Opportunities for Evanston-Illinois Partnership

City of EvanstonMorton Civic Center

January 15, 2014

Overview

General Background on IDNR Who we are/ How we work

Asian Carp Great Lakes Leadership Millennium Reserve Coastal Management Program Background and Initiatives

Illinois Lake Michigan Implementation Plan Coastal Community Assistance

Possibilities for the Harley Clarke Facility Questions and Answers

Some of DNR’s Responsibilities:

State Lands Management (Parks) Resource Conservation (Fish, Wildlife, Forestry, Private

lands- including Hunting and Fishing) Conservation Law Enforcement Mines and Minerals Regulation Water Resources Regulation (drinking water, floods) Realty and Environmental Planning Architecture, Engineering and Grants (Projects) Strategic Services (Licensing, permits, education) Illinois State Museum

IDNR- Making a Difference

“Illinois DNR supports 90,000 jobs and $32 billion worth of economic activity.”

Manage 324 State Parks and Facilities with 45 million visitors annually.

Annually review 21,000 economic development projects to assure no adverse impacts to state natural resources.

Permit energy production (mining, oil and gas, etc.) supporting 50,000 jobs.

Manage water supply for 7 million people in 200 communities, and regulate floodplains/controls.

Examples of IDNR Programs and Initiatives

Asian Carp and Invasive SpeciesRegional Great Lakes LeadershipMillennium Reserve: Calumet CoreCoastal Management Program

Goal: Prevent establishment of self-sustaining carp populations in the Great Lakes

A collaborative effort of federal, state and local agencies.

Transition from single point of defense at the electric barriers to multi-tiered approach.

Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework

High Impact Invaders

Sea Lamprey in the 1920’sZebra Mussels in the 1980’sQuagga Mussels in the 1980’s

Making Lemonade

Governor Pat Quinn signed a deal with a Chinese Food processing company to purchase 50 million pounds of Illinois River Asian Carp creating 180 direct and indirect jobs.

If You Can’t Beat Them- Eat Them

Great Lakes Mississippi River Inter-Basin Study (GLIMRIS)

GLIMRIS Alternatives

Alternative 3

Alternative 4

Providing Leadership to Great Lakes Organizations

Great Lakes Commission Council of Great Lakes Governors

Governor Quinn is Co-Chair Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Great Lakes Compact Council/Regional body

IDNR Conservation Congress Illinois Conservation Congress is a way for IDNR constituents to

propose and advocate actions that can protect and conserve the natural resources of the State of Illinois.

The Conservation Congress process gives the public an opportunity to help IDNR set priorities on a wide range of natural resources issues.

Opportunities to engage with IDNR through Conservation Congress: Online survey of conservation issues

Open week of Jan. 13: www.dnr.illinois.gov

Live webcasts: Thursdays with IDNR - www.dnr.illinois.gov January 23: Habitat Restoration & Protection January 30: Land & Water Management February 6: Outdoor Recreation February 13: Partnerships to Promote Education & Volunteerism February 20: Communications & Customer Service

MILLENNIUM RESERVEShaping the Future of the Calumet Region

  

Suellen BurnsSenior Advisor – Millennium Reserve Illinois Department of Natural Resources

January 15, 2014

Overview

Ecological Region of Significance

Snowy egret

Wilson’s phalarope

Chicago West Pullman and Southern Railroad served US Steel and Pullman. Calumet River: a working river

Industrial Heritage and Legacy

Republic Steel (built 1876) at Avenue O & Calumet River

PolishIrishYugoslavianCzechoslovakianSwedishSerbiansSloveniansItalianGermanCroatianAustrianMexican (~1926)African American (post WWII)

St Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church

106th and Torrence

100th Street Train Station c. 1900

Community

US Steel South Works: heyday (early 1900s) and today

“[Let’s] talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race.” – Presidential candidate

Barack Obama, March 18, 2008

Mid-1980s: 200,000 jobs lost

Wisconsin Steel: boom (1875) and bust (1982)

Acme Steel – 1884-2002

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Opportunity to Build on Existing Efforts

A promise to future generations…

Reconnect Americans, especially children, to America's outdoors

Build upon local priorities for the conservation of land, water, wildlife, historic, and cultural resources

Use science-based management practices to restore and protect our lands and waters for future generations

America’s Great Outdoors

Shared Leadership

The Field Museum Forest Preserve District of

Cook County Funk Linko Inc. Illinois Department of

Natural Resources Illinois International Port

District Metropolitan Planning

Council Metropolitan Water

Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

The Pullman Civic Organization

South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Openlands ArcelorMittal USA CSX Transportation Calumet Stewardship

Initiative The Chicago Community

Trust Chicago Metropolitan Agency

for Planning Chicago Neighborhood

Initiatives Chicago Park District City of Chicago Cook County Gaylord and Dorothy

Donnelley Foundation

Steering Committee

Develop action agenda for environmental restoration, outdoor recreation, and economic and community development

Identify projects and major policy initiatives of regional significance

Identify resources to carry out projects

Create and implement short- and long-term work plans

Coordinate and engage with Indiana

Steering Committee Duties

Inform and consider priorities and specific actions of Steering Committee

Align and focus State of Illinois resources and authorities behind Steering Committee work plan

State Agency Task Force

DCEODNRDOTIL EPAHPA

January 2014 Steering Committee report,

recommendations, and action plan to Governor Quinn

February 2014Announcement by the Governor

Immediate Timeline

Examples of Partnership-driven Projects and Accomplishments

Big Marsh and Hegewisch Marsh parcels total over 400 acres of natural wetlands near Lake Calumet

