URBANWATERS A Partnership for Restoring Urban Waterways and Revitalizing Communities Next NWI Urban Waters Meeting July 28,2017, 9:30 am Centier Bank Building, 504 Broadway, Gary Map to 504 Broadway. Parking is available south of building. Thank you to 504 Broadway Redevelopment for use of meeting space. Join us for the next NWI Urban Waters partnership meeting July 28 at 9:30 am The agenda includes presentations from the City of Gary's Redevelopment Director, Jack Eskin on development of City's Green Infrastructure plan and the GSTADS model developed to guide green infrastructure planning. After the meeting, Director of Green Urbanism, Brenda Scott Henry will lead a walking tour of green infrastructure projects in downtown Gary, including the rain garden at City Center Plaza (right), plantings at Gateway Park, and the start of the Gary Green Link at Metro Center. Above: Rain garden at Gary City Hall. Download the updated 2017/18 NWI Urban Waters Work Plan Have we missed anything? Contact Jen Birchfield about your Urban Waters projects that need assistance. Sammies People's Choice Award Voting is Open! The Urban Waters Federal Partnership team could win a People's Choice Sammie! Surabhi Shah and the Urban Waters team are a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies), an honor in itself for all of us who have dedicated so much to restoring Lake Michigan and its tributaries and improving life here in Northwest Indiana. Please share and celebrate this achievement with your managers, families, and all those who've supported your contributions to this national effort. Voting details can be found here. Right: View the Sammies Shout Out video created by Ed Ryscuck, Lynda Lancaster, and Jen Birchfield to thank all the partners working throughout Northwest Indiana to connect people to our amazing urban waters. This honor is for all of you, and because of all of you. Keep up the good work, and congratulations! NWI Sammies Shout Out ------- Spotlight on Success Gary Natural Areas Tour Above: A pleasant walk next to the restored Grand Calumet River with DuPont Nature Preserve in the background. This river has transformed from one of the most polluted rivers in the country to a huge asset for Northwest Indiana. On June 23rd dedicated professionals working in Gary experienced the amazing plant diversity and unique habitat of dune and swale areas in Gary on a tour organized by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The goal of the tour was to highlight the importance of these often overlooked natural areas, improve coordination between partners, and discuss common goals. Participants toured Clark & Pine Nature Preserve and DuPont Nature Preserve to see the amazing transformation the Grand Cal River and discuss the potential of clean-up efforts for the remaining reaches within Gary. A video Unseen Jewel: Gary Natural Areas Tour documents last year's tour and discusses the importance of these natural areas in Gary. NIPSCO Awards Environmental Action Grants Congratulations to several Northwest Indiana Urban Waters Partners who have been awarded NIPSCO Environmental Action Grants, including: • La Porte County Soil & Water Conservation District, Trail Creek Week (pictured at right) • Causes for International Change, Native plant and accessible garden at Marquette Park • Dunes Learning Center, Promoting civic engagement through civic science for middle school students • Porter County Convention, Recreation & Visitor Commission, Native American Ethnobotany Trail • Porter County Parks Foundation, Sunset Hill Farm County Park Pond restoration phase III • Save the Dunes, Trail Creek watershed restoration & community engagement Partners in the Press A July 2, 2017 Northwest Indiana Times article, Explore Northwest Indiana's world-class paddling experiences-showcases paddling opportunities on Northwest Indiana waterways and features comments from Dan Plath, a founder of the Northwest Indiana Above: Students paddle as part of canoemobile. ------- Paddling Association. The article was written by Lorelei Weimer of Indiana Dunes Tourism and Jack Arnett of Visit Michigan City LaPorte. Funding Opportunities Chi-Cal Rivers Fund With a focus on the major waterways of the Chicago and Calumet region, the Fund will award grants to reduce storm- water runoff with green infrastructure, enhance fish and wildlife habitat, and improve public-use opportunities. Funding Range $100,000 -$300,000. Proposals due July 10 >More lnformation< Rural Community Development Grants Intermediary organizations receiving grants will provide technical assistance and training to help nonprofit organizations and communities develop their capacity to undertake housing, community facilities or economic development projects. Applications due July 25 >More lnformation< Partners for Places Grants Partners for Places is a matching grant program for cities and counties to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability offices and place-based foundations. In addition to the priority areas, there is dedicated funding to support green stormwater projects that advance water- related sustainability goals. Awards $25,000 - $150,000 with 1:1 match Due July 31 >More information< Emerging Champions Grants The Great Lakes Commission has announced a request for proposals for the Great Lakes Emerging Champions Mini- Grant Program. The Program will provide funding to help communities with fewer than 500,000 people improve water quality, manage stormwater, and enhance community well-being. Grants of up to $20,000 will support green infrastructure implementation, planning, and education. Proposals due July 31 Webinar July 10, 2017, 1-2 pm >reaister< >More information< Coastal Grants Pre-proposals Potential applicants should attend a workshop to learn about eligibility, grant program processes and timelines, and application and grant details: July 19, 10 am - Chesterton Aug. 8, 10 am - Crown Point Aug. 29, 2 pm - Michigan City Pre-proposals due September 15 by 5pm >More lnformation< 2018 Clean Water Indiana Grant Soil & Water Conservation Districts may apply to for Clean Water Indiana grants to support competitive proposals for multi- year projects which address the priorities in the State Soil Conservation Board's Business Plan. Applications due September 15 >More lnformation< FWS Coastal Program NSF Environmental Sustainability Grants ------- The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced funding to provide direct technical and