.  CMAP attended the Fox River Study Group's annual meeting on October 28, 2010 in Batavia.  At this meeting, Megan Elberts presented on how CMAP will be utilizing a model the Illinois State Water Survey has created for the Study Group.  CMAP will be using the model to estimate current and future pollutant loading as part of the four watershed plans in the Fox River Basin.

 

Events

Save the date: Water Resources Forum.  CMAP will host its second Water Resources Forum on January 27, 2011, with a focus on regional flooding and stormwater management.  Following the aftermath of the flooding events that engulfed the region last summer, this forum will provide timely information to elected officials and governmental staff on hazard mitigation planning, potential funding sources, and the use of green infrastructure practices for stormwater management.  The discussion is part of a series of forums that seek to follow up on key issues highlighted in Water 2050, the northeastern Illinois regional water supply/demand plan.  Please visit www.cmap.illinois.gov/water-2050/ in the upcoming weeks for agenda and event details.

Water reuse roundtable.  Rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse will be the focus of "Right as Rain: Advancing Safe, Sustainable Water Reuse," a roundtable on strategies to "create" water supply.  The roundtable will discuss water supply conservation, stormwater mitigation, and the wastewater benefits of rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse; requirements for safe use and reuse of alternative water supplies; job creation potential of opening up niche plumbing markets; and opportunities for plumbing and building codes to be more responsive to sustainability policy goals, while also protecting public health and safety.  Register for the upcoming roundtable hosted by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) and Openlands online.  The event will take place on December 16, 2010, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the MPC offices at 140 S. Dearborn Ave, Suite 1400, Chicago.  Lunch will be provided and the cost is $15 for current MPC donors and Openlands members, $30 for all others.

Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of runoff from small impervious surfaces, usually home or building roofs, for later use.  Although this is seen as a progressive water conservation technique, rainwater harvesting has been around for at least 3,000 years (arguably much longer) and utilizes relatively simple techniques such as above and below ground cisterns and storage tanks.  Rainwater can be used for non potable purposes such as landscaping irrigation, toilet flushing, and clothes washing, which in turn decreases the amount of potable water needed in a household or business.  CMAP features rainwater harvesting in our Model Water Conservation Ordinance (pages 32 to 33) for communities to consider updating their local codes and zoning ordinances.  However, the application of this part of the model ordinance is dependent on the passage of state legislation (Ill. Senate Bill 2549) that seeks to amend the Illinois Plumbing License Law to allow for the use of rainwater for non potable uses.  Even though the bill hasn't made it through the Illinois General Assembly yet, there are a few locations in the state that have obtained exemptions.  The Lake County Forest Preserve's Ryerson Woods Welcome Center is close to completing an indoor plumbing system that will use rainwater for flushing toilets.  Rainwater harvesting should be an economical and approved option for residents, businesses, and communities to meet their water supply needs, at least of the non potable kind.

Asset management class.  On January 26, 2011, U.S. EPA and Illinois Water Environment Association will host a workshop on asset management.  This workshop will present a comprehensive approach to managing infrastructure capital assets, including concepts, tools, techniques, and technologies used to achieve cost-effective performance.  Participants can earn six professional develop hours (PDHs) or 0.6 continuing education units (CEUs). Click here for a copy of the Workshop Program. The $50.00 registration fee includes workshop and lunch. Register online.

Green Infrastructure conference.  From February 23 to 25, 2011, the Conservation Fund will host its National Green Infrastructure Conference in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.  This inaugural conference will bring together policy-makers, practitioners, and implementers of green infrastructure practices and design. 

ISSRM call for papers.  From June 4 to 8, 2011, the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM) will host "Integrating Conservation and Sustainable Living" at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  The call for papers is open now through mid-February 2011.
 

Resources

Water scarcity risk and municipal bonds.  A report released this October, The Ripple Effect - Water Risk in the Municipal Bond Market, highlights the relationship between water scarcity and municipal bond markets.  The report was authored by Ceres and the analysis was performed by Water Asset Management.  Using a method of measuring water risk developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, water risk scores were developed for a sample of eight utilities facing water stress.  The report concluded that bond rating agencies fail to incorporate the impact of increased water risk on the bond's risk profile, thereby giving bonds a higher rating than if water risks had been considered in the rating.  The report concluded that investors, rating agencies, and public utilities have room for improvement in managing water scarcity risks.

Fellowship opportunities.  There are several fellowship opportunities available to graduate students in the Illinois-Indiana region through IISG.  For more information, see http://www.iiseagrant.org/fellowships.html.

New water charter.  The Action H2O Sustainability Charter has launched in Canada with the goal of working in communities to reduce water use.  The charter asks communities to commit to water conservation and provides them with a host of resources to do so, including a WaterSmart Toolkit, Water Conservation Planning Guidebook, and a WaterSmart Scenario builder to calculate water and energy savings under a 'Soft Path' planning approach to water management.  These resources may be helpful as we move forward in implementing Water 2050 and adapting lessons learned elsewhere to our region.

Water education resources.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently updated and launched their new educational website, which has five theme areas: oceans and coasts, climate, weather and atmosphere, marine life, and freshwater.  The website includes educational resources for the Great Lakes region.  To help prepare graduate students in addressing water challenges of the 21st Century, the University of Illinois developed a new interdisciplinary course, Water for Life: Addressing a 21st Century Crisis focusing on water toxicology.

 

Water in the News

Flood insurance bill.  Flooding will be a topic for discussion in the U.S. Senate during the current session.  Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) co-authored a bill that would delay for five years the mandatory purchase of flood insurance for areas that have been newly designated as being at high risk of flooding by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  According to this article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the bill seeks to provide temporary relief for communities that are aggressively upgrading protection against a 100-year flood event.  Meanwhile, FEMA has launched a new initiative called "Risk MAP" that aims to address gaps in flood hazard data.  FEMA is partnering with the University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois State Water Survey to develop the first maps in Illinois for the Lower Fox River Watershed.  Meetings were held in November in Kane and Kendall Counties and additional data and input was collected to enhance the Draft Discovery Map. Data collected will be used in modeling efforts to develop Flood Depth and Flood Velocity Grids, which can be used to identify flood risks not currently identified on FIRMs.   

New carp bill.  On November 17, 2010, the U.S. Senate passed the Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act, which lists the bighead carp as an injurious species.  Such species may not be imported or shipped in interstate commerce if the species is alive.  This Act seeks to minimize the risk of introduction of Asian carp in waterways.  This is another step in the battle against introduction of carp into the Great Lakes.  Read more at the Detroit Free Press.  In more Asian carp news, a federal judge ruled on December 2 that Chicago-area shipping locks can remain open as the "plaintiffs cannot establish a showing of irreparable harm" should the locks remain open.  Read more from the Chicago Tribune.  The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) continues to work to raise awareness of invasive species in the state through their award-winning Nab the Aquatic Invader!outreach program.  Debate continues, reports the Chicago Tribune, about the impact of other invasive species, such as zebra and quagga mussels, on the Great Lakes ecosystem.

About the Water 2050 newsletter

Regional water-resource stewardship took a giant leap forward on January 26, 2010, when the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) unanimously approved a plan that aims to avoid imbalances between water demand and regional supplies.  Read more in this press release.  Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan was developed over the past three years by CMAP staff with input and guidance from the RWSPG, the Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

The next steps we must take as a region to implement water plan recommendations are equally important.  A new commitment to water-use conservation and demand management is the cornerstone of the water plan.  Among the attributes of any successful conservation program are political leadership, stable funding, education, and outreach.  This Water 2050 newsletter is designed to be one such outreach mechanism.  This newsletter will be issued on the second Thursday of every other month.  This will be a means to communicate newsworthy items, share valuable resources, and promote ongoing and diverse efforts around water resources planning and management, both at CMAP and throughout the region.  We are interested in your water news!  This newsletter will feature local examples of water planning and conservation, so please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802) with your news and examples.

Progress from CMAP

GO TO 2040.  The Chicago region's comprehensive plan, GO TO 2040, was launched on October 13, 2010.  The plan will guide development in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties for the rest of this century.  In addition to land use and transportation, GO TO 2040 also addresses the full range of quality-of-life issues, including the natural environment, economic development, housing, and human services such as education, health care, and other social services.  Among the many recommendations of the plan is a specific focus on managing and conserving water resources.  This section echoes and expands on the recommendations of the Water 2050 plan, all of which were based on findings of studies on future demand and assessments of water supplies.  Over the next few months, CMAP will be engaging with partners and communities across the region to implement both plans and to ensure that the public understands the role each individual and stakeholder plays in helping our region continue to prosper.

