Stormwater Management

Openlands is a key partner in promoting better stormwater management practices throughout our state. Stormwater runoff is one of the most insidious threats to both water quality and water supply in our region. When rainwater can’t soak back into the ground, it rolls across roads and yards, picking up pollution, such as oil, metals, and fertilizer along the way.

This contaminated water then runs into our rivers. The force of it creates barren gullies, erodes stream banks, and flushes our streams with sediment, harming fish and other wildlife. Flood waters also back up into our homes and businesses, causing both an economic and personal toll on our communities. Building over natural areas in a way that prevents rainwater from sinking back into the ground also diminishes our supply of drinking water. Additionally, stormwater can contaminate our existing ground and surface water supply with salt and other pollutants, forcing communities to either clean it up or find another water source.  

Regional Authorization for County Stormwater Protections 
Openlands helped pass an Illinois law in 2005 (55 ILCS 5/5-1062.2) that enabled an additional nine counties to establish commissions, develop stormwater management plans, and pass ordinances to prevent flood damage and better protect our wetlands and waterways. Since 2006 Openlands and the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) have assisted counties in adopting plans and ordinances.

Cook County Stormwater Solutions 
Currently, Openlands works with strong conservation coalitions to forge stormwater solutions for Cook County based on sound science, planning, and engineering practices. Over the last few years, Openlands has participated on advisory committees to help the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) develop protective stormwater ordinances for Cook County. Additioanlly, we are working with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County to pass a stormwater management policy to protect the natural areas that it holds in public trust.

Illinois Green Infrastructure Grants Program 
On a broader scale, Openlands has participated on the Illinois EPA stakeholder team to develop the brand new $5 million Illinois Green Infrastructure Grants program, which will showcase best management practices ranging from small demonstration sites to large-scale green infrastructure solutions. Openlands worked hand in hand with MPC, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Prairie Rivers Network, and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to help the Illinois EPA construct a robust process and green priorities for the program. MPC is hosting an Illinois EPA workshop on October 8, 2010, for anyone interested in applying for a grant.

Conservation Design Maintenance 
Openlands also promotes sound conservation design practices on private land to protect natural areas that would otherwise be degraded or lost to traditional development. In 2009 Openlands completed the report Making Conservation Developments Work, underscoring the importance of structuring and funding proper maintenance of open space in conservation design developments. The report explains how it  is crucial that homeowner's associations adopt sufficient safeguards to appropriately understand, fund, and care for their natural features and green stormwater solutions.