Chicago Wilderness, Weaver Boos, SSMMA, transportation, utility, municipal and other leaders in towns within the Midlothian Creek watershed met to share and gather input for green infrastructure opportunities at the Midlothian Creek Community Workshop Meeting on Nov. 9, 2012 at SSMMA. Towns within the watershed include Blue Island, Robbins, Midlothian, Oak Forest, Posen, Dixmoor and Markham.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, green infrastructure planning is an approach that communities can choose to maintain healthy waters, provide multiple environmental benefits and support sustainable communities. Unlike single-purpose gray stormwater infrastructure, which uses pipes to dispose of rainwater, green infrastructure uses vegetation and soil to manage rainwater where it falls. By weaving natural processes into the built environment, green infrastructure provides not only stormwater management, but also flood mitigation, air quality management, and much more.
Other topics discussed at the workshop included reducing flooding, saving infrastructure costs, economic development, beautification, trails, open space and more.
The Midlothian Creek Green Infrastructure Plan is a Millennium Reserve conservation project. Here, Chicago Wilderness’ Sustainable Watershed Action Team (SWAT) of Weaver Boos Consultants, SSMMA GIS Atlas, the Field Museum, and IDNR all work together to identify green infrastructure elements within the Midlothian Creek watershed, a tributary to the Little Calumet River.