Water forum.  On October 22, CMAP and Wildman Harrold will co-host a forum titled "New Challenges Facing Municipal Water Suppliers." This is the first in a series of discussion forums that seek to follow up on key issues highlighted in Water 2050, the northeastern Illinois regional water supply/demand plan.  The forum will consider a new Illinois law (P.A. 096-1366) that addresses carcinogenic volatile organic compounds in community water supplies and potential consequences as an outcome of its implementation (see the agenda).  While potentially relevant to all public water suppliers, this topic will be of particular interest to groundwater-dependent communities.  Representatives of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  (U.S. EPA) and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) are scheduled to participate.  The event will be held at Wildman Harrold from 8:45 am to 12:30 p.m.  RSVP to Maureen McNair at mcnair@wildman.com as space will be limited.

Global water conference hosted.  On September 30, CMAP's Tim Loftus hosted 22 water and other natural resource managers from 19 countries who are traveling in the U.S. through the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program.  The program theme for this group is "Water Resources Protection in the U.S."  Dr. Loftus presented the findings of Water 2050 and his perspective on the future of water supply and demand in our region. Thanks to WorldChicago for inviting Dr. Loftus to host this event.

Watershed plans.  CMAP and local planning partners The Conservation Foundation and Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, held stakeholder meetings to launch four watershed planning efforts within the Fox River Basin during the week of September 20.  Plans will be developed for Blackberry Creek, Ferson-Otter Creek, Silver Creekand Sleepy Hollow Creek watersheds.  The next meetings will be held in October and will focus on identifying concerns within the watersheds and developing goals for the plans.  The Fox River Ecosystem Partnership will be continually updating their website with information about the planning process including meeting dates and materials.  If you would like to receive more information regarding the plans please contact Megan Elberts (melberts@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8794).  For updates on the watershed planning process and dates/locations of upcoming meetings, visit http://foxriverecosystem.org/planning.htm.

NPS management program.  IEPA receives federal funds through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act to help implement the Illinois' Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Program.  The purpose of this program is to work cooperatively with local units of government and other organizations toward the goal of protecting the quality of Illinois waters by controlling NPS pollution.  CMAP assisted numerous local municipalities, agencies, and organizations in implementing projects designed to reduce NPS pollution to the region's rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.  CMAP serves as technical advisor, project coordinator, and grant administrator to the local project sponsors.  The Village of Streamwood received a portion of these funds and completed construction of a streambank stabilization project along the South Branch of Poplar Creek.  The design utilized gabion baskets, coir logs, and slope reductions to stabilize the previously eroding streambanks.  The project will be highly visible as it is in a residential area and is adjacent to a community park.  The Village estimated that the project will reduce the sediment load to the creek by 130 tons/year.

FPA update.  Facility Planning Areas (FPAs) are defined as areas considered for wastewater treatment service within a 20-year planning period.  For some time now, IEPA has had a policy of denying sewer construction permits for sanitary sewers that cross an FPA boundary.  The ability of the IEPA to impose this policy was recently challenged.  As a result, the agency will no longer deny State construction permits for domestic wastewater collection based solely on the projects inconsistency with an FPA boundary.  CMAP is the delegated authority for the region's areawide water quality management plan.  CMAP staff does not anticipate that IEPA's decision will change the circumstances within our region for which an FPA-amendment application and review will be required per usual.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Grant Award - Healthy Landscapes Healthy Lakes.  Margaret Schneemann, water resource economist holding a joint position between CMAP, the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG), and the University of Illinois Extension, is leading the Healthy Landscapes Healthy Lakes project.  This is a regional collaborative effort to reduce pesticide and fertilizer inputs to the Great Lakes basin.  This effort is funded by the U.S. EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative competitive grants, which are targeting the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes region.  The Healthy Landscapes Healthy Lakes project leverages the successful strategies and resources of partners, including Safer Pest Control Project, Purdue University, Sea Grant, and University of Illinois Extension, to ensure that best practices are used for lawn and landscape care. Awards made under the GLRI initiative can be viewed at http://greatlakesrestoration.us/.
 

Progress in the Region

Wetlands of international importance.  More than 300,000 acres in four Midwestern states were designated the Upper Mississippi River Floodplain Wetlands of International Importance, read more in this article.  The designation recognizes the land as important to the environment and economy in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, according to a press release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The designation proposal was endorsed by the Departments of Natural Resources of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and seven members of Congress from the respective states. 

Events

Water utility conservation rates workshop.  Two interactive workshops on water utility conservation rates in the Great Lakes will be hosted in the Midwest in the next two months.  Funded by the Great Lakes Protection fund and led by the Great Lakes Commission, these workshops are targeted for water utility managers/finance officers, public works directors, city managers, and elected/appointed Officials.  Attendees will learn why water conservation rates should be part of a sound utility management strategy, identify barriers to changing rates, and understand the benefits of conservation pricing and how to keep water revenues stable.  Attendees will also receive a handbook about revising rates.  The first took place on October 12 in Ann Arbor, MI, and the second will occur on November 8 in Racine, WI.  The cost of $35 per person includes lunch.

NGRREC field station dedication.  On October 26, the public is invited to the dedication of the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC) Confluence Field Station in Alton, IL.  NGRREC was formed in 2002 to explore important questions about river systems, the environment, and their impact on the communities.  The new Confluence Field Station, a LEED-certified facility, will offer a comprehensive river system research and education program.  The dedication ceremony will be hosted from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Green Infrastructure Conference.  From December 6 to 7, the Clean Water America Alliance's Urban Water Sustainability Council will be hosting a Green Infrastructure Conference to engage major American cities to identify and breakdown the barriers to implementation of green infrastructure in Philadelphia, PA.
 

Resources

Stormwater management grants.  Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are now being accepted for the Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant Program for Stormwater Management (IGIG).  Grants are available to local units of government and other organizations "to implement green infrastructure best management practices to control stormwater runoff for water quality protection," according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).  Approximately $5 million in funding is available. Additional information can be found online.  Applications are due December 15, 2010.  CMAP, along with several partners, served on an advisory committee for IEPA that helped shape this grant program.

NAWQA Report Released.  On September 23, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program released its national assessment on nutrients in streams and groundwater.  The assessment details the nutrient concentrations in the country's waters from the early 1990s to today.  The environmental findings relate to "developing nutrient criteria for surface water bodies, reducing nutrients to receiving waters, setting realistic expectations for water-quality improvements following nutrient reduction strategies, and managing elevated nutrients in drinking water from surface-water intakes and wells."

More and more communities are embracing green infrastructure as a means to manage stormwater. Increased tree canopies and strategically placed greenspace contribute to the cleanliness of water supplies by reducing the amount of stormwater runoff and erosion, as well as the frequency of sewer overflows. Along with reducing the need for many costly erosion control structures, greening projects stimulate economic activity; not only does greenspace increase the esthetic value of a community, recent studies have proven that trees, parks, and gardens dramatically increase residential and commercial property values and provide many short and long-term employment opportunities. The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources convened a hearing on the effects of green infrastructure and low-impact development on September 30.

New coalition for water conservation and regulation.  An alliance of businesses (Mars, Kohler, Rio Tinto and Siemens), conservation groups (World Wildlife Fund, Union of Concerned Scientists, American Rivers and Pacific Institute) and farmers (Family Farm Alliance and Soybean Growers) has formed a coalition to call for changes in the use, consumption and regulation of water.   The coalition's report, "Charting New Waters: A Call to Action to Address U.S. Freshwater Challenges," is the culmination of an intensive two-year collaboration exploring solutions to U.S. freshwater challenges.  On September 15, it was presented to the Obama Administration at a meeting of federal agencies convened by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and released to the public during a forum later that day.

Water in the News

National Flood Insurance Program.  A USA Today article reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has heavily subsidized people to live and businesses to develop in the nation's most flood-prone areas, and that federal and local officials failed to take steps urged by government reports. The NFIP insures 5.6 million properties nationwide.  And while the program's aim is to be self-sustaining by paying claims from premiums it collects, Congress' Government Accountability Office reported in April that the program is "by design, not actuarially sound" because it has no cash reserves to pay for catastrophes such as Katrina and sets rates that "do not reflect actual flood risk." 

