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Karen Hobbs, Senior Policy Analyst, Chicago

Karen Hobbs
I live in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood with my husband and our 3-year-old daughter. I went to graduate school at the University of Chicago, and even though I spent five years in Washington, DC with the Clinton Administration, my heart has always been here. Now we live in the Logan Square neighborhood, where we can walk to the El, parks, restaurants, our community garden and a farmers market. My work at NRDC is about protecting the Great Lakes, with a focus on water conservation and efficiency and green infrastructure. I came to NRDC after overseeing the development of the Chicago Climate Action Plan as the First Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment; before that, I worked for the Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology.

Recent Posts

Cheers to Brewers for Clean Water

Posted April 9, 2013 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably

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Today, NRDC announced a new partnership with craft brewers called “Brewers for Clean Water" to highlight the importance of clean water and the Clean Water Act. We are working with 20 of our country's most innovative brewers, whose commitment to...continued

New EPA Survey Underscores Need to Release Clean Water Act Guidance

Posted March 27, 2013 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Health and the Environment

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EPA released the results of a comprehensive survey yesterday that shows that more than half – 55 percent – of our nation’s streams and rivers are in poor condition.   More than half. That’s a 10 percent increase from the 2002...continued

No Reason to Wait to Invest in Green Infrastructure

Posted March 21, 2013 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, U.S. Law and Policy

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Despite the freezing temperatures in Chicago, my thoughts are turning to my garden, with dreams of bountiful harvests (and my much-anticipated pergola).  Gardeners intrinsically understand the economic concept of opportunity cost – if we don’t get tomato seeds or seedlings...continued

Raise a pint for great beer (and the water that makes it possible)

Posted October 18, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, U.S. Law and Policy

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The next time you enjoy your favorite craft beer, take a moment to thank the Clean Water Act. You don’t have to remember a time – not so long ago -- when rivers caught on fire to appreciate the value...continued

"Why would anyone throw garbage in a river?"

Posted October 17, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, U.S. Law and Policy

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As I was explaining what NRDC’s EXPO CHICAGO booth would look like to our daughter, I mentioned that we worked with aritist Gordon Matta-Clark's estate to build a wall out of 2,000 pounds of garbage from the Illinois, Mississippi, Chicago...continued

Testing the Waters at Ohio Beaches

Posted June 27, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Green Enterprise, Health and the Environment, U.S. Law and Policy

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My husband’s family is from the Cleveland area, so coming to Northeast Ohio always feels like a homecoming for me.  And, because I think of it as my (second) home, I’m excited to be in Cleveland, at the Great Lakes Science...continued

Why the Wait to Protect Clean Water?

Posted June 21, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, U.S. Law and Policy

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The New York Times editorial page just asked the Obama Administration “Where Are the Clean Water Rules”?  Kudos to the Gray Lady for calling attention to the critical need for improved national clean water policies, as my colleague Jon Devine has noted again...continued

If you care about clean water, make your voice heard

Posted June 7, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment

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Last week, the House of Representatives voted against clean water by a vote of 152-267 (you can see how your Member of Congress voted here).  Later today, another vote is scheduled, in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, one that would...continued

New Study Spells More Trouble For Midwest

Posted May 16, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Solving Global Warming

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Doubled Trouble: More Extreme Storms in the Midwest, a new report from NRDC and the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, confirms what those of us living in the Midwest probably already guessed — violent storms have dramatically increased.  The largest of storms —...continued

In Ohio, "A Shared Duty"

Posted April 27, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, Saving Wildlife and WIld Places

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Next week, the Ohio Senate will consider legislation to implement the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (Compact).  The bill, introduced by Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, ignores Compact protections for tributaries and opens the door to unregulated large water withdrawals, threatening wildlife...continued

Ohio: Bringing Up the Rear on Climate Change Action in the Great Lakes - and Across the Country

Posted April 5, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Solving Global Warming

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Chances are, if you live in the Great Lakes Basin, you’re already experiencing the impacts of climate change from warmer temperatures (in both winter and summer), earlier snowmelt and reduced ice cover on lakes.  But, if you’re like me, what...continued

Aspiring to be second (or third) best?

Posted March 21, 2012 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, U.S. Law and Policy

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There are competing theories as to where Chicago’s “Second City” nickname originated. Some trace the moniker to a New Yorker story by A.J. Liebling; others frame the nickname in a more positive light, as a testament to the “Second City”...continued

Waukesha: The Next Test of the Great Lakes Compact

Posted August 12, 2011 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment

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The comment period for the City of Waukesha’s application for a diversion of Great Lakes water closes Saturday, August 13.  Waukesha’s application is the first real test of the Great Lakes Compact’s provisions governing new and increased withdrawals.  As such, it’s...continued

Governor Kasich: Are You Listening?

Posted July 14, 2011 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, U.S. Law and Policy

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New York State officially weighed in on the Ohio legislature's attempt to undermine the Great Lakes Compact yesterday.  Joseph Martens (Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) writes to his Ohio counterpart, David Mustine, Director, Ohio Department of Natural...continued

Ohio: The Great Lakes Compact Is Not a Smorgasbord

Posted July 13, 2011 by Karen Hobbs in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Health and the Environment, U.S. Law and Policy

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Three weeks ago, NRDC released a report detailing states’ progress in implementing the water conservation and efficiency requirements of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Basin Compact.  We singled out the excellent work done by Ohio’s Compact Advisory Board to...continued

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Switchboard is the staff blog of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the nation’s most effective environmental group. For more about our work, including in-depth policy documents, action alerts and ways you can contribute, visit NRDC.org.

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