Rain gardens reduce stormwater runoff, improve water quality, allow for the recharge of groundwater supplies, increase wildlife habitat and often reduce the need for mowing and its associated costs and pollution. You’ll find the application forms at http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/RainGarden/applicationpage.htm. Teachers, not-for-profit organizations and community groups may apply. The maximum award is $1,000. Grant applications due by March 19, 2010. For more information, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Division of Education (dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov or 217-785-0973). The IDNR and Illinois Conservation Foundation administer this program. Funds are provided through a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

(Photo of St. Margaret Mary School and Church raingarden)

Traditional water planning has not recognized the interconnected nature of water supply, wastewater and stormwater management. More comprehensive planning methodologies, sometimes called “Integrated Resource Planning” (IRP), recognize these relationships from a least-cost, publicly transparent, and scenario-based perspective.

With this focus, CNT has launched the “Great Lakes Sustainable Water Planning Project”. Tapping an advisory group of regional experts, CNT will explore how IRP can improve the economic efficiency of water utilities, thus conserving water resources and bolstering community prosperity and vitality within the Great Lakes region.

With funding by The Joyce Foundation, the Great Lakes Sustainable Water Planning Project will build the economic case for the improved decision-making and planning that IRP can bring to the water sector. With particular attention to current opportunities and barriers for these practices regionally, the project will seek to improve sustainable water planning practices within the Great Lakes region.

For more information

• Project Summary
• Draft Project Working Paper also available for download.  This is a working paper only; not for distribution or reproduction.

Contact: Danielle Gallet Ghalayini, dghalayini@cnt.org

(Photo from epa.gov photo archive)

Green Infrastructure is the interconnected network of open spaces and natural areas that naturally recharges aquifers, improves water quality and quantity, and provides recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat. Green infrastructure manages stormwater by capturing raindrops where they fall. CNT encourages reuse of natural moisture by using rain gardens, swales, green roofs, tree planting, permeable pavement and other low impact approaches to restore natural drainage functions and recycle stormwater in urban environments.

Green infrastructure has proven to be cost effective in managing stormwater, as compared with conventional “hardscape” stormwater systems, and so can save municipalities money at a time when budgets are tight. In addition, green infrastructure provides many other benefits that conventional systems do not, such as improved water quality, air quality and aesthetics, increased groundwater recharge, reduced energy use and cost, and increased land values, to name a few.

CNT is working with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and others to study potential green infrastructure policies and regulations that will help Illinois communities realize the multiple economic, social and aesthetic benefits of green infrastructure. The study will culminate in a report with recommendations to the Illinois Legislature in June. IEPA has posted information on its website about the study and the development of the Green Infrastructure Plan.

Given the heavy focus of the 2009 State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan program on conventional wastewater infrastructure, this news from Ms. Willhite was a welcome change. Many municipalities in Illinois were not able to take advantage of the funds made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Act) because IEPA only provided 25% grant funding, and did not encourage green infrastructure projects. There is now hope that in 2010 IEPA will take a fresh look at these projects and provide enough outright grant funding to enable municipalities to go forward with them. As a result, we recommend that municipalities and counties consider applying for funding in 2010 for stormwater projects that infiltrate, evapotranspire or harvest rainwater for reuse, such as green roofs, porous alleys, streets and parking lots, tree plantings, rain gardens, vegetated swales, downspout disconnections, and rain barrels and cisterns, for example.

Hal Sprague, Senior Policy Associate in CNT’s Natural Resources Program, spoke to the room of over 100 very diverse stakeholders, on the advantages of using green infrastructure strategies and techniques to address storm water problems. Martin Jaffe, Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and the lead researcher for the IEPA study, identified the study participants and their respective research responsibilities. At IEPA’s invitation, several attendees presented questions, comments and suggestions to the researchers and agency representatives.

The study is about 40% complete, according to Jaffe, and a draft report will be submitted to the IEPA at the end of May 2010. IEPA is then to submit a completed report to the Governor and General Assembly by the end of June 2010. IEPA set a deadline of February 23, 2010 for anyone to submit formal written comments to ensure that they are considered by the research team. Once the study is completed, IEPA will be considering the adoption of statewide stormwater regulations to further promote the use of green infrastructure as a primary means of managing stormwater.

Reps. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Steve Driehaus (D-OH) introduced federal legislation (HR 4202) on December 3 that authorizes up to $300 million annually in green infrastructure (GI) planning and implementation grants. The bill will also establish “GI centers of excellence” in planning, implementation and policy, and help states establish Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standards that would incrementally grow states use of green infrastructure stormwater management, akin to renewable energy portfolio standards.

