Uploaded on 2017-01-23 by HeikeLob

Ecosystem Services in Chicago and surroundings • Provisioning Services: Fresh water supply from Lake Michigan Lake water is easily accessible and reliable through the built infrastructure in the Chicago area, which translates to a consistent supply for consumers. Lake Michigan holds approximately 4 percent of unfrozen surface freshwater in the world. If used responsibly, it is a sustainable and renewable resource for the Chicago area. The water cribs in Chicago are structures built to house and protect offshore water intakes used to supply the City of Chicago with drinking water from Lake Michigan. Water is collected and transported through tunnels. The tunnels lead from the cribs to one of two water purification plants located onshore, the Jardine Water Purification Plant (the world's largest) and the South Water Purification Plant, where the water is then treated before being pumped to all parts of the city as well as 118 suburbs. • Regulation services: Local climate is strongly influenced by lake Michigan Chicago´s location directly beside one of the largest lakes in the world it has a great advantage for it´s local climate. It creates wind flows which help cooling the city during hot summer months at least to a couple degrees. The wind flows in the so called “windy city” allow a better air circulation and therefore cooling down and cleaning the polluted air. The park districts with at least some green areas across the city also support this effect to some extend. • Habitat or supporting services Morton Arboretum near Chicago: The Morton Arboretum was build to collect and study trees and plants from around the world and raising the awareness to protect and develop mechanisms to let trees and plants grow in their environment. By raising the awareness and studying trees and plants the Arboretum encourages planting and conservation of tress and other plants and therefore supports the protection of the natural environment and its service. • Cultural services Parks and Lakeshore recreation areas - The Park Districts in Chicago were created in the early second half of the 19th century. Mainly driven by the citizen movements for creating parks and boulevards. Today each district still has a park which provides a green space but also areas for recreation, sports and in some cases small community gardens. - Lakeshore park and beach areas: The lakefront has gone through many changes and adjustment as the city grew but it has been also protected by law and avoided further construction and amplification towards the lake. Instead the lakeshore is an open space and accessible for everybody