CMAP recently released first-of-its-kind water data for northeastern Illinois. In partnership with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, we developed data showing past water use, forecasted demand, and water and sewer rates. Watch this video to learn five ways your community can use this data, and where you can find it.
Communities in western Will County are collaborating to identify alternative water sources that can lower their dependency on an aquifer in danger of running dry. As part of ongoing work to better understand the situation, the Illinois State Water Survey provided communities with risk maps and projections of their individual groundwater supply challenges, using CMAP’s socioeconomic and water demand forecasts. Our latest policy brief delves into the questions regarding Will County's groundwater supplies, and sheds light on the solutions that can put our region on a more sustainable path going forward. Read more on our website.
Communities throughout northeastern Illinois typically see a surge in outdoor water usage, starting in May and peaking in July, as residents and businesses look to keep their lawns green and lush during the summer. But increased usage and inefficient watering techniques, compounded by low river and groundwater levels that result from warmer and drier weather, strain the region’s drinking water supplies and impact sustainability. ON TO 2050, our comprehensive regional plan, calls for water conservation that can promote more sustainable practices and maintain a strong supply of high-quality drinking water that can serve future generations. Read more on our website.
The Illinois State Water Survey recently updated its rainfall data to reflect increasing frequency and storm intensity over the last few decades. Many stormwater facilities built under outdated standards are too small to handle current rainfall, and the lack of proper infrastructure results in more flooding in areas across the region. Counties are currently updating design standards to incorporate the new data, but they will need to further revise them to address higher levels of rain in the future.
Recently, CMAP convened county stormwater agencies and the City of Chicago as part of a CMAP Talks event to discuss the challenge of incorporating current and future rainfall data into stormwater ordinances and capital investments. The conversation also touched on improving regional collaboration to share knowledge and develop data and tools. A few takeaways from the conversation include:
The need to update floodplain maps and identify areas prone to urban flooding that reflect new rainfall data;
Opportunities to provide flexibility for development within stormwater requirements to locate stormwater facilities in areas where they are needed most;
A desire to consider precipitation projections in future stormwater design standard updates.
CMAP Talks is a series of conversations about important regional topics. The next one will be about shared services and will take place later this summer. If you are interested in this topic, email Brian Daly at bdaly@cmap.illinois.gov.
If you missed yesterday's webinar on CARES Act Recovery Assistance for Metro Chicago, a recording of the webinar is now available. Learn from Dennis Foldenauer, area director for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), and Jonathan McGee, deputy director of regional economic development for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, about the program's eligibility requirements, appropriate projects, funding priorities, and how to apply for the flexible grant funding available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The EDA is accepting applications on a rolling basis to support a variety of assistance including:
Economic planning and technical assistance
Capitalization of revolving loan funds
Construction of infrastructure and other capital projects
Innovation grants
CMAP executive director, Erin Aleman, will speak to City Club of Chicago on Tuesday, June 30. She will introduce CMAP's core focus areas and her vision for the agency's continued work to build a more equitable and prosperous region. Find full event details and tickets here.
Throughout this summer, the 11 Councils of Mayors in the region and the City of Chicago will seek public comment on draft programs of Surface Transportation Projects for federal fiscal years 2021-2025. Projects include maintenance, modernization, and expansion of the region’s highways, bikeways, pedestrian, and transit systems.
Currently the DuPage, Kane/Kendall, McHenry, North Shore, Northwest, Southwest, and Will councils, and the City of Chicago are accepting comments. Comment periods, draft programs, and links with more information are available on CMAP's website. Comments should be sent to the listed contact for each council before the closing date of the comment period.
A Research Roadmap for Transportation and Public Health
Transportation Research Board
June 29, 2020
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
More information
Erin Aleman
City Club of Chicago
June 30, 2020
11:00 a.m.
More information
Intro to the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program and Funding Eligibility Criteria
Active Transportation Alliance, Illinois Public Health Institute, Active People Healthy Nation, Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity
July 1, 2020
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
More information
StormStore: Cook County's New Stormwater Credit Trading Market
Metropolitan Planning Council
July 9, 2020
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
More information
CMAP recently released first-of-its-kind water data for northeastern Illinois. In partnership with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, we developed data showing past water use, forecasted demand, and water and sewer rates. Watch this video to learn five ways your community can use this data, and where you can find it.
