New State Water Plan spotlights 13
critical water-related challenges for Illinois
Social justice, climate change impacts
integrated into plan for first time
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[January 13, 2023]
The Illinois State Water Plan, which serves as a
blueprint for addressing key water-related challenges in the state
over the next decade, has been updated for the first time since 1984
and is available to help guide state and local leaders in setting
priorities for water resources.
Different from previous Illinois state water plans, the updated plan
intentionally strives to integrate social and environmental justice
perspectives into recommendations in every section to better serve
economically and socially marginalized individuals and communities
in Illinois. It also addresses climate change impacts for the first
time.
“Like throwing a rock into a lake, implemented actions of the plan
and the resulting plan accomplishments over the next seven to 10
years will have ripple effects in Illinois for the next 50 years,”
said Loren Wobig, director of IDNR’s Office of Water Resources and
chair of the State Water Plan Task Force. “These effects are
necessary to address a changing climate, economy, landscape and
social structure.”
The report was prepared by members of the State Water Plan Task
Force and the state agencies they represent, as well as a range of
diverse individuals representing a broad spectrum of water interests
in Illinois.
The updated Illinois State Water Plan spotlights 13 key water issues
and focuses on improving the resiliency, sustainability, public
safety, stewardship, economic development, and understanding of the
water resources of Illinois to improve the lives of the people of
the state.
The State Water Plan presents an opportunity to adjust state
programs and policies in water resources by recommending necessary
changes and new ideas to elected officials and key leaders in the
state of Illinois.
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The updated State Water Plan
provides a seven-year-focus strategic plan containing 147
actionable and measurable recommendations for future inclusive
and equitable state water resources development in Illinois.
Directors and leaders from nine state agencies and
programs have signed a letter of support for recommendations
outlined in the report. Those organizations include IDNR, the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Department of
Transportation, the Illinois State Water Survey, the Illinois
Department of Public Health, the Illinois Water Resources Center,
the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Illinois Pollution
Control Board.
The next phase is to work closely with the General Assembly to
implement the plan. The plan is dynamic and subject to change by the
State Water Plan Task Force based on stakeholder collaboration to
address these changes in Illinois for the good of its inhabitants.
To read the 2022 Illinois State Water Plan, visit https://bit.ly/2022ILStateWaterPlan.
To learn more about the State Water Plan Task Force, visit https://bit.ly/ILstatewaterplan.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |