Download to calendar
The Metropolitan Planning Council's Josh Ellis, project manager for water resources policy, is working with the University of Chicago's Graham School of General Studies and Know Your Chicago on a one-day course - Great Lakes, Great Threats, Great Opportunities- covering the past and future of our water supply, stormwater management, freight movement, invasive species, and a host of other topics.
From the course web site - The Great Lakes hold 20 percent of the world’s available fresh water, provide habitat for many native species, and see high volumes of freight movement. Their shorelines are home to millions of people and businesses. As other parts of the U.S. and the world continue to dry up, the Lakes’ importance will only grow; it is imperative that we better understand and manage this invaluable ecosystem. The Great Lakes look massive on a map, but they are in fact very fragile, and humanity’s effects on them have been substantial. Invasive species, air and water pollution, and climate change loom large, but at the same time, the very water the lakes hold creates immense opportunity for the 21st Century and beyond. This course explores the history of human interaction with the Great Lakes, from pre-European encounters to today. We will examine issues of biology, climate, economics, and public policy.
To register, or to get more information about the course, go directly to the Graham School web site.