Looking back on this summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) and Illinois Extension. I leave with wonderful memories and an even deeper sense of connection to the community that cares so deeply about integrating sustainable infrastructure into our world. I feel so grateful for all that I have learned, and through this blog, I hope to capture just how meaningful this experience has been.
Digging Into Green Infrastructure
As an environmental engineering major, I’ve previously been involved as an outreach board member with the Women in Civil and Environmental Engineering student organization and in coastal research through the Undergraduate Research in Scientific Development Program. During that time, I enjoyed performing hands-on experiments with nature-based solutions such as living shorelines and oyster castles to help combat coastal erosion. My role this summer as a Green Infrastructure Intern for Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant gave me the chance to build on that research and channel my passion for environmentalism into everyday practice.
Much of my work centered on analyzing Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) reports, which are documents that show how communities across Illinois are tackling stormwater. These reports detail local efforts like rain garden incentive programs, erosion control measures, and street sweeping initiatives. Collectively, they feed into the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS), a statewide plan to protect waterways and cut down on nutrient pollution flowing into the Mississippi River Basin. Without these efforts, excess nutrients eventually reach the Gulf, where they contribute to a massive hypoxic “dead zone.” It was incredibly rewarding to know that my part could help protect waterways and build a healthier future for communities across Illinois and beyond.
Throughout my internship, I had the honor of working for IISG/Extension’s Eliana Brown and Layne Knoche, the Director and Assistant Director of the Red Oak Rain Garden, respectively. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I grew so much from their guidance. Their leadership also inspired me to dive deeper into the story of the Red Oak Rain Garden itself, which became one of the most meaningful parts of my summer.
Where Community Blooms
I found a true sense of community by taking part in the volunteer days at RORG. Each week, I joined IISG/Extension’s Maddy Craft, the amazing Volunteer Coordinator, and the welcoming volunteers to care for the plants that keep the garden thriving. Maintaining a rain garden takes knowledge and teamwork, qualities that the RORG volunteers demonstrated so naturally. They showed me that the success of green infrastructure is not just about the native plants. It’s about people coming together to care for a space that connects us all.
In July, I had the chance to bring a DSLR camera along during volunteer workdays and university tours of the rain garden, which let me capture some of its magic. In the height of summer, the garden was a mosaic of color. The photos I took pictured volunteers and visitors alike, enjoying the vibrant green space, with blooms like orange coneflower and purple poppy mallow buzzing with bees and butterflies.
More Than a Beautiful Garden
However, beyond its beauty and tranquility, the Red Oak Rain Garden serves as a powerful tool for stormwater management. Beneath the surface, the garden is always at work. Its complex root systems and thoughtfully engineered design constantly soak up rainwater and filter pollutants while the native plants support the ecosystem around it. Experiencing how the garden performed reminded me why I chose engineering, to bring science and creativity together to build a better future.
Jenna Balaban
Environmental Engineering
Jenna is a junior studying Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois. She is passionate about protecting water resources and advancing sustainable infrastructure that heals ecosystems. She is especially interested in how nature can serve as a powerful defense against flooding, erosion and climate change. In her free time, Jenna enjoys painting and going on nature walks.
Under the guidance of the RORG Team, Jenna is involved with Extension stormwater projects and green infrastructure community outreach.
Red Oak Rain Garden 