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OOlG50 Stream Corridor Restoration Project Showcased on EPA Web Site (continued) and partnerships in stream corridor restoration. The web site celebrates these successful projects as examples of accomplishments through restoration. It provides information such as location, partners, scheduled events, contact information, and other links for each showcased watershed. Also available is a 12-month calendar featuring a description and photo of each of the 12 watersheds. [For more information, visit the National Showcase Watershed web site at www.epa.gov/owow/showcase.] I 1 News from the States, Tribes, and Localities Chicago Beats the Heat with Green Techniques The city of Chicago is reducing storm water runoff as a side benefit of "beating the heat." Chicago's Department of the Environment (DOE) is implementing the Urban Heat Island Reduction Initiative, aimed at reducing urban air temperature and consequent energy consumption, improving air quality, and beautifying downtown Chicago. The city is doing this primarily by installing light-colored rooftops, creating rooftop gardens, planting trees where none exist, and breaking up asphalt to install porous pavement or plant trees and shrubs. Although not the primary goal, most of these practices reduce storm water runoff. They also improve the quality of the runoff that does occur. Project Scope Chicago's Initiative, funded by a large settlement with the local utility company over multiple power outages in the city during peak demand, began in 1999 with a large demonstration rooftop garden project on the roof of City Hall. The city is also demonstrating porous pavement installation and asphalt planting islands - areas where pavement has been removed to plant "islands" of vegetation to break up what otherwise would be a large expanse of asphalt - on public land - in four areas of the city. Part of the settlement fund will also be used for a grant program to pay private city landowners to install similar practices. The city plans to focus initially on greening the city at visible locations like City Hall and on gateways such as rooftops along the elevated train tracks - places where people moving into or around the city can enjoy the green areas. "We'd like ro introduce people to the city that way," explained Jessica Rio, DOE spokesperson. This greening will also reduce the load on the local utility; resulting in fewer power outages. Currendy only the city's demonstration projects have begun. Rooftop garden beds are being built (see box), and the beds will be planted in May 2000. Grant applications for private projects are being accepted on an ongoing basis and are still under review. The city hopes to use its demonstration projects and associated media attention to educate city landowners about the heat island effect and encourage many to begin their own projects. The amount the city will pay for installation of greening techniques will depend largely on the size and type of the project. Typically, landowners will be responsible for the basic cost of installing a regular roof or pouring asphalt or concrete. The city will pay for the extra cost involved in installing a rooftop garden (usually an extra $2 to $4 more per square foot) or installing porous pavement (can range from $2 to $7 more per square foot, depending on type). Rooftop Gardens - a Greening Technique The rooftop garden on City Hall is ideal for conducting research and encouraging community involvement. City Hall and the adjacent County Hall are mirror-image buildings, built like two horseshoes facing inward with a courtyard in the middle. Because the two buildings are identical, County Hall will serve as the control roof, providing an example of the classic black tar roof that is B NONPOINT SOURCE NEWS-NOTES MARCH 2000. ISSUE'60