Green Infrastructure Installation
Green Infrastructure Installation
Project Management, from Start to Finish
Mitigating flooding and safeguarding communities through Green Infrastructure implementation
Delta Institute assists municipalities by integrating natural climate solutions and Green Infrastructure to reduce risks from climate change impacts by capturing 100M+ stormwater gallons and leveraging millions in municipal Green Infrastructure investment. We work with communities that are affected by flooding to collaboratively improve resident wellbeing, mitigate local impacts of climate change, and strengthen their neighborhoods’ resilience.
We’re increasing municipal resiliency and addressing our changing climate in the Midwest via efforts that center flooding and extreme weather mitigation, implementing Green Infrastructure, and expanding local forest canopy and capacity. Our clients typically tell us that they don’t know where to start. Delta Institute’s extensive understanding of Green Infrastructure allows us to create demonstrable, effective projects rooted in community needs.
OUR STRENGTHS
We understand community needs
Delta Institute prides ourselves on being trusted, reliable, and effective partners to sanitary districts, city halls, stormwater boards, and community groups. As a 501c3 nonprofit, our mission is rooted within your success—as dictated by our strategic goals and governing Board of Directors. Simply put, we exist to support Midwestern communities.
We can easily scale up, scale down, or create a phased approach
Addressing flooding risk is an immediate need of course, yet a nuanced approach to project planning is essential for long-term success. Budgets, timetables, Board approvals, and other realities are incorporated into our project work. For example, taking a phased approach to a larger Green Infrastructure project is a careful consideration that Delta Institute understands—we work on your schedule, and within your work plan.
We tailor our project management to your needs
Delta Institute takes a custom approach to every Green Infrastructure project we undertake, while incorporating best practices and lessons learned. We dig into local risk assessments, history, engage multiple public departments and agencies, and community voice to collaboratively craft a project management plan that is 1) Community-Led, 2) Actionable, and 3) Grounded in Shared Values for your community’s flood mitigation and stormwater management strategies.
FEATURED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Data Collection / Stormwater Monitoring
Installing and Monitoring Stormwater in Woodlawn, Chicago, Illinois
In 2022-2024 Delta Institute partnered with Blacks in Green (BIG) and numerous community organizations in Chicago’s South Side neighborhoods to accomplish their goals of installing Green Infrastructure Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as bioswales, rain gardens, or permeable pavement on vacant lots. The majority of Delta’s efforts focused on the crucial steps toward site acquisition such as community engagement, authentic outreach, and baseline data collection. However, beyond site acquisition and installing GI, another key component of this process is monitoring the pre- and post-implementation effects of GI on its known co-benefits such as stormwater runoff, biodiversity, and economic outcomes. Our goal is to streamline green infrastructure implementation, maintenance, and assessment strategy.
Flood Mitigation in the Built Environment
Community-wide Green Infrastructure in Hobart, Indiana
Delta Institute and the City of Hobart have implemented GI installations throughout the City, including a courtyard rain garden at Hobart Middle School, a parking lot rain garden, a permeable pavement in the front and backsides of Hobart City Hall, and a large bioswale in the City’s Hillman Park. The four installations collectively provide an 800,000+ gallons of stormwater management capacity to the City.
Public Benefit and Recreation Creation
Restoration within the Hobart Nature District in Hobart, Indiana
Delta Institute and our key partner Lake County (IN) Parks—along with numerous community groups and engaged residents—will restore 40 acres adjacent to high-traffic nature sites at the Hobart Nature District, benefiting stormwater management, native habitat, and creating a recreational area with new connections to existing trailheads. This site was previously home to the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church Hall, and our efforts will restore the site to publicly accessible natural beauty, while honoring the site’s legacy. Our planning brings together numerous visions and related goal-setting, to ensure a treasured site for generations to come.
stormwater tree planting and public greenspace enhancement
Stormwater Tree Planting in Oceana County, Michigan
Delta Institute in partnership with West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (WMSRDC) planted 756 trees in Oceana County, Michigan along the Hart Montague Trail and at key sites within the surrounding communities to improve water quality, expand native canopy coverage, and provide forestry capacity building. By targeting funds to these communities, we built capacity for local government units that do not employ an arborist or forester, thus enabling municipal and local agency staff to plan tree plantings, oversee planting contractors, and manage and maintain the trees within their cities, towns, and townships.
Wetland Installation and Restoration
Restoration of Trail Creek and the Cheney Run Wetland in Michigan City, Indiana
Delta Institute partnered with the Michigan City Sanitary District (MCSD) and the Alliance for the Great Lakes to make stormwater, ecological restoration, and recreation improvements at Michigan City’s Cheney Run. A 40-acre site surrounded by wetlands, Cheney Run is a primary source of stormwater-related pollution that ends up in the Trail Creek, a major tributary that feeds into Lake Michigan. The partnership implemented improvements that reduce the amount of pollution transferred from Cheney Run to Trail Creek, restoring the wetlands, and creating trails on site for residents. Our efforts resulted in more than 190 million stormwater gallons being captured and treated annually instead of flowing into Lake Michigan with pollutants and sediment. Numerous funding sources were stacked, ensuring project success and expansion to drastically exceed stormwater goals.
REVIEW OUR MANY GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE RESOURCES
Delta Institute has an array of design guides and materials for Green Infrastructure management that are free, open-source, and available for communities to use while addressing flooding, stormwater runoff, and an array of water quality issues.
WHY CHOOSE DELTA INSTITUTE?
INNOVATION
Named the winner of Illinois Green’s Emerald Award for Green Innovation in 2018.
NONPROFIT
Partnering with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit means we prioritize mission over profits. We are fully registered to do business like any other firm.
COLLABORATION
Named a finalist for the inaugural Chicago Prize in 2020 in partnership with LVEJO.
TRANSPARENCY
Winner of Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency for 6 years — a recognition received by fewer than 1% of all nonprofits.
EXCELLENCE
Received Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in both 2023 and 2024.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Received Charity Navigator’s highest four-star “Give with Confidence” rating annually.
REGIONAL
Named 1 of 29 Environmental Finance Centers supporting the EPA’s commitment to water access for all.
TRUSTED PARTNER
Hired by the Office of the Mayor to develop the Chicago Waste Strategy, which is still being implemented today.
We’d love to hear from you!
If you’re thinking about exploring a green infrastructure solution for your community, we’d love to schedule a call. Please reach out to us to schedule a free consultation at either 312-554-0900 ext. 31 or send us an email.