In a recent blog post, Josh Ellis, director of Chicago’s Metropolitan Planning Council, provided five reasons why 2015 was a good year in Chicago for stormwater management policy and infrastructure.

Ellis cited the completion of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s Thornton Reservoir, which will prevent stormwater from entering Chicago area waterways, and referenced the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s Urban Flooding Awareness Act Report, which examines the costs of urban flooding in Illinois and provides strategies and recommendations for minimizing flooding-related damage to properties.

Ellis also emphasized the online availability of free green infrastructure design templates for the Midwest and Great Lakes region. He also called attention to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, which secured new funding and held a call for new stormwater projects through the Local Technical Assistance program.

Additionally, Ellis stressed plans for a Northeastern Illinois Resilience Partnership, a coordinated effort between governments and non-profit groups to build resilience to flooding and climate impacts.