Protecting waterways from mercury.  U.S. EPA is expected to propose and finalize a new rule this year to protect waterways by reducing mercury from dental offices.  Approximately 50 percent of mercury entering local waste treatment plants come from dental amalgam waste.  Dental amalgams, or fillings containing mercury, are flushed into chair-side drains which enter wastewater systems, making their way into the environment through discharges into lakes and rivers, land application, or through sewage sludge.  The rule will propose usage of existing technology called Amalgam.  This technology can separate out 95 percent of the mercury normally discharged into a local waste treatment plant. Read more at All Voices.

Construction stormwater rule reconsidered.  U.S. EPA is reconsidering key aspects of its construction stormwater rule.  The rule, for the first time, established a numeric limit on the turbidity of stormwater discharges from large construction sites and required monitoring to ensure compliance with the numeric limit.  The rule was challenged by a number of industry petitioners, including the National Association of Homebuilders and the Utility Water Act Group.  The agency has since determined that its numeric turbidity limit in the rule is flawed and noted that it improperly interpreted data used to support the numeric limit.  Read more online.

Great Lakes:  Sink or Source.  While the Great Lakes may be considered as 'small oceans' and can likely count towards carbon reductions in the Climate Change calculations, they may also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.  As testing from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee researchers demonstrates, Lake Michigan becomes a source of carbon emissions during the fall, winter, and early spring. However, early results, reported in this Chicago Tribune article, suggest that there may be a balance between carbon emissions and absorption and the final outcome might be neutral.

Chicago's water billing.  The Chicago Sun Times has been running a three-part series investigating the City of Chicago's water metering practices.  The series addressed the water billing differentials between homes with and without meters, and also reported on management of the City's water billing system, including the provision of free water to certain properties and developers.  You can view a map of water meters by ward and look up which houses on your block are metered for water online.  Mayor Daley has responded by introducing an ordinance that would stop developers from receiving free water from the city's water mains during construction.

About the Water 2050 Newsletter

Regional water-resource stewardship took a giant leap forward on January 26, 2010, when the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) unanimously approved a plan that aims to avoid imbalances between water demand and regional supplies.  Read more in this press release.  Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan was developed over the past three years by CMAP staff with input and guidance from the RWSPG, the Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

The next steps we must take as a region to implement water plan recommendations are equally important.  A new commitment to water-use conservation and demand management is the cornerstone of the water plan.  Among the attributes of any successful conservation program are political leadership, stable funding, education, and outreach.  This Water 2050 newsletter is designed to be one such outreach mechanism.  This newsletter will be issued on the second Thursday of every other month.  This will be a means to communicate newsworthy items, share valuable resources, and promote ongoing and diverse efforts around water resources planning and management, both at CMAP and throughout the region.  We are interested in your water news!  This newsletter will feature local examples of water planning and conservation, so please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802) with your news and examples.

Progress from CMAP

Green infrastructure study.  On June 30, 2010, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) submitted to the Governor's office its final report, Using Green Infrastructure to Manage Urban Stormwater Quality in fulfillment of PA 96-26.  CMAP started work on this project, in partnership with the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Center for Neighborhood Technology, in August 2008.  Using Green Infrastructure for stormwater management is a recommendation that we make in the Land and Water chapter of Water 2050 and in the Manage and Conserve Water and Energy Resources section of GO TO 2040.  Additionally, CMAP is represented in the committees mentioned in IEPA director Douglas Scott's letter (Green Infrastructure Grants Program and the State Revolving Funds Advisory Committees).  We hope that these steps will take us closer to implementation of both plans.

Watershed plans.  CMAP entered into an agreement with IEPA to complete four watershed-based plans within the Fox River basin, including the watersheds of Blackberry Creek, Ferson-Otter, Silver Creek, and Sleepy Hollow Creek watershed.  Funding for these projects was provided by the IEPA through Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act.  CMAP has partnered with The Conservation Foundation, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, and the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership to complete these plans.  The first stakeholder meetings are expected to take place in early September.  Please contact Megan Elberts (melberts@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8794) if you are interested in receiving more information or becoming involved in the watershed planning process.

NPS management program.  IEPA receives federal funds through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act to help implement the Illinois' Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Program.  The purpose of this program is to work cooperatively with local units of government and other organizations toward the goal of protecting the quality of Illinois' waters by controlling NPS pollution.  CMAP assisted numerous local municipalities, agencies, and organizations in implementing projects designed to reduce NPS pollution to the region's rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands.  CMAP serves as technical advisor, project coordinator, and grant administrator to the local project sponsors.  Below are some highlights from three 319(h) funded projects managed by CMAP in our region.  Click here for before and after photos of the projects.

The Village of West Dundee received funds and completed construction of two bioinfiltration facilities near the Fox River in northeastern Kane County, Illinois.  The facilities were designed to receive and treat urban runoff from streets, a parking lot, roof area, and lawns before discharging into the Fox River.  The bioretention facilities were designed to reduce sediments, nutrients, metals, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants released into the river.  One facility is approximately 1,000 square feet in size and located at the end of Oregon Street, and the other facility is approximately 600 square feet in size and located at the end of Fay Avenue.

On Friday, July 16, Dundee Township celebrated the grand opening of its newest Open Space restoration and water quality improvement project.  The project includes restoring and reclaiming a 160-acre site on Jelkes Creek, a tributary of the Fox River, located southwest of the Village of Sleepy Hollow in northern Kane County, Illinois.  Approximately 160 acres, or 67% of the total 239-acre site, were severely disturbed and degraded due to historical gravel quarry operations.  The mining activities created several topsoil berms, spoil piles, and extensive moderately-to-steeply sloped areas that are poorly vegetated and exhibiting gully, sheet, and rill erosion.  Water quality impacts on Jelkes Creek included siltation/sedimentation, nutrient enrichment, and habitat degradation. 

This Project reclaimed and restored this 160-acre area by reconfiguring the site with several best management practices (BMPs) including: construction of six biofiltration swales to treat and infiltrate runoff from the site; conversion of existing ponds into stormwater wetlands to improve pollutant removal; and construction of stormwater detention basins to remove suspended and soluble nonpoint source pollutants, enhance habitat and aesthetics, and improve water retention and other beneficial hydrologic functions.

Dundee Township also held a grand opening ceremony for the Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary.  Dundee Township is currently designing a series of educational signs for the site that will describe the BMPs that are now on the site.

The City of Aurora completed its work in several interrelated efforts to implement green infrastructure BMPs within the City's riverfront tax increment financing districts, brownfield sites, and planned sewer decombination areas in order to provide more effective treatment of urban runoff before it enters the Fox River.  The overall project was designed to help improve water quality in the Fox River to reduce NPS pollutant deposition and improve water quality in the Fox River; develop a naturalized, dispersed stormwater management design to alleviate combined sewer overflow challenges; increase stormwater detention capacity; decrease stormwater discharge volumes to the Fox River; and create urban wildlife habitat through naturalized stormwater management and interconnected greenways.  Work was completed along Lincoln Avenue and Spring Street. 

Progress in the Region

Climate change adaptation.  On July 7, the U.S. EPA - Region 5 office hosted a listening session for the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force at the Metcalfe Federal Building.  The Task Force includes the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. EPA, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of the Army/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The session was moderated by George Heartwell, Mayor of Grand Rapids, MI.  The topics for the two panels included Great Lakes Ecosystems and Great Lakes Urban Infrastructure (view webcasts online).  One of the main highlights of the discussion was security of water resources.  Impacts on water quality, quantity, aquatic ecosystems, and on public health resulting from water-borne diseases, were also focuses of many of the presentations.  Another focus was on increased energy efficiency and deployment of renewable energy sources.  The Water 2050 report received a favorable mention when Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) deputy director Debbie Stone highlighted the plan as a pioneering effort in addressing water resources.

MeterSave.  The City of Chicago's Water Quality Report includes a reminder that residents can participate in the MeterSave program by getting a meter installed for free.  The city estimates that metering could decrease the average residential water bill by as much as 17 percent to 33 percent.  The Water 2050 report notes that the estimated water savings with completion of a Universal Metering program in Chicago is 30 million gallons per day.  To get on board, go to www.metersave.org.  The Water Quality Report also included a sidebar on "Lawn Care and the Environment," reminding residents that their lawn care practices have an impact on the environment, including our water supply.  The city encourages residents to learn more by visiting the U.S. EPA's Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment website, as well as the University of Illinois extensions website.