“This is an opportunity to extend federal investment in green infrastructure’s ecologically and economically effective water conservation approaches,” said Steve Wise, CNT’s Natural Resources Director. “Green infrastructure returns rainwater from a stormwater problem back to the most critical, valuable resource we have. Green infrastructure protects and restores clean water, saves energy embedded in water treatment and pumping, and enhances communities’ health and vitality through expanded natural areas.

“Communities across the country, from Chicago to Los Angeles, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, Toledo, and many more, are expanding their use of sustainable, permeable practices like rain gardens, green streets, roofs, alleys, tree planting and permeable pavement. This legislation will help expand the opportunity and effectiveness of green infrastructure nationwide.”

The Act would authorize up to $100 million per year for planning grants and up to $200 million for implementation grants, officially establishing a green infrastructure program in EPA’s Office of Water to administer the grants, centers of excellence and associated programs.

CNT has worked with a coalition of conservation groups—National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), American Rivers, the American Public Works Association (APWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), Clean Water Action, and the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA)—on developing the proposed legislation.

The federal legislation follows passage earlier this year of Illinois’ Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act, which instructed Illinois EPA to develop statewide standards and goals for green infrastructure. CNT is a partner in developing policy recommendations for that study.

The bill’s GI portfolio standard definition:

“GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PORTFOLIO STANDARD.—The Administrator, in collaboration with State and local water resource managers, shall establish measurable goals, to be known as the ‘‘green infrastructure portfolio standard’’, to increase the percentage of annual water managed by eligible entities that uses green infrastructure.”

More information from congressional press releases:
Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-OH)
Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD)
Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO)

(photo by USEPA)

Hickory Creek is one of the finest streams in the Chicago region. Not only is it vital to the Des Plaines river system, but it also has historical significance; early 20th century ecologist Victor Shelford formulated the ground-breaking theory of stream succession based on observations he made at Hickory Creek. Thus, planning for the creek’s future is vital.

For the past two years, CNT has been working with Will County, CMAP, the Sierra Club, Prairie Rivers Network and numerous towns to build support for the watershed planning, and all involved are proud to see the project move forward.

As a stream’s watershed becomes urbanized, it is almost inevitable that the water quality and aquatic habitat will degrade dramatically. This is due to many factors, such as increased waste and a decrease in local plant and animal life. Hickory Creek has experienced this in the recent past, but the Planning Group is aiming to achieve preservation of the stream’s quality by being uniquely responsible for incorporating best practices into future land development and redevelopment. By planning well, the group will ensure that urbanization does not adversely impact the stream.

CNT has become a regional and national leader in the advocacy and practice of utilizing green infrastructure to manage stormwater to protect water resources and improve the quality of living for residents. The organization’s leadership in smart growth and citizen involvement will help bring success to the Hickory Creek Watershed.

Green infrastructure took center stage at a recent regional discussion about sustainable water supply planning for Illinois, hosted by the Metropolitan Planning Council and Openlands. The event was centered on a report to be released by both organizations titled Before the Wells Run Dry: Ensuring Sustainable Water Supplies for Illinois.

Steve Wise, CNT’s Director of Natural Resources, presented a comparison of states’ clean water green reserve process and performances. Green infrastructure projects have been initiated in several states, including Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma. “There is no shortage of municipalities and community groups in Illinois that could and would implement cost- and ecologically- effective green infrastructure projects. Illinois could learn from these other states how to effectively promote and fund sustainable green infrastructure investments,” said Wise.

The report states the region could face a long-term water shortage as early as 2015. Implementing green infrastructure practices has the potential to increase Illinois’ allowable water supply from Lake Michigan by almost 30 percent.

Green infrastructure can help solve modern urban water management issues as they relate to land use and development. Green infrastructure manages stormwater by capturing raindrops where they fall. There is a growing awareness in the region of green infrastructure as more communities, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and Aurora, begin to roll out these types of projects.

“In Illinois and around the country, we should revise the eligibility criteria and priorities of public and private infrastructure funding to recognize the multiple values of green infrastructure, for stormwater management, water supply, community vitality, and quality of life,” said Wise. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides a 20% set aside specifically for green projects. Several states have used these funds to initiate a variety of green infrastructure projects.

Wise believes that “by streamlining local, state and federal funding mechanisms for green infrastructure, Illinois communities could help ensure that they have access to sustainable water supplies now and in the future.”

The students, teachers and their families gathered on a recent sunny Saturday at Navy Pier’s Union Park as part of Gov. Pat Quinn’s “Art on a Rain Barrel” contest to commemorate the 5th annual “It’s Our River Day.” Fifty schools were selected in a design competition to paint their rain barrels for judging the day of the contest. CNT and organizers invited all of the schools, as well as guests at the event, to paint on the Super Barrel, which will reside at CNT’s LEED Platinum headquarters on North Avenue.

