CICEET Progress Report for the period 3/01/08 Through 8/31/08
Project Title: Enabling enhanced protection for the Lake Michigan Coast in the Chicago metropolitan region: A watershed planning support system
Principal Investigator(s): Brian Deal, Rajendra Jain
Project Start Date: August 2007
Report compiled by: Rajendra Jain
Project Overview
As discussed in the recent CICEET joint report, “Strengthening the Application of Science in Coastal Decision Making”, land use policy has important consequences for the health of coastal ecosystems. The Land-Use Evolution and Impact Assessment Model (LEAM) is a planning support system developed at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign that forecasts of future land use changes by coupling economic, social, and geographical models and integrating data on transportation systems, population change, employment centers, and so on. LEAM develops detailed maps of future land-use and helps planners assess the potential impact of proposed plans and/or scenarios.
In our CICEET-funded work, we at LEAM are developing a watershed planning support system (WPSS) for use by the member organizations of the Lake Michigan Watershed Ecosystem Partnership (LMWEP) in the Chicago metropolitan area. By coupling our existing land use simulations with hydrological models, LEAM is developing a web-based tool that will allow user organizations of the LMWEP to assess at a click the impact of future urbanization on important water quantity and quality issues affecting the Lake Michigan watershed. This project seeks to enhance the ability of groups and individuals like the Watershed Partnership and its members to 1) assess current resources and how they are being protected, 2) assess and communicate future considerations in protecting water resources, 3) deliver this knowledge so that it is understandable, usable, and widely available and 4) use this knowledge for developing and implementing specific actions to protect coastal and water resources. The overall timeline for this project is estimated to be approximately two years. For further general information, please see our 2007 CICEET Environmental Technology Development proposal.
Project Objectives for This Reporting Period
During this reporting period, work that has been in two main areas: 1) Working with LMWEP’s Strategic Sub-watershed Inventory Program (SSIP) consultant to compile a system of plans, and list of potential project sites, and 2) Continuing development of our the web-based watershed planning support system. I will first discuss each of these in turn.
SSIP work: We are fortunate in that LMWEP has independently contracted a consultant to collect much of the data that will eventually be used for LEAM/LMWEP simulations. Thus, our job has mainly been to coordinate with him on obtaining this data and organizing it for our own use. SSIP work concluded in late summer and compiled region-wide, county-wide, and municipally based planning documents across the nine-county study region. Additionally, LMWEP’s SSIP consultant assessed a variety of sites within the region for their potential inclusion in grant proposals (primarily from IDNR and federal funding agencies) by Partnership members. These data will be instrumental in the strategy development phase of this work (see objectives for next reporting period).
Developing a WPSS: A large amount of time has been put into extending the development of use of our web-based support tools. Among the tools developed, are ‘SimMaps’ which allow spatial data to be interactively explored and overlaid in real time within a web-based environment. The system, which utilizes the Google Maps API, creates a GIS-like environment on the web and requires no special downloads or expertise. While there is little data yet online, the website is live, and can be viewed at the URL:
http://www.leam.uiuc.edu/lmwep
Data Generated to date
SSIP data includes county, municipal, and regional plans, along with site identification data. Necessary additional information will be collected as needed.
Project Objectives for Next Reporting Period
Objectives
1) Continue development of web-based planning tool. Now that the framework website is in place, we can begin to populate the site with collected data, and eventually with simulation results.
2) Decide on final framework for hydrological modeling. Complete integration with LEAM simulation code.
3) Begin strategy development. Outline and explore possible land use policies/engineering projects that merit LEAM analysis.
Expenditures
Expenditures thus far include staff salary, funding for computing resources, and minimal transportation cost to meet with collaborators.