Gains in open space, stream quality, but threats from growth remain

Sixty percent of the region’s residents said it was very important or their top priority that the Chicago region be a place where open space and farmland are conserved. The region has made progress on acquiring and protecting open space, though farmland and natural areas continue to shrink.

		The region will practice good stewardship of the environment, including air, water, natural habitats and open space.

Satellite images of the Chicago region from 1972 to 1997 show urban development expanding from 880 square miles in 1972 to about 1,270 in 1997. Natural cover of forest or grassland shrank over that period by 160 square miles, and 840 square miles of agricultural land were lost. Water resources were reduced, falling 25% from 120 to 90 square miles. This measure allows the region to monitor changes in natural resources and land use over time. This is important as the region adds residents and jobs because both trends could bring negative environmental impacts.