The River Hills Conservancy project restored former agricultural land to a prairie with constructed wetlands capable of storing nearly 2.5 million gallons of stormwater. The project balances land stewardship and stormwater management with the need and intention for...
Advisory Projects
Harley-Davidson Hub Park
Located in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s Combined Sewer System Area, the Harley-Davidson Hub Park uses an eye-catching design to capture over 225,000 gallons of stormwater. The multi-tiered landscape functions as a park that seamlessly integrates...
Scaling-up Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Underserved Communities Across Greater Chicago
Under the umbrella of Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities (RISC), CIS, supported by The Delta Institute, led the writing of a report that assessed the viability of using a community-based partnership (CBP) to scale-up green stormwater infrastructure...
Incorporating Environmental Justice in the GLRI Action Plan
In 2023, the National Wildlife Federation – Healing Our Waters Coalition (HOW) hired CIS to identify environmental justice (EJ) principles and goals to be included in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan.Project Scope Research and Analyses GLRI...
Environmental Finance Center Technical Assistance
The US Water Alliance, a prominent national nonprofit, has contracted CIS to assist on projects related to wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water infrastructure engineering, financial, and grants management support.Project Scope Research & Analyses...
Mapping Climate Corridors and Renewable Energy Potential Across the Great Lakes
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Project Scope Research & Analyses Land Use Planning Water Quality and Ecosystem Health Carbon Sequestration Renewable Energy Tool...
Exploring Emerging Utility-led Innovations in Water Affordability
Affordability of water and wastewater (“water”) utility bills is a growing concern for many Americans, with water rates rising faster than the cost of most other goods and services. This is adding pressure to households already struggling to pay bills, forcing them to...
Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities (RISC)
Started in 2020, funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF) and founded by the CEO of CIS, the Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities (RISC) project was created to establish a resilience and finance leadership Cluster of municipal resilience...
Urban Reforestation and Wetland Restoration Program: Assessing the Relevance of a Community-based Partnership
Under the umbrella of Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities (RISC), CIS, supported by the Delta Institute and the Insurance Information Institute, led the writing of a report that assessed the viability of using a community-based partnership (CBP) in a...
Analyses of Great Lakes Regional Poll Data
Alterations to Great Lakes land cover, changes in hydrologic patterns in the region, and outdated hydrologic systems have exacerbated the water quality impairments in the Great Lakes. As many of the changes occurring across the Great Lakes basin are driven by human...
Detroit Tree Equity Program
American Forests is a leading nonprofit with a mission to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to wilderness, that “deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife." CIS staff have worked on a team led by American Forests to assist with...
A Business Plan to Establish Nation’s Third, and Great Lakes’ First Community-based Partnership in Greater Milwaukee Region
In January 2019, Resilient Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities (RISC) engaged a team that included CIS to assist the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) by developing a business plan to assess the viability and relevance of using a community-based...