Delta Institute is helping communities address the emerging flooding and stormwater management crisis by integrating nature-based climate solutions and Green Infrastructure into their resilience planning, ultimately capturing 100 million stormwater gallons annually and leveraging $100 million in municipal investments.
Extreme flooding is on the rise.
The impacts of climate change are accelerating. Cities and regions throughout the Midwest continue experiencing increased flooding, water pollution from stormwater runoff, and degrading infrastructure. All these factors impact the public health, water quality, economic opportunity, and quality of life. However, merely replacing our current infrastructure with “bigger pipes” is not a viable solution.
For Midwestern communities to viably address their rising stormwater and flooding concerns, an integrated approach is needed to safeguard homes and improve water quality.
Innovative, nature-based solutions for the future
Integrating communities’ current infrastructure with Green Infrastructure—including solutions like rain gardens, stormwater planters, permeable pavements, and bioswales—will help the Midwest address the emerging stormwater management crisis in a more cost-effective manner, while also increasing access to green space. More communities are taking action by deciding to develop nature-based climate solutions like Green Infrastructure.
However, many communities face barriers which prevent adoption: planning, design, connecting natural systems with gray infrastructure, financing, maintenance, and monitoring. Here at Delta, we focus on collaborating with communities who are disproportionally impacted by climate-related flooding by helping them overcome these barriers.
Delta Institute exists because environmental and economic issues like these hit communities—both urban and rural—through disinvestment, inequity, and policy decisions. As part of our strategic planning refinement currently underway, we are seeking to accomplish the following goals through our Nature-Based Climate Solutions program:
Increase adoption and integration of green and natural infrastructure:
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Partnering with communities to install GI, ranging from riparian restoration to wetland creation to municipal/built stormwater management projects to reduce flooding and improve water quality to grassroots efforts which prioritize biodiversity and economic improvement for Chicago’s South Side.
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Sharing our GI designs guide, an open-source guide with standard GI techniques for community use; and,
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Planting thousands of stormwater trees throughout the Midwest—such as through our recent project in Oceana County, Michigan—while also hosting capacity-building workshops that advance long term forestry management goals for local community leaders.
Create an integrated administration program to scale up implementation of green and natural infrastructure:
- Collaborating with a cluster of public and private sector partners through RISC Solutions to execute $10 million in investments for improved water quality and more green neighborhoods; and,
- Partnering directly with municipalities to design strategies for implementing GI, such as in our Gary, Indiana GI plan.
We work every day to create a more resilient region for all our Midwestern family, friends, and neighbors.
Please join our efforts and help us today.
Delta Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal Tax ID: 36-4210191) in good standing. Your charitable contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Delta Institute is a recipient of the 2022 Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, a nationally recognized charity watchdog.
Feel free to grab a cup of coffee and visit our GuideStar charity overview to learn why Delta Institute is a top-rated charity. You may also download our charity summary.
Below are a few examples of our current projects:
