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IDNR Coastal Management Program
February 2018
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Illinois International Port District Director, Clayton Harris III, talks with partners during a 2017 boat tour of the Port District, Calumet River, and Lake Calumet.
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Illinois International Port District:
A revitalized vision for the Calumet’s working waterfront
Illinois International Port District’s director, Clayton Harris III, is blazing a new path for this critical working waterfront in the Calumet region. Along the Calumet River and Lake Michigan, the port is at the intersection of shipping, rail, and road, and poised to support economic development locally and regionally. For many years, Illinois International Port District was underutilized and isolated from community interests. But, under Clayton and the Board of Directors’ leadership, the Port District is embarking on new projects and partnerships to restore the port to its former strength.
Most recently, the Port District worked with state legislators to ensure Illinois House Bill 1797 passed, a huge win for the port’s financial solvency. The bill formally removed a $15 million debt from the port’s books – a debt that had already been forgiven in practice many years ago. This allowed Illinois International Port District to start focusing more of its energy on important new projects that are bringing much needed investment to the south side: 1) a road repair project around Lake Calumet, funded through the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways’ Invest in Cook program, 2) a multimodal transportation project on Butler Drive (the port’s main thoroughfare), supported by Illinois Department of Transportation, and 3) a Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Local Technical Assistance project that will serve as a foundational step in developing a new master plan for the port.
The Port District is also building new and lasting partnerships. It is working closely with Calumet Collaborative to bring opportunities for community engagement on port initiatives. At Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal program, we recognize the port’s importance to the region and our coast. We are thrilled to be a part of several growing partnerships focused on its revitalization: one that is beginning to bring together funders and other like-minded entities to align and leverage their support and another that engages the Prairie Research Institute’s Illinois Sustainable Technology Center and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on environmentally-conscious practices. Coastal is also funding a market analysis, which complements other foundational steps for master planning. There is a lot of change happening at the Illinois International Port District – stay tuned to learn more about these exciting developments!
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Coastal Grantee Featured on
Enjoy Illinois Website
The IDNR Coastal Management Program is delighted to see grantee the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum celebrated on the State of Illinois’ official tourism website – enjoyillinois.com. The Museum is front and center in a new article about African American heritage.
“Tucked away on a quiet corner at the north end of Pullman National Monument is one of Chicago’s hidden gems. Don’t let the unassuming exterior of the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum keep you from missing this Black heritage treasure. Start with the outdoor sculpture by artist Rene Townsend. The 10-foot mosaic on the west side of the property offers a visually poetic perspective on railroad history, the black labor union movement, and civil rights in the U.S.
Creativity then sets the stage for transformation as you enter the museum’s interior. On any given day, you will be greeted by music that captures the essence of the Black Renaissance Era. History unfolds from there in this one-of-a-kind museum that shines a light on African Americans who moved men and women to action.
A video introduces the moving cast of characters – from slaves, to porters and waiters who served Pullman railcar passengers, to labor organizers, to Civil Rights pioneers. The museum is self-guided after that. Artifacts, news stories, and images create what appears to be a new vignette of the African American experience at each pivot.
The [museum], while modest in size, is abundant with inspiration. Executive Director David Petersen puts it this way, ‘We hope for people to leave here as better versions of themselves. That is what our story does.' Whether you are black, white, brown, or purple, this special place will make you stand tall and want to be more.”
Check out the full article here, including other noteworthy African American heritage sites on Chicago’s south side.
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Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Training Initiative
As coastal communities adapt to increases in rainfall and urban flooding associated with a changing climate, we talk a lot about the triple bottom line. How can we address stormwater issues while improving community wellbeing, protecting the environment, and benefiting the local economy? Increasingly, green stormwater infrastructure is part of the solution because it can reduce localized flooding, while providing habitat for pollinators, improving aesthetics, and creating local jobs.
In 2015, OAI Inc. along with its social enterprise company High Bridge L3C, joined forces with Greencorps Chicago and Illinois-Indiana SeaGrant to understand and meet the market demand for green stormwater infrastructure installation and maintenance expertise. Leveraging funding from the IDNR Coastal Management Program, these partners:
- Developed a green infrastructure workforce curriculum for a green jobs program & implemented this curriculum with approximately 30 Greencorps trainees.
- Installed a quarter acre of native landscaping, using two types of green infrastructure components; a rain garden with seeded native plant features & a bioswale with native shrubs, trees, specialized soils, gravel and riprap edging to slow stormwater.
- Researched and compiled a formal needs assessment of landscape and ecological industry standards, assessing and analyzing the needs for additional job training skills.
Several trainees continued building their skills by participating in a second installation project in partnership with High Bridge, L3C crew members. Through this project, a handful of trainees were hired by companies looking for skilled environmental restoration technicians. These firms have enthusiastically endorsed the knowledge, commitment, and initiative from theses hires and the success of their training. The high-quality results of these projects continues to bolster High Bridge, L3C's reputation as a native landscaping and green infrastructure company that creates functional and compelling projects.
