Illinois State Water Plan Public Survey

About the State Water Plan

Illinois has numerous and important water resources like lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, and floodplains, but all are at risk due to increasing pollution, crumbling infrastructure, and more frequent floods and droughts. Although Illinois has a State Water Plan, it was first drafted in 1984 and has not been updated since 1994. To protect public health, the environment, and our business climate, a State Water Plan Task Force has begun to update the plan.

The State Water Plan will identify and develop strategies to address the state’s most critical water issues. The Plan will not be a comprehensive plan, but as the Task Force revises the Plan on a 5 to 10 year interval, new issues will be added and addressed. The goal is to develop a Plan that provides policy and program guidance in water resources management, and ensures that the water resources of the state are available to all in Illinois regardless of race, income, housing status, or geography, and that remediation efforts enhance and protect water quality and supply for all Illinoisans and wildlife.

We have the opportunity to create a bold, inclusive vision for Illinois’ water resources—and we want to ensure many voices provide input. This survey is seeking public input on what key issues should be addressed in the State Water Plan. Learn more about the Plan and additional opportunities to provide input, including upcoming public meetings, at the Task Force web page: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/WaterResources/Pages/StateWaterPlanTaskForce.aspx

Thank you for taking the survey and please consider sharing it with your network.

Question Title

* 1. Describe your interest in the State Water Plan. (Choose all that apply.)

I’m a concerned Illinois resident.

I’m a concerned Illinois businessperson.

I work for a municipality.

I work for a public water utility.

I work for a private water utility.

I work for a government agency or governmental entity that addresses water-related issues.

I work for a consulting firm that addresses water-related issues.

I work for a nonprofit that addresses water-related issues.

I work in agriculture.

I am an academic.

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* 2. How did you hear about this survey?

A representative of the State Water Plan Task Force

A representative of a State agency

Black Chicago Water Council

Illinois Environmental Council

Illinois Municipal League

Metropolitan Planning Council

My local Council of Governments or Municipal League

Other (please specify)

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* 3. The State Water Plan Task Force has identified 13 issue areas and related subtopics, below, that the Plan will address. Please rank the issue areas in order of importance to you, with 1 being most important and 13 being least important.

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* 4. Please share any other issues you think the updated State Water Plan should include and why.

No comment, I believe this list is complete.

Provide comment on additional issues.

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* 5. Are you able to provide any resources or expertise in any of these topics? If so, please provide specific details, such as data, links to reports, etc.--and please be sure to provide your contact information in response to question 8.

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* 6. How do you envision using the State Water Plan once updated? (Choose all that apply.)

Infrastructure planning

Incorporate into a local comprehensive plan

Regional/watershed area planning

Public policy reforms

Public education with residents

State agency programming

Request funding for, or through state agencies

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What should the future of water resources management in Illinois look like?

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* 8. Thank you for providing input at this phase of Plan development. We intend to continue soliciting public input throughout the development of the State Water Plan using virtual and face-to-face meetings (when restrictions are lifted). If you would like to stay informed about the Plan development process, please provide your name, email, and ZIP code below so that we can share future outreach opportunities with you.

Name

ZIP Code