Water conservation challenge.  The Village of Schaumburg hosted a Water Conservation Challenge, and Nathan Hale School won by saving over 817,000 gallons of water during the 2009/2010 school year.  On July 15, the Village was also selected as the winner of ComEd's Community Energy Challenge and received $100,000 as a cash prize.  In addition to the significant energy savings, Schaumburg was also able to save 900,000 gallons of water through their water conservation challenge and water efficiency upgrades to their fire station.

Events

Water quality regulations.  On August 24 and August 26, the U.S. EPA will host listening sessions on their proposed changes to water quality standards regulation. The existing regulation has been in place since 1983 and governs how states and authorized tribes adopt standards needed under the Clean Water Act (CWA).  Some potential revisions include strengthening protection for water bodies with water quality that already exceeds or meets the interim goals of the CWA; ensuring that standards reflect a continued commitment to these goals wherever attainable; improving transparency of regulatory decisions; and strengthening federal oversight.  Sessions will begin at 2:00 P.M. CDT.  More information is available online.

Model Water Conservation Ordinance and WaterSense webinar.  On September 9, the Illinois chapter of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) is hosting a webinar on CMAP's Model Water Conservation Ordinance and WaterSense products.  Speakers include Cary McElhinney of U.S. EPA Region 5, as well as CMAP's own Amy Talbot and Hala Ahmed.  The hour-long webinar begins at noon and costs $15 for AWWA members and $25 for non-AWWA members.

ACE11 call for papers. Our last newsletter reported on the American Water Works Association (AWWA) ACE10, which was held here in Chicago.  Next year's ACE will be held June in Washington D.C.  The conference call for papers will be open until September 13.

Asset management workshop.  On September 17, the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) will host "Demystifying Asset Management: Everything You Need to Get Started."  This one-day workshop will review best asset management practice internationally and provide a practical guide to developing approaches that will optimize the intervention time to deliver best value to consumers while minimizing water losses.  Located in downtown Chicago, the workshop will provide a one-time opportunity to learn from one of the world's leading experts on this topic, Jo Parker.  The cost is $35 per attendee and will include morning coffee, lunch and workshop materials.  Download the agenda for a look at the program.  To register for this event please RSVP with Jeffrey Hughes at jeffrey@a4we.org.

SPCP bash.  On October 8, the Safer Pest Control Project (SPCP) will be holding their annual Ladybug Bash!  SPCP works to keep pesticides out of our environment and water by promoting natural lawn care.  While you are on their website, you can also download a list of companies in the Midwest offering natural lawn care and read about the first municipal resolution in the state of Illinois to reduce the use of pesticides on public property.

Water conference.  The 2011 Land Grant and Sea Grant National Water Conference will be held from January 31 to February 1 in Washington D.C.  The conference is currently accepting poster proposals through September 20, 2010.  Check out the conference website or submit a poster proposal online.

WATERCON2011.  The Illinois section of the AWWA and the Illinois Water Environment Association is hosting its second annual conference from March 21 to 24, 2011, in Springfield. 

Resources

Assistance to rural water supply systems.  In recognition of the diversity of our 11-county regional water supply planning area, CMAP is working with Bud Mason, technical assistance provider for the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP).  Mason has over 25 years in managing and operating water and wastewater systems in Illinois and offers on site capacity building assistance along with training to rural communities on utility management and financial management for local officials. For more information contact Margaret Schneemann (mschneemann@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-676-7456).

Campaign to save water.  The U.S. EPA WaterSense program launched its new national campaign to encourage Americans to save water.  Simple steps such as fixing leaky faucets or switching to WaterSense-labeled products may achieve significant savings.  The 2010 CMAP Model Water Conservation Ordinance is a tool that local governments may use to attain these savings by using WaterSense products as well as other means.

Green Infrastructure.  On June 30, Senators Tom Udall of New Mexico and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island introduced the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2010, which would establish a Green Infrastructure Program within the Office of Water of the U.S. EPA.  The program would distribute grants and establish Centers of Excellence for the research of green infrastructure practices and impacts.

Input requested.  The U.S. EPA is inviting municipalities and small businesses to provide input on a proposed stormwater rule that could have a significant economic impact on small entities.  The rule would strengthen the national stormwater program under the Clean Water Act.  The rule's primary focus is stormwater dischargers from developed sites including subdivisions, roadways, commercial buildings, and shopping centers. The rule could, however, have a significant economic impact on small entities.

Stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.  On July 19, 2010 President Obama signed an executive order adopting the interagency ocean policy task force recommendations, thereby creating a National Ocean Policy and creating the National Ocean Council that will foster collaborative stewardship of our ocean, coastal zone, and Great Lakes resources.

Water in the News

STOPS Runoff Act. On July 15, Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland introduced the Safe Treatment of Polluted Stormwater Runoff Act to address stormwater runoff from the nation's highways through design standards and federal aid.  The American Rivers organization wrote about the act on their blog. 

Lake County plan.  Earlier this month, the Chicago Tribune reported on Lake County's quest for Lake Michigan water in the face of declining groundwater quality and over pumping.  A collection of Lake County communities are requesting a total of 17 million gallons of Lake Michigan water a day from IDNR, the permitting agency.  The decision on the allocation, originally expected at the end of July, has been pushed to the end of August.

Keeping oil out of the lake.  Michigan is currently working on containing the oil spill from an Enbridge Inc. pipeline to prevent spread into Lake Michigan, northeast Illinois' main water supply source.  The Kalamazoo Gazette reported on the clean up effort, including a graphic on the proximity of the spill location to Lake Michigan.  Chicago area papers have also been reporting on the spill, including an editorial in the Tribune and some thoughts from Chicago's Mayor Daley.

Asian Carp and water management.  Shortly after our last newsletter, an almost 20-pound Bighead Asian Carp was discovered in Lake Calumet.  According to recent reports, the advance of Asian Carp in Lake Calumet may be attributed to human actions, i.e. "someone, by accident or by design, put the fish in the lake." The discovery of the Carp prompted the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative to launch Envisioning a Chicago Area Waterway System for the 21st Century, an initiative addressing water management in the Chicago Region.  Given the current buzz about whether the lock openings in late July provided free passage for Asian Carp into Lake Michigan (or not), it seems the region is ready for an integrated solution to our wastewater, stormwater, invasive species, and beach closure issues.  For more information, see the news release and the fact sheet.

Warming of the Great Lakes. Several news articles this summer have discussed the warming of Lake Superior waters -- researchers attribute warming Great Lakes waters to decreased ice coverage of the lakes, meaning an earlier summer stratification dates. To learn more about how a changing climate is affecting Lake Superior, visit Minnesota Sea Grant's climate portal at www.seagrant.umn.edu/climate/.

Grand Calumet.  You can read two articles by Leslie Dorworth, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant aquatic ecology specialist, on the status of the Grand Calumet River. The first speaks to how the Grand Calumet "went from diversity to dumpsite," while the second speaks to current efforts to restore the Grand Calumet.

McHenry Groundwater. The Northwest Herald published an article about the McHenry County's network of groundwater monitoring wells and recent upgrades they have made.

Beach Closures.  The Chicago Tribune ran an informative article about the increased number of beach closures in the Chicago area and issues of communicating high E.Coli and bacterial levels to the public.  Beach closures are expected to continue to increase as our region experiences more flooding -- last week Chicago area beaches were closed due to storm sewer discharge into Lake Michigan from the Chicago River locks and the Wilmette station.

About the Water 2050 Newsletter

Regional water-resource stewardship took a giant leap forward on January 26, 2010, when the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) unanimously approved a plan that aims to avoid imbalances between water demand and regional supplies.  Read more in this press release.  Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan was developed over the past three years by CMAP staff with input and guidance from the RWSPG, the Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

The next steps we must take as a region to implement water plan recommendations are equally important.  A new commitment to water-use conservation and demand management is the cornerstone of the water plan.  Among the attributes of any successful conservation program are political leadership, stable funding, education, and outreach.  This Water 2050 newsletter is designed to be one such outreach mechanism.  This newsletter will be issued on the second Thursday of every other month.  This will be a means to communicate newsworthy items, share valuable resources, and promote ongoing and diverse efforts around water resources planning and management, both at CMAP and throughout the region.  We are interested in your water news!  This newsletter will feature local examples of water planning and conservation, so please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802) with your news and examples. 