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2018 Chicago River Summit - March 7
Join Friends of the Chicago River, water quality experts, policy advocates, and concerned citizens at the 2018 Chicago River Summit to discuss what people are doing to create litter-free waterways. The Summit will be held Wednesday, March 7 from 12 – 4:30 PM at 250 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL. Tickets and event information are available here.
Sketch Walks! Get your creative juices flowing with Apple - March 11 & 18
Together with the Metropolitan Planning Council, Apple has invited four renowned Chicago architecture firms to lead Sketch Walks where they will discuss their work and visions for the future of the Chicago River and Riverfront. Each firm will present their related work, lead a short walk to the Riverwalk, and encourage participants to envision ideas for underdeveloped areas around the river and the new Apple Michigan Avenue. These free walks are organized in collaboration with the Metropolitan Planning Council as part of the Great Rivers Chicago initiative.
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Conferences, Training & Workshops
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Great Lakes Commission Semiannual Meeting & Great Lakes Day - March 7 & 8
Join the Great Lakes Commission and fellow stakeholders in Washington, D.C. to address issues of concern, develop shared solutions, and collectively advance an agenda to protect and enhance the region’s economic prosperity and environmental health. Events will feature dialogue on Great Lakes priorities by regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies. These meetings offer an opportunity for Great Lakes stakeholders to convene with colleagues and share perspectives on important Great Lakes issues. Register online here.
Stormwater Management Training for Practical Implementation - March 9
Please join Delta Institute, South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, and the Calumet Stormwater Collaborative for a half-day training for Coastal Management Zone municipalities, practitioners, and other interested parties. The implementation-focused morning will cover a suite of green infrastructure tools, which include siting green infrastructure for performance, procuring GI services, using design templates, and practical guidance for setting up projects for success. This training is free but you must register online in advance.
Emerging Contaminants in the Aquatic Environment Conference - Abstracts due March 12
The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois are co-organizing the 2018 Emerging Contaminants in the Aquatic Environment Conference which will be held on June 5-6. The conference will feature presentations on the latest in emerging contaminant research, policies, and education. Abstracts are now being accepted on all aspects of emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment, including research, policy, management, outreach, and education concerning their detection, fate, transport, remediation, prevention, or other related topics.
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Birds in my Neighborhood - Call for Volunteers
It’s volunteer recruiting season for Birds in my Neighborhood Program. Birds in my Neighborhood is a volunteer-driven program for Chicago students in grades 2 through 5. The goal of the program is to acquaint students with nature in their community through the observation of birds. This program is in need of volunteer educators to help with field trips, and no, you don’t need to be an expert on birds to volunteer! For more information, contact schools@openlands.org, or call John Cawood at (312) 863-6276.
US EPA Environmental Education Grants Program - Applications Due March 15
Applications are now being accepted for the US EPA Environmental Education Grants Program. This program supports locally-focused environmental education projects that increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental and conservation issues, and provide the skills that participants need to make informed decisions. Projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques to increase environmental literacy and encourage behavior change are encouraged. Complete program and application guidelines can be found here.
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NOAA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Applications due March 12
NOAA is announcing the availability of up to $3 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant funding for restoration projects in 2018. This federal funding opportunity is intended for habitat restoration in the Great Lakes region, supporting healthy ecosystems and resilient coastal communities in Great Lakes states. Special focus for this funding opportunity are locations beyond the Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) targeted in previous years. Detailed description and requirements can be found here. If you have any questions regarding this funding opportunity, please contact Julie Sims or Jessica Berrio.
ComEd Green Region Program - Applications due March 16
Recognizing that open space in our communities is a crucial element of the quality of our lives, Openlands partners with ComEd to administer their Green Region Program. This program awards grants to public agencies supporting their efforts to plan for, protect, and improve open space in ComEd’s service area of northern Illinois. Grants of up to $10,000 support open space projects that focus on planning, acquisition, and improvements to local parks, natural areas, and recreation resources. Program guidelines can be found here.
Illinois American Water Environmetnal Grants Program - Applications due March 26
Illinois American Water is now accepting applications for their 2018 Environmental Grant Program. They are seeking innovative and collaborative programs that result in positive and sustainable environmental changes. Watershed protection and cleanup activities, value of water education efforts, green business innovations and hazardous waste collection efforts are just a few examples of potential winners through the Environmental Grant Program.
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Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Releases New Report
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) has published a new strategy paper, the Natural Resources snapshot. This the final report in the ON TO 2050 snapshot series. It explores the state of the region’s air, land, and water resources covering current conditions and trends such as climate change and development. Don't forget to also check out a recent CMAP strategy paper on Stormwater and Flooding and the Regional Flooding Susceptibility Index.
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Share your Announcement!
Would you like your event announcement to be included in our next newsletter? Email your submissions to DNR.CMP@illinois.gov
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The IDNR Coastal Management Program is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the environmental, economic, and social value of Illinois’ Great Lakes coast. We invest in building healthy ecosystems and resilient communities by providing expertise, funding, and other resources for community-driven and forward-thinking efforts within our Lake Michigan coastal region.
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