Issues

Farmland Protection

With its unique confluence of climate, topography, and high-quality soils, Illinois farmland—some of the finest in the world—is disappearing at an alarming rate, and with it goes many public benefits, including food, fiber, and biomass for renewable energy. Well-managed farms also:

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Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge Plans Advance

The movement to create the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge is gaining ground both in local communities and at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Openlands, the Trust for Public Land, and area residents have requested that the USFWS conduct a feasibility study for recognizing the bi-state area of northern McHenry County, in Illinois, and southern Walworth County, in Wisconsin, as a potential urban refuge.

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Recreational Accessibility

Openlands and a broad coalition of community organizations and government entities are working with state legislators to pass a new law that restores liability protection afforded by the Recreational Use of Land and Water Areas Act.

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Water Quality

Water is vital to our health and well-being. It is an economic driver, a recreational asset, and a haven for a rich diversity of wildlife. Because water plays such an important role, Openlands carefully examines the relationship between development practices and water quality. In 2004, we published Changing Course, which evaluates federal, state, and local water policies and offers recommendations for balancing regional growth and water resources in the region. Openlands has also advocated for several approaches to improving water quality, including...

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Federal Conservation Agenda

"In his inaugural address, President Obama called for bold and swift action 'not only to create new jobs but to lay a new foundation for growth.' In this spirit, Openlands, a nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1963 to protect the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region, would like to share its proposal for a federal conservation agenda for economic recovery. While focused on the Chicago metropolitan region, its recommendations would apply to other metropolitan regions as well. Investing in green infrastructure is a strategy that can help to jumpstart the economy, provide jobs, and protect the environment for future generations."

—Gerald W. Adelmann, Openlands President & CEO

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Water Supply

For years, Openlands has been at the forefront of water supply issues in Illinois, formulating and supporting strategies that address the demands of a growing population, as well as increasing industrial and agricultural consumption.

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Water Quality Standards

Openlands actively supports the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) proposal to strengthen water quality standards for people and wildlife on the Chicago Area Waterways (CAWS) and Lower Des Plaines River. People are increasingly drawn to these waterways for relaxation and recreation, and they are integral parts of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Water Trails Plan.

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Local and State Land Acquisition and Protection

Openlands supports state and local initiatives for the acquisition, protection, and expansion of open space and natural areas for public enjoyment.

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Facility Planning Areas (Sewage Treatment)

Over the last decade, Openlands has advocated for mandatory review of how and where sewage treatment plants can expand in Illinois. Facility planning areas (FPAs) guide where communities can extend sewers and offer centralized wastewater treatment. The FPA process plays an important role in determining where growth takes place and has strong ramifications for our streams and wetlands.

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Transportation and Transit

Openlands supports funding for mass transit and transportation alternatives that promote smart, managed growth without damaging valuable natural resources in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region.

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