Progress from CMAP

Water and wastewater rate setting.  CMAP staff is now trained in utility rate setting, including designing rate structures to meet water conservation objectives.  For more information contact Margaret Schneemann (mschneemann@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-676-7456).

Alliance for Water Efficiency tool training.  CMAP staff received the first round of training for the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) Tracking Tool.  This tool can evaluate the water savings, costs, and benefits of water conservation programs for a specific water utility.  It can be helpful for utilities that are considering implementing a water conservation program.  Although CMAP staff can provide some assistance, utilities must be a member of AWE in order to have access to the tool.  For more information contact Amy Talbot (atalbot@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8646).  

NPS management program.  The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) receives federal funds through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act to help implement the Illinois' Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Program.  The purpose of this program is to work cooperatively with local units of government and other organizations toward the goal of protecting the quality of Illinois' waters by controlling NPS pollution.  CMAP assisted numerous local municipalities, agencies, and organizations in implementing projects designed to reduce NPS pollution to the region's rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands.  CMAP serves as technical advisor, project coordinator, and grant administrator to the local project sponsors. Three projects have been completed, and one is still underway and will be completed by June 30, 2010. The projects are located in Aurora, Wheeling, Geneva, and Kane County.

The City of Aurora's Green Infrastructure project, which is still underway, includes implementing green infrastructure best management practices within the City's riverfront tax increment financing districts, brownfield sites, and planned sewer decombination areas in order to provide more effective treatment of urban runoff before it enters the Fox River.

The Village of Wheeling completed the first phase of a nearly five-mile long, three phase stabilization program for Buffalo Creek.  Approximately 2,600 linear feet of stream channel were addressed, utilizing both structural and bio-technical techniques to stabilize and enhance the riparian corridor, reduce loss of real estate, and improve water quality and aquatic habitat in Buffalo Creek.

Geneva Park District's final phase of a half-mile long restoration/stabilization project on White's Creek was completed.  This project stabilized the stream channel and banks and restored natural stream functions along approximately 1,350 linear feet of the creek through the District's Esping Park.

Kane County worked with Dundee Township on the Dixie Briggs Fromm (DBF) Stream Corridor Restoration Project.  This was a comprehensive stabilization project that included streambank bioengineering, grade control, and restoration of riparian corridor vegetation along the approximately 1,850-foot long North-South Channel located in the western portion of the DBF Open Space and Nature Preserve property.

Progress in the Region

High efficiency toilet rebate programs.  Congratulations to Batavia and Aurora, both cities have implemented a high efficiency toilet rebate program which offers residents a rebate ($50 in Batavia and $100 in Aurora) to replace their older, high water use toilets with a more efficient WaterSense labeled toilet.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) estimates that a family of four can save $90 a year and more than $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet in water utility bills by upgrading to a WaterSense Toilet.  As the summer months hit and water use increases, efficient toilets are one way residents can conserve water and protect the groundwater resources in these communities.

Pharmaceuticals in our water.  Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) created a new product targeted to high school students, The Medicine Chest, to address growing concern over pharmaceuticals in local waterways.  Students can become involved in this issue via the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program (P²D²).  Read Disposal of Unwanted Medicines: A Resource for Action in Your Community to learn how to organize community pharmaceutical collection events.  

GLRI finalists.  The U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office completed review of over 1,000 applications for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and invited 270 finalists to submit final funding applications.  Under this initiative, President Obama authorized $475 million for restoring the Great Lakes, the GLRI action plan is available online.  A list of selected projects by focus area and by state is available here.

Events

Get outdoors day.  On June 12, 2010, Lincoln Park Zoo will host Get Outdoors Day, which is part of an initiative to connect children with nature and the outdoors, and provides an opportunity to learn about water recreation and resource stewardship.  IISG will be on hand with the game Great Lakes Wheel to Reel in Knowledge.

Help Promote ACE10 Chicago.  On June 18, come to NBC Studio Plaza for Dance Friday on the Morning Show to help the Illinois section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) promote its annual conference and exposition (ACE10).  ACE10 will be held from June 20 to 24 in Chicago and will bring together peers and professionals to share the latest news and information about the industry. 

Oak Street Beach cleanup.  On Saturday, June 19, Greenheart, a nonprofit fair trade store, and the Center for Cultural Interchange are hosting Living La Vida Verde at 10:00 a.m.  The free event begins with a beach cleanup on Chicago's Oak Street Beach.  This event is one outlet for increasing public awareness and action in support of water quality that will be important as the region grows over the next several decades.  For more information, contact Amy Talbot (atalbot@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8646).

Shedd gala.  On June 21, AWE and the AWWA Water Conservation Division are sponsoring a Water Efficiency Gala at the Shedd Aquarium.  The event provides water efficiency professionals from across the country a chance to network.  The event is from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and tickets must be purchased by June 15.  Contact Molly Garcia (molly@a4we.org or 773-360-5100 ext. 804).

Invasive species symposium.  From June 21 to 24, the International Symposium on Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish and Mussels will be held in Minneapolis, MN.  This event will address genetic biocontrol strategies for controlling aquatic invasives, risks, and the regulatory and economic climate.  This international event will result in a special volume of the Biological Invasives journal containing both presented papers and those coming out of the symposium's interactive sessions.

Resources

Internship opportunity.  U.S. EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) in Chicago has a postgraduate research opportunity that includes working on projects such as State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC); Great Lakes contaminants monitoring programs; Lakewide Management Plan implementation; Quality Management Support for the Great Lakes National Program Office; and Great Lakes coastal wetland monitoring and analysis. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Comments sought on clean water report.  IEPA is seeking comments on the draft Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act Report. This report addresses the potential of green infrastructure to manage stormwater in Illinois and includes recommendations for the state.  Comments are due no later than June 15.

New guidance available.  The U.S. EPA released the final FY 2011 National Water Program Guidance document that defines environmental and public health strategies necessary to meet the goals of the agency's 2010-2015 Strategic Plan.  Priorities for the water program include focusing on healthy watersheds and making communities more sustainable.

Water jobs = green jobs.  The U.S. EPA released a new video, "Water Your Waiting For," to promote water sector careers as green jobs.  The video is designed for high school and vocational students.  Published reports indicate that approximately 30 percent of the water sector workforce is eligible to retire in the next 10 years.  U.S. EPA, AWWA, and Water Environment Federation (WEF) are partnering in various efforts to highlight the need for qualified professionals to enter this important field. 

319 NPS control program.  The IEPA NPS Unit has completed a significant update to the Section 319(h) grant application process.  If you plan to apply for the Section 319 (h) program this year, four documents should be completed and reviewed with the new application: request for proposals, application, application instructions, and organization certificates and grant conditions.  The IEPA website includes the new documents.  The next application deadline is July 30. 

New SSO rulemaking.  The U.S. EPA is initiating a rulemaking to better protect the environment from the harmful effects of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs).  Two possible modifications to existing regulations include: 1) clarifying the regulatory framework for applying for National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) permit conditions to municipal satellite collection systems; and 2) establishing standard NPDES permit conditions for publicly owned treatment plant permits that will specifically addresses SSOs.  More information on sanitary sewer overflows, the potential rule and a schedule of the upcoming listening sessions may be found online.

Shanghai bass.  Asian Carp is now being served in several local restaurants.  Should you be interested in preparing the fish at home, you can view the video "Flying Fish, Great Dish" on YouTube.  To order a free copy of the video, visit the IISG website.  Fertilizer made from Asian Carp is also available online.  Remember, if you catch an Asian Carp in Chicago area waters, you should attempt to freeze the fish and report to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) (618-435-8138 x123).

App for water use.  There are two cell phone applications, My Water Diary and Meter Readings, that help individuals track their personal water consumption patterns and household energy and water use.

Water in the News

Chicago diversion through the courts.  Marty Jaffe, a member of the northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Group, is quoted in an article from Chicago Lawyer, "Waterways have their time in court."  The article presents a timely legal history of the separation between the Great Lakes watershed and the Mississippi given the current debate over the Asian Carp.  Earlier this month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided not to close the Chicago locks to bar passage of the Asian Carp (read about the decision in the Chicago Tribune).

Obama, U.S. EPA push for cleaner Chicago River.  Earlier this month, the Chicago Tribune reported on the Obama administration's call for the Chicago River to be safe enough for swimming.  In a follow up opinion article, Dennis Byrne questions whether or not the benefits from such an effort would justify the cost.  As Chicago is one of the older communities with a combined sewer system, sewer overflows are a water quality concern for the River.

