WHAT: Field Indicators of Hydric Soils Part 2, a two-day training course teaching Field Indicators of Hydric Soils as in the the USACE Wetland Delineation Manual -Midwest & Northcentral-Northeast Regions. HOSTED BY: Illinois Soil Classifiers Association, Lake County SMC, Lake County Forest Preserve District DETAILS: Day 1 morning -in the classroom with an overview of soil formation, landscapes, water flow, local glacial activity, & field indicators of hydric soils. Day 1 afternoon -in the field describing and identifying field indicators of hydric soils. Day 2 -in the field at two sites in Lake County Forest Preserves to practice identification of field indicators of hydric soils in sandy soils and manipulated soils. WHO SHOULD COME: All levels of background, interest, and experience in wetland delineation and soils WHEN: August 6 – 7 WHERE: Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Office, 500 W Winchester Rd, Libertyville, IL DEADLINE: August 1 REGISTER

Date: July 16–17, 2026 Location: Marriott Hotel & Conference Center/ISU Fell Arboretum, Normal, IL Explore best practices for assessing, pruning, protecting, and managing urban trees. Learn practical strategies to promote tree health, reduce risk, and support sustainable urban forests. Learn More & Register

Register today for the 2026 Illinois LICA Drainage Water Workshop Series to learn the latest about conservation drainage, cost‑share programs, wetlands, nutrient loss research through guided sessions and field tours.

• June 24: Highland Community College, Freeport, IL
• July 9: Richland Community College, Decatur, IL
• August 5: The Terry L. Bruce West Richland Center, Noble, IL

The annual call for technical assistance — a resource tailored to help communities throughout northeastern Illinois prosper — is now open. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) — the regional metropolitan planning organization — and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) — the transit agency with responsibility for oversight, funding, and regional planning for the transit service boards (Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace) — have partnered every year for the last decade to help local governments build capacity and plan for their communities. While CMAP and the RTA have separate technical assistance programs, both agencies offer the same online application during the joint call for projects. This coordinated approach allows CMAP and the RTA to offer planning and implementation assistance to a larger base of eligible applicants. Both agencies are also able to align these efforts with ON TO 2050, the comprehensive plan for northeastern Illinois, as well as Transit is the Answer, the regional transit strategic plan.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 17 at noon.