Restoring water levels necessary to provide habitat and support nesting for rare birds

These sites are critical locations for wetland bird populations in the region

Chicago Park District Wetlands Restoration

Lead Agency: Chicago Park DistrictMain Partner: IDNR

Green job training and invasive species control at 15 city and suburban sites

Benefits both the local ecosystem and economy by hiring and training individuals with barriers to employment

GreenCorps Calumet

Lead Agency: City of ChicagoKey Partners: Chicago Park District, FPDCC, IDNR, US EPA

Key connectors for the 100-mile loop of Southland trails Cal-Sag Trail: new sections will

connect 185,000+ people in 14 communities

Thorn Creek Trail extension to 17.5 miles

Bolster:recreational opportunitieseco-tourismrelated consumer spending in the

region

New Funds for Southland Trails

Lead Agency: Forest Preserve District of Cook County Key Partners: Active Transportation Alliance, IDNR, Illinois Department of Transportation, Openlands, National Park Service, Trails for Illinois

Curriculum is correlated to the Illinois STEM Standards

Fosters a personal connection between students and natural areas in their communities

First-step opportunities for conservation career development

Mighty Acorns

Lead Agency: Field MuseumKey Partners: Calumet Stewardship Initiative, FPDCC, IDNR

This new program offers environmental education, job training, and service learning for low-income, at risk, primarily African American young people aged 16-24.

Tillman Maritime Academy

Future Site

Lead Agency: PrologueCurrent & Prospective Partners: Blacks in Green, GreenCorps, IL Conservation Police – Marine Unit, SSMMA,IDNR

Funding

Technical assistance

Program development

and/or

Other supporting role(s) in each of these partnership-driven projects

IDNR’s role in project examples

Strategic and focused investment in: Environmental enhancement and outdoor recreation

Economic redevelopment

Stronger neighborhoods and communities

Long-term Goals

Illinois Coastal Management Program

Illinois was officially approved as a Coastal Management Program on Jan 31, 2012

Purposes:1. Support partnerships among governmental agencies, and organizations. 2. Strengthen local stakeholder capacity, 3. Initiate and continue effective coastal management.

Illinois’ Coastal Zone

ICMP Priorities

Persistent Toxins

Habitat & Natural Areas

InvasiveSpecies

Economic Development

SustainableDevelopment

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Priority Waterways Access &

Recreation

Climate Change

Illinois Lake Michigan Implementation Plan (ILMIP)

ILMIP is our blueprint for identifying and implementing priority management activities in the Illinois Coastal area.

Goals of the plan were: To guide program direction and set funding

priorities for Coastal Grants Program.

To increase the number and diversity of Coastal and Lake Michigan stakeholders

To develop a system to gather and prioritize future stakeholder input.

Top PrioritiesChicago & Evanston

Chicago & Evanston:• Improve habitat value of

urbanized areas• Restore riparian areas for

wildlife habitat• Green infrastructure to

reduce stormwater

Community Assistance: Climate Adaptation

High Intensity Storms…

Historically low water levels…

Community Assistance: RecreationGoals:

1. To increase recreational access and opportunities throughout the Illinois Coastal Area.

2. To better connect land based trails and water trails with their coastal communities and amenities.

Opportunities:

1. Access Points for Lake Michigan Water Trail.2. Extending lake shore trails where feasible.3. Creating known connections among various trails and communities.4. Supporting amenities for trail users .5. Increasing awareness and publicity of trails.

Photo by Kathy Siegrist, CASKA

Coastal Grant Program

Project Types- Education and Outreach, Planning, Low Cost Construction, Habitat Restoration, Land Acquisition

Project SpotlightSummer 2013

The Ripple Effect: Building a Community that Cares About Our Great Lake

Grantee: Park District of Highland Park

Project Focus: Interpretive signage, outreach materials,and specialized scientific equipment to enhance visitor learning about nearshore, dune, and ravine ecosystems at the new Lakefront Interpretive Center.

Project SpotlightSummer 2013

Stormwater from the Ground Up

Grantee: League of Women Voters

Project Focus: Public information campaign to educate citizens about the problems associated with stormwater runoff, emphasizing actions that individuals, communities, and regions can take to alleviate flooding.

Harley Clarke Opportunities

Keeping Public Assets Public: Coastal Education Center – open to public Beach, park, and recreational access Coastal Science Classroom for schools A regional public meeting space Coastal program for a prominent Lakefront

site is a great fit!

Additional Opportunities…

IDNR service center for local communities

Restore and manage natural habitats- training and volunteer opportunities

Support lake- and resource-based activity generators (e.g. kayaks, tours)

Education and research synergies with Northwestern University

Potential Improvements to Harley Clarke Upgrades to meet safety and other

building codes.

Opportunities for improved energy efficiency and sustainability

Demonstration site for environmentally sustainable best management practices (e.g. water and waste management)

Potential Grounds Improvements

Green Infrastructure to protect water quality (e.g. permeable pavement parking lots, rain gardens, bioswales)

Lakefront habitat management to promote passive recreation (e.g. birding, wildlife watching). Includes invasive/exotic

species removal and native planting and landscaping

Why is IDNR interested….

Logical central lakefront location within our coastal program boundary.

Excellent opportunity to expand education and recreational activities.

Natural Resource Agency facility in partnership with widely recognized Green City.

IDNR’s Coastal programming is a great fit with the Evanston Lakefront Master Plan.

Evanston is a special place ….IDNR feels that there is a great opportunity for partnership.

Thank You

todd.main@illinois.govsuellen.burns@illinois.gov

diane.tecic@illinois.gov