BMPs in Lake County.  The Lake County News-Sun recently ran an article about the Lake County Central Permit Facility, which now houses a number of different county departments including the Stormwater Management Commission. The new building features a number of stormwater best management practices including rain gardens, bioswales, wetland detention basins and a green roof.

Water quality.  The Northwest Herald reported on municipal efforts to keep Trichloroethylene TCE contamination levels within Safe Drinking Water Act levels.  TCE has been targeted in controversial area drinking water lawsuits.

Price of water.  Circle of Blue ran a story comparing water rates and usage across 30 U.S. cities.  While such comparisons are clouded by the multiplicity of factors impacting both cost of service across water utilities and water use across service areas, rates are found to be very low in the Great Lakes region, including Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee.  This is attributed to the comparatively abundant water supply within the Great Lakes region, as well as the economies of water distribution due to proximity to the water source.

About the Water 2050 Newsletter

Regional water-resource stewardship took a giant leap forward on January 26, 2010, when the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) unanimously approved a plan that aims to avoid imbalances between water demand and regional supplies.  Read more in this press release.  Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan was developed over the past three years by CMAP staff with input and guidance from the RWSPG, the Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

The next steps we must take as a region to implement water plan recommendations are equally important.  A new commitment to water-use conservation and demand management is the cornerstone of the water plan.  Among the attributes of any successful conservation program are political leadership, stable funding, education, and outreach.  This Water 2050 newsletter is designed to be one such outreach mechanism.  This newsletter will be issued on the second Thursday of every other month.  This will be a means to communicate newsworthy items, share valuable resources, and promote ongoing and diverse efforts around water resources planning and management, both at CMAP and throughout the region.  We are interested in your water news!  This newsletter will feature local examples of water planning and conservation, so please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802) with your news and examples.

Progress from CMAP

Water 2050:  A Regional Summit.  On World Water Day, March 22, 2010, CMAP hosted Water 2050: A Regional Summit to convene regional partners interested in implementing the new Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan.  The plan was unanimously approved on January 26, 2010, by the Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG).   Click here to view a full summary of the summit.  Deb Stone, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, offered thoughtful opening remarks on the Regional Water Supply Planning process and the importance of moving forward with plan implementation.  CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn spoke about the integration of water supply planning and GO TO 2040, the regional comprehensive plan being developed by CMAP.  Tim Loftus, project manager for the RWSPG, gave an overview of the planning process and CMAP's current and upcoming plan implementation activities.  Read more about the next steps in a new Water 2050 implementation summary booklet.  

As a first step toward implementation, CMAP became a WaterSense Promotional Partner to utilize the resources available through the WaterSense program and to be a part of a national and consistent message about water efficiency and conservation.  If you are interested in becoming a WaterSense partner, contact Cary McElhinney, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 WaterSense Coordinator at McElhinney.Cary@epamail.epa.gov.  Additionally, CMAP staff will receive water rate training and, in the future, will set up training to assist utilities using the Alliance for Water Efficiency Tracking Tool.  CMAP has also just released a Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance.  This resource includes model ordinance language, commentary for each section, links to current examples, and additional information and potential water savings.

Alliance Dialogue.  Tim Loftus was invited by the Clean Water America Alliance (Alliance) to participate in their second National Dialogue on an integrated water policy: What's Water Worth (W³)?.  The Dialogue was held in Washington, D.C. on March 25 to 26, 2010.  Dr. Loftus was joined by other invited water-resource professionals from around the country to examine the value of water and determine the practical steps needed to ensure that we have sufficient clean and safe water for future generations. A background paper explains the vision of the Alliance and need for a new integrated national water policy that focuses on sustainability.  A new report based on the recent two-day discussion is expected in May. Learn more about the Clean Water America Alliance by reviewing the report from their first National Dialogue held last September.

Wastewater committee.  A CMAP Wastewater Committee meeting was held on April 7, 2010.  Facility Planning Area (FPA) amendments included a request from the Village of Big Rock (Kane County) to create a new FPA and install a new wastewater treatment system.  A request from the Illinois American Water Company to expand its Valley Marina Wastewater Treatment Facility in Kendall County, IL from 0.25 mgd to 0.42 was also considered.  The Committee voiced a recommendation of support for the Village of Big Rock's request and a recommendation of nonsupport for the Illinois American Water Company's request.

Frankfort receives stormwater award.  The Village of Frankfort has received the 2010 "Stormwater Award" by the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management.  The award recognizes long-term impacts and contributions related to floodplain and stormwater management, like Frankfort's water conservation work in Prairie Park.  Frankfort is one of the few communities in the state with a multi-faceted Water Resources Plan.

New watershed plans.  CMAP and collaborating members of the Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership developed watershed plans for Beaver Creek (Boone County), the Upper Kishwaukee River (McHenry County), and Lawrence Creek (McHenry County), all subwatersheds of the Kishwaukee River Basin.  These plans achieved widespread endorsement by the municipal and county governments involved.  As a result, the three watershed plans were the first to be added to the Illinois Water Quality Management Plan (IWQMP).  Inclusion of these plans will require a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit or loan applications to be reviewed for consistency with these plans in addition to other elements of the IWQMP.

Greentown.  On March 17 and 18, Greentown Lake County was held at the College of Lake County in Grayslake.  The event was designed to help create sustainable communities and was attended by mayors, elected officials, public works directors, park district directors, planners, developers, architects, and many others.  On March 18, CMAP's Amy Talbot presented on the Regional Water Supply Planning Process and Water Conservation.

Fix a Leak Week.  March 15 to 21, 2010, was Fix a Leak Week, sponsored by the EPA.  Every year minor household leaks contribute to more than a trillion gallons of wasted water.  That's an average of 10,000 gallons a year per household on running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks -- enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.  Many of these leaks can be easily fixed and can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.  CMAP staff volunteered at one of the two events hosted by DuPage Water Commission.  The events, March 13 at the Itasca Community Library and March 20 at the Westmont Water Department, featured water conservation games with a chance to win prizes like leak detection tablets, shower timers, rain gauges, and more.  We look forward to next year's event!

New drinking water quality regulations.  The EPA has proposed new water quality regulations to better protect water quality since unregulated chemicals linked to adverse human health impacts continue to appear in drinking water.  For example, Atrazine, a common pesticide used in Illinois agriculture, is on the list of chemicals to be more closely reviewed.
 

Events

Calumet Summit 2010.  This year's Calumet Summit, A Call to Connect, will be held on April 27 and 28, 2010 at Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Indiana.  The last day to register is April 9.  The Calumet region includes northwest Indiana, Chicago, and Chicago's south suburbs.  The summit's goal is to foster cross-regional collaboration in the bi-state region and to increase collaboration and knowledge among people and organizations working in the region. 

EE Week.  This year's National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) theme is Be Water and Energy Wise: The Water-Energy Connection.  This event is held before Earth Day every year, and this year falls on April 11 to 17, 2010.  EE Week is designed to inspire learning and stewardship among students in kindergarten through 12th grade. 

AWWA Conference.  The American Water Works Association's annual conference will be held in Chicago, Illinois from June 20 to 24, 2010.  The Conference brings together peers and professionals to share the latest news and information about the industry. 

Lake Michigan Coast Week.  The 9th annual Lake Michigan Coast Week 2010 will be held from September 11 to 19 in northwest Indiana.  This year's theme is Celebrate Your Coast: Fresh, Water, Fun!, and the goal is to increase public awareness of coastal resources.  Event submissions are due by May 1.
 

Resources

Resource workbook:  A continuing effort.  As part of the recent Water 2050 summit, CMAP produced a resource workbook titled "Water Supply Planning and Implementation Partners."  Its purpose is to gather information about any water-related activities or programs that are already happening in our region.  The workbook is intended for the conference attendees and other interested parties, such as public water suppliers and local governments.  Our hope is that this effort will form partnerships and help facilitate collaboration between organizations with similar goals and projects.  If everyone participates, we can create a workbook that accurately captures water planning and implementation activities in our region.  For more information, or to submit your own best practices for the workbook, view these instructions.  Contact Amy Talbot at atalbot@cmap.illinois.gov with questions.

