Sustaining Illinois Through Collaborative Governance

A Pilot Study of Water Systems Governance in Northeast and North Central Illinois

Thomas Skuzinski, J.D., Ph.D.

NIU Associate Professor of Public Administration

One chronic obstacle to promoting environmental sustainability is fragmented governance. Although cities, villages, counties and other local governments are autonomous decision-making bodies, water, air and other natural resources don't follow their boundaries. For example, curbing air pollution in a commuter-shed through improved public transportation often requires a coordinated response from dozens or even hundreds of local governments. The same is true for managing water systems, in which the natural geography is defined by watersheds whose boundaries are mismatched from those of local government.

Thomas Skuzinski is the principal investigator and lead researcher in a pilot study funded by the Illinois Innovation Network to better understand how and why local governments collaborate in the planning and management of water systems.

The project brings together faculty and doctoral students at NIU's Department of Public Administration and the Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Co-investigators include NIU Assistant Professor Christopher Goodman and, from UIC, Assistant Professor Kate Albrecht, Associate Professor Michael Siciliano, and Professor Jered Carr. The research team will also include mentored undergraduate researchers from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the academy.

The study will focus on collaborative sustainability of storm water, wastewater and drinking water systems in thirteen northeastern and north central Illinois counties (see map below). The study will provide insights about several key questions. How do local governments collaboratively govern water systems? What are the benefits of different forms of collaborative governance? What are the social, fiscal, political and institutional limitations on different forms of collaborative governance?

Skuzinski's team will use the funding to stress-test data collection and analysis efforts, ensure measures are valid and reliable, and promote engagement with decision-makers to inform research findings and dissemination efforts. The study will inform future research into the challenges of collaborative governance. It will also help to improve local government practice by disseminating findings through local government professional associations, public workshops, a Sustainable Governance GIS and a Governance Guidebook with in-depth case studies of collaborative governance. Learn more about Skuzinski's research on water systems governance.