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IL Coastal Management Program |
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Monthly Newsletter - February 2023 |
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In this issue: Featured News, Emerging Research, Upcoming Events, Share Your Voice, Funding Opportunities, and Great Lakes News.
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The Illinois Coastal Management Program begins the search for a new program head!
Following the retirement of Program Director Diane Tecic in 2022, the Illinois CMP is looking to hire a new Program Administrator to take on the role of overseeing the Illinois Coastal Management Program.
Under general supervision of the Office of Water Resources Director, this position will serve as the Illinois Coastal Zone Program Administrator to plan, direct, implement, and administer all aspects of the coastal program. The new Administrator will have responsibilities for policies, strategic planning, and operations of the program; serve as administrator spokesperson for the program; and oversee all budgeting, personnel, and volunteers.
We're looking forward to welcoming a new leader to help steer the work of the coastal program and expand our impact in the Illinois coastal region!
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New Report on Restoring Wetlands and Floodplain Function
The Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance (NFFA) and the Wetland Mapping Consortium (WMC) are pleased to announce the release of their jointly developed report, Strategies and an Action Plan for Protecting and Restoring Wetland and Floodplain Functions.
This report is the result of a multi-year initiative and a series of workshops that were developed to identify barriers to greater integration of wetland and floodplain management efforts and strategies for overcoming those barriers for nature-based solutions.
The overall goal of the initiative was to support greater climate resiliency and, in turn, safer and healthier communities for all Americans. The strategies and recommendations included in the report are intended to provide a launching pad to reignite federal leadership and support for a unified national program and action plan for protecting and restoring the natural and beneficial functions of wetlands and floodplains.
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Public Comment |
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EPA Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) Program - Request for Information |
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On February 9, 2023, EPA issued a Request for Information for public input on new and innovative strategies and approaches for competition design, community engagement, equitable distribution of financial resources, grantee eligibility for funding, capacity-building and outreach, and technical assistance.
EPA is seeking public input on multiple aspects of the ECJ Program including, but not limited to:
- ECJ Program Design
- Types of Projects to Fund
- Reducing Application Barriers
- Reporting and Oversight
- Technical Assistance
EPA encourages all interested parties to submit written comments; responses must be received by March 17, 2023
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Public Comment |
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Framing the National Nature Assessment - Request for Information |
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The US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is seeking input from the public to help inform the framing, development, and use of the National Nature Assessment.
The USGCRP welcomes comments on the definition of nature, what questions the assessment can help answer, potential audiences and engagement processes, trends and projections, and relevant information sources. Comments are due March 31, 2023. More information on how to respond to this request, including guiding questions, can be found here.
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Summit |
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Chicago River Summit 2023 |
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This March 8th, the Chicago River Summit: Greater Chicago Natural Solutions Tool: A Watershed Approach publicly launches the Natural Solutions Tool .
The Natural Solutions Tool is an innovative, multi-benefit project prioritization tool designed to catalyze strategic green infrastructure projects. The tool will allow users to find parcels that meet certain characteristics where green infrastructure is most suitable, as well as to compare climate, public health, and equity information to address complex environmental challenges.
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March 8
$75
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Public Information Meeting |
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North Branch Chicago River Watershed-Based Plan Update |
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Attention North Branch Chicago River watershed stakeholders: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) invites you to attend the North Branch Chicago River Watershed-Based Plan Public Information Meeting.
SMC will be presenting an overview of the 2022 North Branch Chicago River Watershed-Based Plan Update.
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March 8 | 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Patty Turner Center (Members Room B) 375 Elm Street Deerfield, Illinois 60015
or Virtual
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Public Information Meeting |
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Lake Michigan Watershed-Based Plan Update |
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Attention Lake Michigan watershed stakeholders: Lake County
Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) invites you to attend the Lake Michigan
Watershed-Based Plan Public Information Meeting.
SMC will be presenting an
overview of the 2022 Lake Michigan Watershed-Based Plan.
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March 9 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Waukegan Public Library (Bradbury Room) 128 N County St Waukegan, IL 60085
or Virtual
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Public Information Meeting |
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Lake Michigan Fishery Update |
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources invites you to attend an informational public meeting on the Lake Michigan fishery.
Topics of discussion for this meeting will be salmon and trout management, Lake Trout restoration and spawning reef mapping, and the status of nearshore fish populations in Illinois waters (Yellow Perch, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass).