New FPA maps.  Under a contract with Illinois EPA, CMAP prepares Facility Planning Area (FPA) base maps and point source tabular accounts for amendments to the Illinois Water Quality Management Plan.  CMAP completed revisions to the FPA maps that incorporated FPA boundary amendments through December 2009.  In addition to FPA boundaries, these new maps also include the location of municipal National Pollutants Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit discharges, as well as tabular descriptions of each municipal discharge.  New maps are available by contacting Dawn Thompson at dthompson@cmap.illinos.gov.

Promote the plan.  Want to promote the Water 2050 plan in your area, but not sure how?  CMAP will provide your organization with complimentary illustrated summary booklets to aid the discussion and cover the major components of plan in an easy and accessible format.  Contact Amy Talbot at atalbot@cmap.illinois.gov with desired quantity.

Pesticides in our water.  Consider a pesticide-free lawn this spring, as pesticides applied to lawns can end up in our water supply.  A new brochure, Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners, explaining natural, chemical-free lawn care tips was developed by the Safer Pest Control Project with support from Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. To download this brochure, and others relating to water quality, visit www.iiseagrant.org/catalog/products_wq.html. 

Water quality scorecard.  The EPA released a first-of-its-kind water quality scorecard to help communities in rural, suburban, and urban settings incorporate green infrastructure practices to protect local water quality and improve both the built and natural environment.  The scorecard will aid local governments in identifying opportunities to remove barriers and revise and create codes, ordinances, and incentives to better protect water quality.  The scorecard provides guidance to municipal staff, stormwater managers, planners, and other stakeholders through a review of relevant local codes and ordinances to ensure that these codes work together to support a green infrastructure approach.  The scorecard also provides policy options, resources, and case studies. 

Energy rebates.  As of March 20, consumers in Illinois received $1.6 million in rebates through the Illinois Energy Star Appliance program.  Rebates will no longer be available for HVAC equipment after April 5, according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).  From April 16 to 25, the appliance portion of the rebate program will provide a 15-percent point-of-sale instant rebate for consumers buying Energy Star qualified items.  Don't miss out, more efficient clothes washers and dryers can save water and energy.  Read more about the program on CMAP's Recovery blog.
 

Water in the News

Water infrastructure and water rates.  The region continues to confront issues of funding aging water infrastructure improvements.  Bond-funding for public water supply infrastructure operation and maintenance has been in the news.  Bonds for infrastructure improvements are repaid by real estate taxes or means, thus hiding the true cost of water supply maintenance since bonds prevent maintenance and improvements repayment through water rates.  Investor-owned utilities, unable to buy bonds, cover all improvements in water rates.  The Neighborhood Star reported on a bond debate in Midlothian, as well as the Oak Lawn infrastructure improvement project.  

Water footprinting.  The Chicago Tribune ran an opinion piece by Thomas M. Kostigen, author of The Green Blue Book: The Simple Water-Savings Guide to Everything in Your Life.  The piece states that, while water efficiency and conservation is important, "the big change... will come when we begin to think beyond the water we see and use."  Kostigen notes that most of the water used is ultimately invisible to consumers.  For example, it takes the equivalent of 590 cups of water to brew one cup of coffee.  It's "time we woke up and started thinking about the ways we use water differently," Kostigen wrote.  On a related note, April's National Geographic Magazine is a special edition, Water, Our Thirsty World.  It features a world water footprint poster indicating virtual gallons of water consumed in making certain products.  You can view the Annenberg Space for Photography's coinciding photography exhibit Water, Our Thirsty World online.

Water resolution.  The Southtown Star reported on a resolution to form a water agency between Homer Glen Village and neighboring towns in order to make the current, privately-run water supply system public via eminent domain -- an action coming on the heels of a system water rate increases. 

Aging infrastructure.  The New York Times also ran a story, Saving U.S. Water and Sewer Systems Would Be Costly, as part of Toxic Waters:  A Series About Worsening Pollution in American Waters and Regulators Response, which addresses regions' water aging infrastructure.  The article also details the work of the Washington D.C. Water and Sewer Authority general manager George S. Hawkins' continuing push for water rate increases in the face of public opposition.  "People pay more for their cell phones and cable television than for water," said Mr. Hawkins.  "You can go a day without a phone or TV," he added, "[but] you can't go a day without water."  For a look at what can happen when aging infrastructure needs are miscalculated, check out this article from the Digital Journal.

About the Water 2050 Newsletter

egional water-resource stewardship took a giant leap forward on January 26, 2010, when the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) unanimously approved a plan that aims to avoid imbalances between water demand and regional supplies.  Read more in this press release.  Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan was developed over the past three years by CMAP staff with input and guidance from the RWSPG, the Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

The next steps we must take as a region to implement water plan recommendations are equally important.  A new commitment to water-use conservation and demand management is the cornerstone of the water plan.  Among the attributes of any successful conservation program are political leadership, stable funding, education, and outreach.  This Water 2050 newsletter is designed to be one such outreach mechanism.  This newsletter will be issued on the second Thursday of every other month.  This will be a means to communicate newsworthy items, share valuable resources, and promote ongoing and diverse efforts around water resources planning and management, both at CMAP and throughout the region.  We are interested in your water news!  This newsletter will feature local examples of water planning and conservation, so please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802) with your news and examples.

On World Water Day, March 22, 2010, CMAP hosted Water 2050: A Regional Summit to convene regional partners interested in implementing the new Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan.  The plan was unanimously approved on January 26, 2010, by the Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG).   Deb Stone, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, offered thoughtful opening remarks on the Regional Water Supply Planning process and the importance of moving forward with plan implementation.  CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn spoke about the integration of water supply planning and GO TO 2040, the regional comprehensive plan being developed by CMAP.  Tim Loftus, project manager for the RWSPG, gave an overview of the planning process and CMAP's current and upcoming plan implementation activities.  Read more about the next steps in a new Water 2050 implementation summary booklet.  

As a first step toward implementation, CMAP became a WaterSense Promotional Partner to utilize the resources available through the WaterSense program and to be a part of a national and consistent message about water efficiency and conservation.  If you are interested in becoming a WaterSense partner, contact Cary McElhinney, U.S. Enivronmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 WaterSense Coordinator at McElhinney.Cary@epamail.epa.gov.  Additionally, CMAP staff will receive water rate training and, in the future, will set up training to assist utilities using the Alliance for Water Efficiency Tracking Tool.  CMAP has also just released a Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance.  This resource includes model ordinance language, commentary for each section, links to current examples, and additional information and potential water savings.

A series of partner presentations followed, highlighting some of the region's current water-related projects. CMAP would like to thank all of the presenters for their participation.

• Mary Ann Dickenson, president and chief executive director of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, updated participants on water-related federal and state activities, including the HOME STAR proposal that offers rebates on WaterSense products.  A new Executive Order, signed on October 2009, sets sustainability goals for federal agencies requiring 26 percent reduction in water use by 2020.  Ms. Dickenson provided further detail on the Conservation Tracking Tool developed by the Alliance, which is currently utilized by 134 users.  Click here to see her presentation.
• Lenore Beyer-Clow, policy director of Openlands, summarized their role on water quality and water supply issues.  Beyer-Clow highlighted several collaborative initiatives, including their current water conservation program with Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC).  The program's goal is to raise awareness of water conservation issues.  The program also works to invoke policy change that supports the sustainable use of our water resources through a targeted water education outreach campaign that includes technical assistance to decision makers, communications tactics, and education materials while tracking progress for replication in other regions.  Openlands will also be collaborating with CMAP, the Metropolitan Mayors' Caucus, and the Shedd Aquarium, among others, in disseminating information to the public and policy makers about water conservation and planning for sustainable water supply management.  Our complementary efforts will support water use conservation for the implementation of Water 2050.
• Melanie Napoleon, director of conservation at the Shedd Aquarium, briefed attendees on the Great Lakes Conservation program. This public relations campaign aims to inspire people to cherish the lakes and to take action that will protect and care for these resources into the future.  The program uses festival and event outreach activities, classroom education, and exhibits to engage the public and promote water use conservation, among other measures.  To date, 6,815 individuals were contacted via outreach this year, while the 2009 program engagement reached 201,000.  Click here to see her presentation. 
• Nan Buckardt, director of environmental education and public affairs for Lake County Forest Preserves, highlighted the stormwater best management practices that are incorporated in the Welcome Center at Ryerson Woods.  The goals of the project were to be highly energy efficient, achieve a wise use of resources, and integrate stormwater management.   The site features rainwater harvesting to collect water for toilet flushing, a porous parking lot, rain gardens, and bioswales.  Furthermore, the project is an onsite education tool for visitors.  Click here to see her presentation.
• On behalf of the Metro West Council of Governments and the Water Supply Planning Alliance, mayor of Aurora Tom Weisner announced a Water 2050 implementation initiative: the Northwest Water Supply Planning Area.  Comprised of joint COGs and counties that mostly rely on ground- and surface-water supplies, the Alliance seeks to continue future water supply planning efforts with emphasis on education.  To date, the Alliance has obtained resolutions of support from member municipalities, is holding discussions with counties, coordinating efforts with CMAP, and drafting an Intergovernmental Agreement to form the final Water Planning Area Group.  Click here to see the Mayor's presentation.  Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay offered her assessment in support of the new initiative as well.  The Beacon-News published a story about the Northwest Water Supply Planning Area on March 18.
• Al Wehrmann, head of Center for Groundwater Science for the Illinois State Water Survey, gave an update on the groundwater modeling project and expects a final report to be released later this spring.  Wehrmann reiterated that Lake Michigan is and will continue to be the principal source of water for the region and that the regional groundwater model strongly suggests that the deep aquifers are being overpumped (assuming the current water supply source percentages remain in the future).  Furthermore, the Fox River appears to provide an additional source of water as flows on the river continue to increase as wastewater flows increase.  However, a reliable funding resource will be necessary to maintain and improve these models and pertinent data inputs, not only for northeastern Illinois, but also statewide.  Although the region is not currently in crisis, now is the time to implement plans and initiatives so that the region does not face a crisis 10 to 20 years from now.

