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IL Coastal Management Program |
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Monthly Newsletter - August 2022 |
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In this issue: Featured News, Emerging Research, Emerging Resources, Share Your Voice, Upcoming Events, Funding Opportunities, and Great Lakes News.
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Illinois Coastal Management Program 2022 Competitive Grants - RFP now out!
Deadline: September 9, 2022 at 5 p.m.
The IDNR Coastal Management Program will now be accepting applications for federal pass-through grants of $1,000 to $150,000 to protect, preserve, and restore the natural and cultural resources along the Illinois Lake Michigan shoreline. Funding will be available for projects that:
- Improve the health of the coast and Lake Michigan;
- Enhance coastal public access, recreation, and coastal-dependent economic development;
- Advance coastal community resilience
This year we will be offering:
- 18 month grants, 1:1 non-federal match required
- 12 month grants, no match required
An informational webinar was hosted on August 2 to provide additional information on this grant opportunity. View the recording here. For any further questions, please reach out to dnr.cmp@illinois.gov.
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Invasive Carp (a.k.a. Copi) Caught on Camera
IDNR Aquatic Nuisance Species Program Manager Brian Schoenung recently joined Chicago's WGN to react to a video of hundreds of invasive carp leaping out of the Illinois River. Watch the video below for a deeper dive into the ongoing threat of invasive carp, recently rebranded as Copi for consumer use.
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Rising Waters: Climate Change Impacts and Toxic Risks to Lake Michigan’s Shoreline Communities
The Environmental Law & Policy Center recently released a report on the potential impacts and toxic risks of future lake level fluctuations on Lake Michigan shoreline communities. This report identifies twelve areas where high lake levels and strong storms could impact industrial facilities, contaminated sites, and communities along Lake Michigan.
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Strategies for Adapting Great Lakes Coastal Ecosystems to Climate Change
Released by the USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub, this new resource presents a menu of adaptation actions to help practitioners move from general concepts to tangible, targeted adaptation tactics for their coastal system. It can be applied to variety of situations on Great Lakes coasts to accommodate diverse management goals, geographic settings, and site conditions. The menu was tested with several organizations in project-level planning in the Great Lakes watershed.
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FEMA Releases Flood Risk Disclosure Model State Requirements
FEMA has released a new resource, Flood Risk Disclosure: Model State Requirements for Disclosing Flood Risk During Real Estate Transactions, which serves to help states, tribes, and territories to develop or refine existing real estate disclosure laws of mandated disclosure forms to strengthen their flood risk disclosure mechanisms. Currently there are 35 states that have enacted some form of legal or regulatory mechanism requiring property sellers to disclose factors related to flood risk about their property.
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Public Meetings |
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State Water Plan Public Meetings |
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced three public meetings to discuss the state’s ongoing effort to update the State Water Plan. The hybrid (in-person and virtual) meetings are slated for August 24, 25 and 29.
As part of that process, members of the Task Force are hosting three public meetings to unveil the DRAFT report, provide a brief report overview and describe the feedback and review process. The meetings will be held at locations throughout the state and at varying times to maximize public participation. Each meeting will cover the same information, allowing participants to choose the location, day and time which best accommodates their schedules.
Meeting dates and times are as follows:
- Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Yorkville Public Library, Community Room, 902 Game Farm Road, Yorkville, IL 60560
- Thursday, August 25, 2022, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
John A. Logan College, Ivy Room (Rm. 104), 700 Logan College Dr, Carterville, IL 62918
- Monday, August 29, 2022, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Department of Agriculture Administrative Building, Auditorium, 801 E Sangamon Ave., Springfield, IL 62702
Links to each meeting, call-in numbers and meeting passcodes, as well as a link to the DRAFT State Water Plan (posted on 8/24/22), can be found here.
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Public Comment |
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NOAA Releases Draft Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy |
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The National Marine Fisheries Service has released a draft Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy. The draft Strategy addresses agency policies and plans, research, and outreach. NOAA requests input on identifying underserved communities, eliminating barriers, and integrating equity and environmental justice into operations, programs, and policies. NOAA is accepting feedback on the draft through August 31, 2022. Read the draft here.
