URBAN WATERS Meeting Notes January 29,2016 9:30AM-12:00PM Central Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk I. Welcome & Introductions > Welcome from Kim Swift of the National Park Service II. Chicago Wilderness: Water as a Resource Focus Area— Christopher R. Mulvaney > Through its new Water as a Resource Focus Area, Chicago Wilderness seeks to leverage the capacity and expertise of its members and partners to address significant regional water challenges through coordinated conservation actions. > Over the next few months, Chicago Wilderness will be collecting and analyzing data and talking with stakeholders to understand the major water challenges and opportunities across the CW Region of SE Wl, NE IL, NW IN, and SW Ml. Chicago Wilderness will also explore case studies of model approaches to these water issues that could potentially be replicated in other parts of the region. This information will feed into two regional water summits later this year that will bring together key water stakeholders to determine the issues Chicago Wilderness is uniquely positioned to impact and the strategies and actions that should be undertaken. The goal is to have a solid workplan in place by the end of the year. For more information or to suggest potential case studies, please email Chris Mulvaney at chris@chicagowilderness.org. III. Drafting a 2016 Accomplishments Report—How can we help you in 2016? > The Urban Waters network of partners discussed the development of a workplan that illustrates accomplishments from 2015 and sets tasks for accomplishing 2016 goals. The document is not intended to capture all water-related work occurring in the Northwest Indiana region, nor all work of Northwest Indiana Watershed Groups. Rather, the intent is to highlight where assistance has been requested and provided from the Urban Waters network of partners and identify tasks, projects and goals for the coming year. Those working to accomplish 2015/2016 goals include local, state and federal partners, as well as non-governmental organizations. > During the meeting, partners added to the draft workplan (attached). This document is fluid, and can be added to or corrected over the course of the year. However, we encourage you to add to it and make suggestions as soon as possible. Please contact Natalie Johnson, Northwest Indiana Urban Waters Coordinator, at Natalie.Johnson@purduecal.edu with ideas and suggestions. Next Meeting: April 7, 2016 Joint Environmental Management Policy Committee (EMPC) - Urban Waters Partnership Meeting 9:00AM-12:00PM CST Location to be announced ------- |