SPRING 2022
City of Harvey Kicks off StormStore™ Pilot Project Every spring, seasonal storms bring flooding to communities across the Midwest. As excess rainwater runs off roads, sidewalks and parking lots, it can overwhelm local sewer systems and back up into homes and businesses. But replacing concrete with nature can make a huge difference, and the City of Harvey is leading the way through a new green infrastructure project in their downtown district. “If you plant the right trees in the right places, or add green spaces with native plantings, they can catch stormwater, slow its release to the sewer system and even filter pollutants,” explains Jen Jenkins, the natural infrastructure project manager for the Illinois chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
“As part of the Complete Streets Vision for 154th Street, the City of Harvey is doing just that by installing a series of sidewalk plantings that extend along a 0.75-mile stretch of the city’s main commercial corridor. It’s part of a major downtown revitalization vision. They’re also focused on the ways that greenery like trees and native plants can keep the city’s air cooler in the summer and provide habitat for pollinators and other local wildlife.” The project also provides a learning opportunity for Jenkins, other TNC staff and partners at Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC). Together, TNC and MPC are working to establish StormStore™, an innovative marketbased approach to managing stormwater in continued on page 4
IN THIS ISSUE: 2 TNC Launches Freshwater Resilience Analysis 3 Local and Federal Policy Wins Advance Conservation 5 Propelling a Partnership for Our Planet 6 Conservation News in Brief 7 Study Shows Green Infrastructure Addresses Flooding, Insurance Costs
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