Communities in western Will County are collaborating to identify alternative water sources that can lower their dependency on an aquifer in danger of running dry. As part of ongoing work to better understand the situation, the Illinois State Water Survey provided communities with risk maps and projections of their individual groundwater supply challenges, using CMAP’s socioeconomic and water demand forecasts. Our latest policy brief delves into the questions regarding Will County's groundwater supplies, and sheds light on the solutions that can put our region on a more sustainable path going forward. Read more on our website.
Communities throughout northeastern Illinois typically see a surge in outdoor water usage, starting in May and peaking in July, as residents and businesses look to keep their lawns green and lush during the summer. But increased usage and inefficient watering techniques, compounded by low river and groundwater levels that result from warmer and drier weather, strain the region’s drinking water supplies and impact sustainability. ON TO 2050, our comprehensive regional plan, calls for water conservation that can promote more sustainable practices and maintain a strong supply of high-quality drinking water that can serve future generations. Read more on our website.
The Illinois State Water Survey recently updated its rainfall data to reflect increasing frequency and storm intensity over the last few decades. Many stormwater facilities built under outdated standards are too small to handle current rainfall, and the lack of proper infrastructure results in more flooding in areas across the region. Counties are currently updating design standards to incorporate the new data, but they will need to further revise them to address higher levels of rain in the future.
Recently, CMAP convened county stormwater agencies and the City of Chicago as part of a CMAP Talks event to discuss the challenge of incorporating current and future rainfall data into stormwater ordinances and capital investments. The conversation also touched on improving regional collaboration to share knowledge and develop data and tools. A few takeaways from the conversation include:
The need to update floodplain maps and identify areas prone to urban flooding that reflect new rainfall data;
Opportunities to provide flexibility for development within stormwater requirements to locate stormwater facilities in areas where they are needed most;
A desire to consider precipitation projections in future stormwater design standard updates.
CMAP Talks is a series of conversations about important regional topics. The next one will be about shared services and will take place later this summer. If you are interested in this topic, email Brian Daly at bdaly@cmap.illinois.gov.
If you missed yesterday's webinar on CARES Act Recovery Assistance for Metro Chicago, a recording of the webinar is now available. Learn from Dennis Foldenauer, area director for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), and Jonathan McGee, deputy director of regional economic development for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, about the program's eligibility requirements, appropriate projects, funding priorities, and how to apply for the flexible grant funding available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The EDA is accepting applications on a rolling basis to support a variety of assistance including:
Economic planning and technical assistance
Capitalization of revolving loan funds
Construction of infrastructure and other capital projects
Innovation grants
CMAP executive director, Erin Aleman, will speak to City Club of Chicago on Tuesday, June 30. She will introduce CMAP's core focus areas and her vision for the agency's continued work to build a more equitable and prosperous region. Find full event details and tickets here.
Throughout this summer, the 11 Councils of Mayors in the region and the City of Chicago will seek public comment on draft programs of Surface Transportation Projects for federal fiscal years 2021-2025. Projects include maintenance, modernization, and expansion of the region’s highways, bikeways, pedestrian, and transit systems.
Currently the DuPage, Kane/Kendall, McHenry, North Shore, Northwest, Southwest, and Will councils, and the City of Chicago are accepting comments. Comment periods, draft programs, and links with more information are available on CMAP's website. Comments should be sent to the listed contact for each council before the closing date of the comment period.
A Research Roadmap for Transportation and Public Health
Transportation Research Board
June 29, 2020
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
More information
Erin Aleman
City Club of Chicago
June 30, 2020
11:00 a.m.
More information
Intro to the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program and Funding Eligibility Criteria
Active Transportation Alliance, Illinois Public Health Institute, Active People Healthy Nation, Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity
July 1, 2020
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
More information
StormStore: Cook County's New Stormwater Credit Trading Market
Metropolitan Planning Council
July 9, 2020
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
More information