financial assistance to coastal communities and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat. Applications due September 30 >More lnformation< Grants promote sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being while being compatible with environmental systems. Research areas: industrial ecology, green engineering, ecological engineering, and earth systems engineering. Proposals due October 20 >More lnformation< EPA Cladophora RFA Expected EPA expects to soon issue a Request for Applications to aid in the Agency's efforts in reduction of nuisance Cladophora growth in the Great Lakes. Once released, applicants will have 45 days to respond with a project to provide in situ observational data for use in enhanced Cladophora growth models to support phosphorus targets to be developed for the eastern basin of Lake Erie and Lakes Michigan, Huron and Ontario. Up to $600,000 may be awarded for one cooperative agreement. Public Works Assistance Programs The Economic Development Administration solicits applications for investments in construction, non- construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects that leverage existing assets for creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities. Funding range: $100,000 to $3,000,000 >More lnformation< Upcoming Local Events Tree ID Workshop Purdue University Northwest, in partnership with the Coffee Creek Watershed Nature Preserve and the Nature Conservancy, will host a free tree identification workshop. Coffee Creek Watershed Nature Preserve in Chesterton 10 am- noon, July 8 (this Weekend!) (rain alternate- 1pm July 9) >More information< Outdoors Adaptive Escapade (OAE) With a focus on highlighting green & blue trails, OAE celebrates all abilities and showcases hidden recreational gems in Miller and neighboring communities. OAE will feature adaptive vehicles and equipment to enable individuals with limited mobility to access roads and natural areas. July 15 at 10:00 am >More information< Vacant To Vibrant Citywide Charette The Alliance for the Great Lakes is currently supporting the City of Gary's Department of Green Urbanism as they grow their successful Vacant to Vibrant program. Through the program, neighborhood flooding is better managed and blocks are stabilized with lot-sized parks. Gary residents and other engaged users are NICTD Environmental Discussion Save the Dunes will host Nicole Barker, Director of Capital Investment and Implementation for the South Shore Railroad, for an informational session geared for environmental groups/agencies on the railroad's Double Track and the West Lake Corridor ------- encouraged to work together towards an initial design of their Vacant to Vibrant site. July 20, 4-7:30 pm Boys and Girls Club 2700 W 19th Ave, Gary, IN 46404 projects. RSVP by July 7 July 20th, 6:00-7:30pm 444 Barker Road, Michigan City, IN Items of Interest Green Infrastructure Webinar The EPA webinar, Creating Healthy, Resilient Communities Through Green Infrastructure will share how partners and communities Came together to learn about low impact development and green infrastructure approaches to improve local resilience to flooding and drought impacts. July 11, 1 pm Eastern >Register < Bringing Nature Home Awards If you have a garden or landscape that makes use of native plants, consider applying for the Shirley Heinze Land Trust Bringing Nature Home Awards, which recognize outstanding examples of landscaping with native plants. Applications due July 17 >More information and applv< Greater, Greener Conference Presented by City Parks Alliance, Greater, Greener 2017 will explore the challenges and opportunities facing urban parks. July 29- August 2 Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. >More information and reaister< Algal Indicators in Streams Paper Alaal Indicators in Streams: A Review of their Application in Water Quality Management of Nutrient Pollution. describes the use of algal indicators to develop water quality diagnostics for nutrient pollution in the United States and reviews scientific developments in the application of algal indicators across the world. Water quality managers can use this paper to better understand when and how to utilize algae as indicators of nutrient pollution in stream ecosystems. Green Infrastructure in Parks Guide EPA's new guide, Green Infrastructure in Parks: A Guide to Collaboration. Funding, and Community Engagement, summarizes the benefits of green infrastructure (Gl), including economic, educational, and health benefits. It explains how Gl can be less expensive and difficult to maintain than gray infrastructure, and it lists additional resources. Equitable Water Management Report US Water Alliance Releases An Eg uitable Water Future, a report offering a robust analysis of the often- overlooked human dimension of water management, with a focus on how water can expand opportunity for our nation's most vulnerable people. The report demonstrates how water challenges affect affordability, environmental and social justice, economic development, health, safety, and more. Youth and Urban Waters Report Urban Revitalization & Investing Paper ------- Groundwork's report Approach to Fostering Environmental Careers among Disadvantaged Youth deta ils the ways Groundwork youth have engaged with urban waters and reiterates why diversity is essential to future environmental and urban waters work. The report identifies potential environmental/urban waters-related occupations for youth, and provides steps to fill systematic gaps that will allow minority youth to fill green positions. The white paper, Urban Revitalization and Impact Investing, documents the potential of collaboration between impact investors and development finance agencies to fill the capital gaps facing cities and neighborhoods to support urban revitalization. Through myriad financing tools such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits and revolving loan funds, foundations can use impact investing to drive transformative development. The Northwest Indiana Urban Waters Partnership focuses on the Lake Michigan watershed in Lake, LaPorte and Porter Counties, Indiana. Urban Waters works to connect urban communities, particularly those that are overburdened or economically distressed, with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies and state and local partners. The goals are to improve the Nation's water systems and to promote their economic, environmental and social benefits. ------- |