”Green infrastructure – rain barrels, rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavements – all of this is part of what will make urban environments healthier and cleaner,” said Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller. A spokesman for Gov. Quinn noted that the Governor wants Illinois to become “the rain barrel capital of the world.”

The Super Barrel, a re-purposed industrial shipping container, multiplies the capacity of a typical 55-80 gallon rain barrel, allowing collection of six times the rainwater in four times the space. Super barrels deliver a compact, affordable water harvesting solution for larger, multifamily buildings whose runoff would overwhelm a typical rain barrel. Capturing raindrops in rain barrels, super barrels and large cisterns protects clean water in rivers and lakes by intercepting the first flush of a storm before it enters the sewer system, thus reducing the potential of local basement flooding and regional combined sewer overflows.

A single super barrel can hold ½ inch of rain from 1,000 square feet of roof, cutting in half the amount of rain that would otherwise drain into sewers from about 90 percent of annual rain storms. One super barrel holds enough water to irrigate about 500 square feet of garden. Using rain water for landscape irrigation can save people money and save energy use, by conserving tap water whose delivery requires energy for withdrawal from Lake Michigan, filtration and pumping from city water plants. Over the course of a year, one super barrel will reduce runoff by about 10,000 gallons (which could fill a Super barrel about 200 times).

CNT has installed super barrels at four other locations: a multifamily apartment building in Oak Park; a youth garden in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, where the super barrel is watering a newly planted apple grove; and two additional apartment buildings in Oak Park. The unpainted barrels, and aluminum frames that allow them to stack two-high, are available from the Cary Company in Addison, IL.  Like rain barrels, installing a super barrel requires disconnecting a downspout and piping the water into the container, a nozzle for irrigation or other use, and installing an overflow in case the barrel becomes full in a large storm.

Chicago Botanical Garden organized the rain barrel contest, with barrels donated by Upcycle Products. Upcycle owner Richard Fielding said his production plant uses a series of super barrels piped together to collect rainwater from the factory roof, using the rain water to wash recycled food quality barrels on site.

Look at more photos of the Super Barrel at Navy Pier.

CNT recently added another tool to our stock of stormwater management solutions.  The National Green Values™ Calculator (GVC) is a tool for quickly comparing the performance, costs, and benefits of Green Infrastructure (GI) to conventional stormwater practices. The GVC is designed to take you step-by-step through a process of determining the average precipitation at your site, choosing a stormwater runoff volume reduction goal, defining the impervious areas of your site under a conventional development scheme, and then choosing from a range of Green Infrastructure Best Management Practices (BMPs) to find the combination that meets the necessary runoff volume reduction goal in a cost-effective way.

The Calculator also estimates annual and life cycle benefits of reduced air pollutants, carbon dioxide sequestration, compensatory value of trees, groundwater replenishment, reduced energy use, and reduced water treatment benefits.

To get started, select a tab at the top to enter site information. Default values (that you can always change as the user) are provided throughout the calculator, so you can begin on any step.  The Calculator provides output in a printable format, you can save the data output and share by creating a permanent link.

Try out the new National Green Values Calculator

IEPA awarded University of Illinois Urban Planning Program Director Martin Jaffe a grant to assess the use of green infrastructure for urban stormwater management. CNT and the UIC team will be reviewing existing green infrastructure systems and regulatory programs in cities and states across the country, as well as exploring the use of models to determine the effectiveness of these systems in urban environments.

CNT will analyze existing regulatory storm water performance standards to identify those that will be effective to guide green infrastructure adoption in urban areas in Illinois. CNT will also explore the potential to establish a long-term “green infrastructure portfolio standard” in select areas, similar to the renewable energy portfolio standards that have been adopted in many states requiring gradual, measurable increases in renewable energy.

IEPA initiated the study after the Gov. Quinn signed the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (P.A. 96-0026), legislation proposed by CNT that instructs the Agency to explore ways to bring green infrastructure’s many benefits into state stormwater policy. The legislation also requires that the study team report back to the legislature and the Governor’s Office by June 2010.

“The beauty of green infrastructure,” says Hal Sprague, Senior Policy Associate at CNT, “is that it provides so many benefits to the community. Not only does it help manage stormwater runoff and prevent flooding, but it helps protect lakes and streams from pollution, recharge local groundwater, reduce urban heat island effects – saving energy and money, improve air quality, increase land values, and provide wildlife habitat and recreational space, just to name a few benefits. This study will give IEPA the background information it needs to develop an effective green infrastructure plan for the State of Illinois.”

Read more about CNT’s green infrastructure programs or more about the EPA’s efforts to Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure.

Read more about P.A. 96-0026.