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Webinar |
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Chicago Wilderness Cafe: The Inflation Reduction Act and Climate Opportunities |
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Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act represents a milestone achievement in tackling the climate crisis. Estimated to put us on the path to a massive 40% reduction in carbon emissions by the end of this decade, the legislation is critical in reaching 2030 emission reduction metrics. As more information about these new programs and resources flows out, it’s important to continue to monitor for opportunities to leverage.
Learn more about this historic $369 billion investment in climate and energy programs and the potential areas of interest for the Chicago Wilderness region.
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Conference |
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Lakebed 2030 Conference |
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Registration is open for the Lakebed 2030 conference, held in Traverse City, MI and virtually.
The objective of the Lakebed 2030 conference is to bring together science and research, policy, government, and industry professionals to:
- Focus on high-resolution mapping and bathymetry data in the Great Lakes.
- Develop a strategy to catalog new and existing lakebed information for shared use.
- Share the latest technology advancements with the Great Lakes community.
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MWRD Green Infrastructure Partnership Opportunity Program
Deadline: September 5, 2022
In 2014, the MWRD established the Green Infrastructure Partnership Opportunity Program to increase the acceptance and investment of GI throughout Cook County. Since that time, the Green Infrastructure Partnership Opportunity Program has partnered with dozens of agencies to fund GI projects such as rain gardens, bioswales/bioretention areas, permeable pavement systems, and rain water harvesting systems. MWRD is now currently reaching out to agencies within its boundaries to identify even more GI project opportunities. Municipalities and public agencies are urged to apply for funding assistance from the MWRD to support local green infrastructure projects that mitigate flooding, protect area water quality and enhance public spaces.
For more information, contact Holly Sauter at SauterH@mwrd.org or GIApps@mwrd.org.
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NOAA Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants
Deadline: September 6, 2022
Up to $85 million in funding is available for habitat restoration and coastal resilience through the NOAA FY2022 Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act).
This funding will prioritize habitat restoration actions that rebuild productive and sustainable fisheries, contribute to the recovery and conservation of threatened and endangered species, use natural infrastructure to reduce damage from flooding and storms, promote resilient ecosystems and communities, and yield socioeconomic benefits. This funding opportunity will invest in projects that have the greatest potential to provide holistic benefits, through habitat-based approaches that strengthen both ecosystem and community resilience.
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NOAA Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities
Deadline: September 30, 2022
Up to $10 million in funding is available for habitat restoration and resilience awards for underserved communities though NOAA’s FY2022 Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities Notice of Funding Opportunity under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act).
Through this funding, NOAA will engage underserved communities in habitat restoration activities that promote resilient ecosystems and communities. It will provide capacity for these communities to more fully participate in developing future transformational habitat projects. This engagement is intended to ensure that communities are integral to the visioning and decision-making for coastal habitat restoration projects affecting their communities, and that the benefits of such projects flow back to underserved communities.
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Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant |
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Visiting Great Lakes Education Associate |
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Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is looking to hire a Visiting Great Lakes Education Associate to help train teachers and other educators so that they can confidently share Great Lakes science with their students. This position involves meeting project objectives through planning, implementation and evaluation. Applications are due by August 31, 2022.
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What's going on in the Great Lakes this month? Click to read more!
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Restoration
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$1 million project aims to restore habitats and expand conservation efforts at Bubbly Creek
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Invasive Species
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Meet the angler whose tip led to finding a Lake Calumet silver carp & ways to report sightings
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Recreation
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Here are eight unconventional approaches to birdwatching in the Chicago area
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Water Safety
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Chicago boat tragedies spark safety discussion about Lake Michigan’s ‘Playpen’
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Share Your Announcement! |
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Have an event, funding opportunity, or job posting that you'd like us to share? Send us an email and we'll include it in our newsletter next month.
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