After learning about what is going on in region, the March 22 event focus shifted toward how to encourage more projects and activity in the future.  As a first step, the attendees participated in an interactive table discussion to identify the region's needs, barriers, and gaps for seven issue areas described below.  Key pad polling was used to prioritize the results.  Below are the top two needs, barriers, and gaps that received the highest votes for each issue area.

About the Water 2050 Updates

Regional water-resource stewardship took a giant leap forward on January 26, 2010, when the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning Group (RWSPG) unanimously approved a plan that aims to avoid imbalances between water demand and regional supplies.  Read more in this press release.  Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan was developed over the past three years by CMAP staff with input and guidance from the RWSPG, the Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The next steps we must take as a region to implement water plan recommendations are equally important.  A new commitment to water-use conservation and demand management is the cornerstone of the water plan.  Among the attributes of any successful conservation program are political leadership, stable funding, education, and outreach.  This Water 2050 newsletter is designed to be one such outreach mechanism.  We plan to issue this newsletter every other month and will launch the first full-length issue in early April.  This will be a means to communicate newsworthy items, share valuable resources, and promote ongoing and diverse efforts around water resources planning and management, both at CMAP and throughout the region.

On March 22, CMAP will host a Water 2050 summit for select technical-service providers, stakeholders, and planners with implementation responsibilities.  This event is an effort to promote communication and collaboration as the region begins to shift from planning to implementation.

Let's strive together to become a model region in the 21st century, one with water and the collective wisdom to use it wisely.  We look forward to working with you in the year ahead and beyond.

We are interested in your water news!  This newsletter will feature local examples of water planning and conservation, so please contact Justine Reisinger (jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8802) with your news and examples.

Progress from CMAP

Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance.  As the region's population increases to 12 million over the next 40 years, withdrawals from Lake Michigan, groundwater sources, and inland rivers must be balanced with demand projections to attain sustainability.  Recommendations of Water 2050:  Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan emphasize the importance of water use conservation at all sectors to maintain the demand at levels that are comparable to supplies.  The 2010 CMAP Model Water Use Conservation Ordinance, which will be released at the Water 2050 summit and posted to the web on March 22, will give governmental bodies in the northeastern Illinois region a tool for more sustainable water use. 

Green Infrastructure Plan evaluation.  Illinois EPA (IEPA) is working with the University of Illinois - Chicago, CMAP, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and others to evaluate effective best management practices, green infrastructure standards, and institutional and policy frameworks to support the development of a Green Infrastructure Plan for the state.  Under Public Act 96-26 of the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act, the IEPA must assess and evaluate the use of green infrastructure for stormwater management in Illinois.  CMAP and the team will provide a report to the IEPA outlining recommendations, and the IEPA will present its findings to the Illinois General Assembly in June 2010.

Progress in the Region

GLRI action plan.  An Action Plan was released by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) on February 21, 2010.  In February 2009, President Obama proposed $475 million for the Initiative to make restoring the Great Lakes a national priority, and the plan describes how it will be executed from 2010 to 2040.  The President and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson have committed to the initiative in collaboration with 15 other federal agencies.   

McHenry County commits to the water plan.  Board Chairman Kenneth Koehler submitted a letter of support on behalf of McHenry County for the recently approved Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Supply/Demand Plan.  Mr. Koehler states, "To ensure our competitive advantage does not run down the drain, we need data-driven planning, coordination across municipal borders, reinvestment in infrastructure, improvements in efficiency, and water conservation."  McHenry County plans to incorporate recommendations from the region's first comprehensive water supply plan into their own Groundwater Protection Action Plan.  This would be among the first efforts taken in the region to implement the plan.

Events

Planning workshop.  CMAP will be the site of a workshop focus group, "Developing Agent-Based Models for Urban Planning," on March 5, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Attendees will learn how to use the NetLogo simulation program, and their feedback will be used to design software especially for urban planning.  Agent-based models enable integration of land use and water use decisions with their simple representation of hydrological processes.  Improvement in water management requires translating the cumulative regional effects of local development decisions, such as location and size of withdrawals and diversions, into meaningful assessments of their cumulative ecological and economic impacts.  Space is limited to 16.  RSVP to Dr. Moira Zellner (mzellner@uic.edu or 312-996-2149).

ILMA conference.  The Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA) is hosting its 25th annual conference from March 3 - 5 at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville.  Join lake enthusiasts and experts from across the state to learn, share, and discuss lake watershed management approaches and techniques.  For conference call, hotel information, and a registration form, visit www.ilma-lakes.org or call ILMA at 800-338-6976, access code 01.  Included in the conference program is the workshop, "How to Write a Fundable 319 Grant."  Section 319 (h) grants are funded through IEPA and help implement Illinois' Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management program.  The program's goal is to protect the quality of Illinois' waters by controlling NPS pollution.

Illinois Water 2010.  Paper and poster abstracts are now being accepted for Illinois Water 2010, a conference being held October 5 -7 in Champaign, Illinois.  Water researchers, professionals, and students will have the chance to share their work with the larger Illinois water community at this conference.  Abstracts and poster submissions should be based on the conference theme "Quality, Quantity, and Sustainability" and must be submitted by April 25.

Resources

Illinois appliance rebates.  Guidelines for the Illinois Energy Star Appliance Rebate program, funded with $12.4 million in stimulus funds, have been announced.  The program, which provides incentives for individuals to replace older appliances with specific residential Energy Star qualified appliances, water heaters, and HVAC equipment, is being rolled out in two phases.  As of January 31, consumers can receive "point of purchase" rebates on certain heating and cooling equipment and water heaters.  "Point of purchase" rebates on Energy Star qualified clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and room air conditioners will be available during April 16 - 25.  For more information, check out this fact sheet or call 877-782-7005.  

New plumbing tool.  The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) recently released a Green Plumbing and Mechanical Code Supplement.  This document helps standardize both sustainable mechanical systems and residential and commercial plumbing.  The green supplement will help bridge the gap between existing codes and established green building programs, according to this press release.

Water in the News

Water plan press.  Approval of the water plan received a lot of press coverage throughout the region and beyond.  The Chicago Tribune published a general story on the water plan, with additional targeted stories in north, west, and Chicagoland editions.  Click here to read all the Trib articles.  Visit the CMAP news archive for all the media coverage about the unanimously approved water plan.

Strategies for water conservation:  Is the price right?  Margaret Schneemann was interviewed in the latest issue of HELM to discuss her work as a water resource economist in partnership between CMAP and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant.  The article focuses on economic analysis to support the Northeastern Illinois Water Supply/Demand Plan. 

Invasive Asian carp and the Chicago diversion.  Recommendations on Asian carp control efforts have been debated over the past few weeks, which could affect management of the Chicago diversion and the City's wastewater infrastructure.  A video was posted from the public meeting held in Chicago on February 12 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to discuss the issue.  The February 2010 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework is now online as well.  A second public meeting was hosted by the International Joint Commission on February 17 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.