States / Illinois
Illinois
Coastal Management
The focus is on managing coastal areas to increase resilience, with an emphasis on balancing environmental, economic, and human wellbeing. Mandated by the Coastal Zone Management Act, the two federal programs designed for this task are the National Coastal Zone Management Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Programs are administered, on the federal side, by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, in partnership with the coastal states.
State Programs
Coastal Zone Management
Illinois Coastal Management Program. Established in 2012, the Illinois Coastal Management Program is a non-regulatory division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The program is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the environmental, economic, and social value of the state’s Great Lakes coastal region. The program fosters healthy ecosystems and resilient communities by providing expertise, funding, and other resources.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This initiative accelerates efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world—the Great Lakes. Built upon the foundation of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, this multi-agency initiative has provided funding to 16 federal organizations since 2010. The goal is to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and to accelerate progress toward achieving the organization’s long-term goals. See examples of NOAA products funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Impact Stories
Stories that showcase the recent work of this state's coastal management efforts.
- Advancing Nature-based Coastal Resilience Across the Great Lakes Region
- Combined Hydrology, Water Quality, and Botanical Characterization to Guide Coastal Wetland Restoration and Management
- Chicago-Calumet River Shallows Restoration
- Program Draws People of Faith to Stories of Illinois Coast
- Restoration Efforts for Great Lakes Shoreline
Additional Resources
*Fast Fact Sources:
People: American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates
Beaches and Estuaries: Shoreline Mileage of the United States
Employment and Economy:
Marine Economy for the Coastal U.S. States
Marine Economy for the U.S. Territories