Delta Institute is piloting an innovative financing and service delivery approach to support small-to-mid-sized Great Lakes municipalities to implement GI at scale—with the opportunity to transform GI financing in our home region.
Projects Roster
Restoring The Duck Creek Tributary In Northwest Indiana
Delta Institute is restoring a key waterway in Hobart, Indiana, that flows throughout the entire watershed and ultimately into Lake Michigan. Currently the waterway, the Duck Creek Tributary, overflows with pollution, sediment, and toxins—impacting the water quality downstream for many communities, including multiple that are designated Environmental Justice (EJ) communities.
Protecting Water Quality on Chicago’s Southeast Side via Stormwater Wetlands at the IIPD
Delta Institute is working with our long-term partner, the Illinois International Port District to assess and evaluate the placement and creation of two new wetlands that will capture stormwater on IIPD’s land–keeping pollutants from entering the Calumet River and traveling through dozens of downstream communities.
Soil Health-focused Land Valuation Market Research in Illinois
Promoting Soil Health and the adoption of Soil Health Management Systems (SHMS) to farmers is a key priority for the USDA-NRCS, conservation scientists and NGOs. However, prior research by Delta Institute suggests a lack of economic incentives prevent Illinois farmers from adopting SHMS at scale. Furthermore, Illinois’ land valuation system does not explicitly establish a link between Soil Health and land value. Delta offers this analysis of Illinois’ farmland real estate market from 2017—2023. This report synthesizes market signals of farmland real estate in Illinois to uncover driving factors that place value to land. These findings will inform the ultimate goal of institutionalizing Soil Health as a factor in the land appraisal process in Illinois.
Expanding and Stewarding Regional Forest Canopy via a Tree Planting Consortium in Northwest Indiana
Delta Institute (Delta) is working with municipal, business, and community partners in Lake County, Indiana to expand regional forest canopy acreage via an innovative multi-community approach to comprehensive canopy mapping; forest planning, installing 2,240+ trees, and expanding maintenance and capacity building. These efforts will be achieved via a collaborative tree planting consortium structure with foundational inclusive community engagement throughout the entire process.
Generating Critical Data and Methods to Support Nature-Based Green Infrastructure in Chicago Communities
Delta Institute (Delta) is working with community partners to install and monitor the impacts and benefits of nature-based Green Infrastructure projects in the BIPOC-majority Chicago neighborhoods of Washington Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore in concert with Emerald South’s Terra Firma project to develop replicable resources for communities throughout the region. Our goal is to streamline green infrastructure implementation, maintenance, and assessment strategy.
Community-Led Planning to Reduce Shoreline Flooding in the South Shore Neighborhood of Chicago
Delta Institute (Delta) is working with local groups and public agencies to complete in-depth community engagement centered around shoreline resilience planning and implementation for the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago. For years this community has been buffeted by extreme weather and Lake Michigan events, and a comprehensive, cohesive community planning process is essential.
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County – Developing a Clean Energy, Resiliency, and Sustainability Plan
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has partnered with Delta Institute (Delta) and ECT to develop a plan to advance sustainability, climate action, and resiliency. We are developing a plan that will be comprehensive, equitable, partnership-driven, actionable, fundable, and measurable. Ultimately, we believe this plan will position the District as a regional leader in advancing sustainability.
Village of Skokie (IL) Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Delta conducted a baseline greenhouse gas inventory for the Village of Skokie (IL) to assess current emissions and provide recommendations for reductions across all municipal departments and sectors.
Illinois Soil Health Incentive Program (SHIP)
Delta partnered with the Conservation Fund and Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District to develop and test a framework for an Illinois-centric program that would offer farmers financial incentives to implement soil health practices, also known as “Pay for Performance.”
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