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.

Sailboats on the water. On one side, a park with trees. On the other, a jut-out with a small lighthouse.

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.