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New state water plan reaffirms ON TO 2050 strategies
Illinois recently updated its water plan, which charts a 10-year path to help state and local partners tackle our shared water issues and sustain economic prosperity, environmental and public health, and quality of life. In addition to recommendations to improve water quality, sustain water supplies, reduce flooding, and enhance habitats in and around waterways, the plan addresses the threat of climate change and the need to advance social and environmental justice within the water sector.
Several recommendations in the Illinois State Water Plan are critical to implement ON TO 2050, the region's long-range plan, including:
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Inclusive growth principles integrating with plan recommendations to reduce environmental burdens and better serve historically disinvested communities.
- Dedicated state funding for integrated water resource management planning, to address water quality, water supply, and stormwater challenges and enhance coordination.
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Regularly updated rainfall data to account for future climate change.
- Technical assistance and funding to promote the adoption of green infrastructure and nature-based solutions — to build resilience to climate impacts and provide multiple ecosystem and community benefits.
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Help plan for a sustainable water supply
Later this month, CMAP will begin a project with the Northwest Water Planning Alliance (NWPA) to create a water supply sustainability plan for the five-county, 80-community area. Do you work in the NWPA area? Join us Tuesday, February 28, at the NWPA Technical Advisory Committee meeting to learn more.
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Climate Committee: Charting the year ahead
The Climate Committee met in late January to discuss the group's work for the year. In addition to climate related projects and conversations, each upcoming meeting will focus on a theme: April (mitigation), July (resilience), and October (water).
The committee heard an update on CMAP's progress developing a transit system report, the Plan of Action for Regional Transit, including an overview of expected engagement for the next few months.
Senior planner Kate Evasic updated the committee on the transportation resilience improvement plan — a multi-year project to understand system vulnerability to climate change, develop strategies to integrate climate resilience into management and investment decisions, and chart the direction of the agency's work for years to come. This new plan builds on CMAP’s previous transportation resiliency collaboration with the Central Council of Mayors.
You can watch the meeting recording to learn more. The Climate Committee meets next on Tuesday, April 25.
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Communities can apply now for surface transportation project funding
To help realize the regional principles of ON TO 2050 and help communities prosper through transportation investments, CMAP is accepting funding applications for surface transportation projects through Friday, March 10.
Funding for these projects will be distributed through the federal sources that CMAP manages, including the regional Surface Transportation Program Shared Fund, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, the locally programmed Transportation Alternatives Program, and the new Carbon Reduction Program.
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Learn how your community can plan for climate action
Each of northeastern Illinois' 7 counties and 284 municipalities has a role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but not everyone knows where to begin. During our upcoming CMAP Talks webinar, learn what your community can do and what resources already exist.
Join us Wednesday, February 15, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. for tips, tricks, and challenges to climate action planning, including data and resources you can use in your community and lessons learned from ongoing initiatives throughout the region.
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Kane County seeks community input for climate action plan
Kane County launched an online survey to collect input from residents and businesses for its first climate action plan. This information will help the county identify perceptions, needs, opportunities, priorities, and issues to address in the plan.
Kane County's climate action plan will create a blueprint for other municipalities to fight climate change in their communities. The plan will include a toolkit with resources for municipal and local leaders to implement sustainability initiatives in their communities.
To help better understand the comments, the survey asks you to identify if you live or work in Kane County; however, all are welcome to take this survey whether or not you live or work in the county.
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DuPage County awards more than $8 million to stormwater projects
The DuPage County Stormwater Management Planning Committee awarded more than $8 million to 26 eligible projects in 17 municipalities. Funding for the projects came from the county's allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds. In addition to the municipal grant program, townships were awarded more than $1 million in grant funding for drainage projects. Read more in the news release.
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Suburban Cook County communities can apply for climate resilience planning grants
Cook County allocated nearly $16 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to support suburban municipalities in developing climate resiliency plans and to fund initial implementation. The Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability, along with a community engagement and planning consultant, will support five municipalities in developing climate resiliency plans and provide funding that will set communities up to thrive in a changing climate.
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New nature-based solutions funding database
The National Wildlife Federation created a database for communities interested in pursuing federal funding or technical assistance for nature-based solutions. Nature-based solutions offer a cost-effective, long-term approach to addressing environmental issues, like polluted water, eroded soils, or degraded habitats, while simultaneously considering social and economic outcomes.
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What's on your urban forestry grant wish list?
The Morton Arboretum and Illinois Department of Natural Resources want your feedback on future urban and community forestry funding, and how they can structure future grants to best serve communities. This survey should take about 10 minutes.
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