URBANA, Ill. — Illinois communities are facing more stormwater challenges due to larger storm events creating water quantity issues, infrastructure mitigation needs, and a lack of resources protecting water quality for all communities. To address this, University of Illinois Extension is bringing together leaders to develop collaborative solutions. The inaugural Stormwater Leadership Summit will take place on September 25 at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
The daylong summit will equip community leaders to address the largest problem affecting Illinois communities — stormwater management, both excess and scarcity. "Stormwater challenges don't recognize municipal boundaries, which is why we need regional approaches and shared solutions," says Durriyyah Kemp, associate director for Region 1. "This summit creates a space for community leaders to learn from each other, develop action plans, and build coalitions that can have a meaningful impact."
Unlike existing technical conferences, with a broad invitation to any interested group, this summit is specifically designed for community leaders and decision-makers. Participants will explore actionable frameworks for stormwater management, hear success stories, and engage in coalition-building sessions.
In a letter supporting the event, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker applauded the summit’s hands-on focus, noting that it “will provide a unique opportunity for community leaders to gain practical tools, learn from successful case studies, and build coalitions.”
The summit features interactive workshops and a mini expo of organizations addressing stormwater issues. Post-summit support will ensure continued progress and Extension assistance with implementation. "We want participants to walk away with concrete ideas for addressing stormwater challenges and a network of peers facing similar issues," adds Kemp. "By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we can develop more equitable, effective approaches to climate resilience."
University of Illinois Extension is proud to recognize the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission as the summit’s key sponsor. Their long-standing leadership in regional collaboration and project delivery helps set the pace for effective stormwater management in communities of all sizes. We would also like to thank MKSK, a leading landscape architecture, urban design, & planning firm that works with communities to address stormwater resiliency issues at both the planning and implementation levels. Other sponsors include Fehr Graham Engineering, Stormtrap, and Farnsworth Group.
For more information or to register, visit go.illinois.com/stormwaterleadership or contact Yukta Sinha at ysinha@illinois.edu.
For reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Eric Fox at defox@illinois.edu.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.