For more information, please contact Vic.Santucci@illinois.gov
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March 16 | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
CMS Suburban North Regional Office Facility (LGI Room) 9511 W. Harrison Street Des Plaines, IL 60016
847-294-4134
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Public Information Meeting |
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Protecting Healthy Water |
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Learn how the Alliance seeks to empower partners with the tools needed to protect all forms of fresh water, bolster climate resiliency and improve people’s quality of life by:
- Incorporating water goals into all initiatives
- Working closely with Green Infrastructure Initiative on watershed-level priorities
- Assessing region-wide water data for usability and compatibility across agencies and sectors.
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March 21 | 12 - 1 p.m.
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Cook County Climate Resiliency Planning in Communities Program
Deadline: March 8, 2023
Cook County has secured federal funding to support five suburban communities in developing individualized Climate Resiliency Plans. These plans help communities prepare for climate-related events, prevent damage and reduce potential losses, all while maintaining the well-being and health of residents.
The County is requesting that interested communities complete an application for participation between February 1 and March 8, 2023. The opportunity is open to municipalities located in suburban Cook County that do not have an existing Climate Resiliency Plan (or similar) updated within the past six years and require the technical assistance, funding or staff resources to create one. Communities located in environmental justice areas will be prioritized. These are areas that have been subject to cumulative environmental, health and social impacts of injustice, making them more vulnerable to climate threats.
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Illinois American Water's Environmental Grant Program
Deadline: March 31, 2023
Illinois American Water is now accepting applications for the 2023 Environmental Grant Program. We 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 projects supported by our Environmental Grant Program. If your community or organization is planning to launch an environmental initiative that focuses on watershed or water source protection, you might be eligible to receive a grant.
Deadline for applications is March 31, 2023. Applications must be emailed to Mike Jones at Mike.Jones@amwater.com. Late entries will not be accepted.
To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must:
- Be located within an Illinois American Water service area
- Address a source water or watershed protection need in the community
- Be completed between May 1, 2023 and November 30, 2023
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EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program
Deadline: April 14, 2023
EPA is solicitating applications for projects that support community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs) in their collaboration with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that significantly address environmental or public health issue(s) in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
Eligible entities include:
- A community-based nonprofit organization (CBO); or
- A partnership of community-based nonprofit organizations
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EPA Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program
Deadline: April 14, 2023
The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) program provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and tribal level to support government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
Eligible entities include:
- A partnership between a state and a community-based nonprofit organization
- A partnership between a tribe and a community-based nonprofit organization
- A partnership between a local government and a community-based nonprofit organization
- US Territories, Freely Associated States, and tribal governments in remote areas
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NFWF National Coastal Resilience Fund
Pre-Proposal Deadline: April 12, 2023
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Defense, Occidental, Shell, and TransRe is now soliciting Pre-Proposals for the 2023 National Coastal Resilience Fund.
NFWF will award up to $140 million in grants to create and restore natural systems in order to increase protection for communities from coastal hazards, such as storms, sea- and lake-level changes, inundation, and coastal erosion, while improving habitats for fish and wildlife species. NFWF prioritizes projects that are community led or incorporate direct community engagement and benefit underserved communities facing disproportionate harm from climate impacts.
An informational webinar has been scheduled for Thursday, March 2, 2023 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET to provide an overview the National Coastal Resilience funding opportunity.
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EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program
Deadline: May 31st, 2023
The new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) Program is a competition to select multiple Grantmakers around the nation to reduce barriers to the federal grants application process communities face and increase the efficiency of the awards process for environmental justice grants. Grantmakers will design competitive application and submission processes, award environmental justice subgrants, implement a tracking and reporting system, provide resources and support to communities, all in collaboration with EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights.
Eligible entities include:
- A community-based nonprofit organization; or
- A partnership of community-based nonprofit organizations
- A partnership between— a federally recognized Tribal government and a community-based nonprofit organization
- A partnership between— an institution of higher education and a community-based nonprofit organization.
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What's going on in the Great Lakes this month? Click to read more!
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Local Policy
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Promontory Point Repairs Get $5 Million Boost From City As Officials Pledge To Preserve Its Iconic Limestone
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Capital Planning
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Michigan, Illinois propose $114M toward invasive carp fortifications
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Conservation
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From Wildfire Recovery to Wetland Conversions, There’s a Growing Pain in Eco-Restoration Projects: Not Enough Native Seed
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Invasice Species
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Mark Morgan Encourages People to Eat MO Carp: Powdering is Mizzou Professor’s Latest Approach to Tackling Invasive Carp
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Water Quality
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How Byproduct From Local Breweries is Helping Clean Our Wastewater
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Federal Policy
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Landowner help sought to protect endangered animals, plants
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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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