Neil Green Day3

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure and Green Highwaysand Green Highways

Hubs and Links to a Healthy Hubs and Links to a Healthy EnvironmentEnvironment

Low Impact Development CenterLow Impact Development CenterSummer 2007Summer 2007


Challenges to Performance Based Challenges to Performance Based and Watershed Approachesand Watershed Approaches

Regucopy Regucopy ContradictionsContradictions Agendicizing and disaggregation and Agendicizing and disaggregation and

specializationspecialization Political Boundaries and InterestsPolitical Boundaries and Interests Reliance on Minimum StandardsReliance on Minimum Standards Zoning and Building Codes not integrated with Zoning and Building Codes not integrated with

planningplanning Mass Production not ProfessionMass Production not Profession Site Design Performance vs. BMP EfficiencySite Design Performance vs. BMP Efficiency Contract Process “Per Unit”Contract Process “Per Unit” LEEDLEEDtmtm “no builder left behind” “no builder left behind” Emailification “no one reads”Emailification “no one reads”


Industry Recognized Standards

Builder/Developer/Institution

Land Use Economic and Design Requirements

Local Community Codes/Ordinances and Watershed Requirements

Localized Sustainable Development

Performance Based!!!

Sustainability is not achieved by minimum

standards or rating systems!!!


Source: Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators, Hart 1999

Built (“Gray”) Infrastructure

Social Infrastructure

Natural (“Green”)InfrastructureG

reen

Hig

hway

sG

reen

Hig

hway

sSustainable Community = Green (natural) + Gray (built) + Multi (societal)

Source: Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators, Hart 1999

Courtesy Region 3 OW


Original Green InfrastructureOriginal Green Infrastructure


Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure DefinitionsDefinitions

Finding common ground among Finding common ground among the descriptionsthe descriptions


APA - 7 principles of Green APA - 7 principles of Green InfrastructureInfrastructure

Recognize the social and natural Recognize the social and natural ecosystem/ watershedecosystem/ watershed contextcontext

Provide a Provide a multi-functional frameworkmulti-functional framework for development, for development, protection, conservation, restoration and recreationprotection, conservation, restoration and recreation

Protect and regenerate Protect and regenerate health and biodiversityhealth and biodiversity Create natural, social and economic Create natural, social and economic linkagelinkage Improve the visual qualityImprove the visual quality and sense of place of and sense of place of

communities and landscapescommunities and landscapes Involve and engage the communityInvolve and engage the community in planning, in planning,

implementation, management and monitoringimplementation, management and monitoring Provide a Provide a multi-functional framework for fundingmulti-functional framework for funding for for

acquistion, restoration, management and developmentacquistion, restoration, management and development


What is Green Infrastructure?What is Green Infrastructure? ““Infrastructure – the Infrastructure – the substructure of underlyingsubstructure of underlying

foundationfoundation…on which the continuance and …on which the continuance and growth of a community or state depends” – growth of a community or state depends” –

Source: Webster’s New World DictionarySource: Webster’s New World Dictionary

““Green infrastructureGreen infrastructure – the – the ecological ecological processes, both natural and engineeredprocesses, both natural and engineered, that act , that act as the as the natural infrastructurenatural infrastructure. It includes ditches, . It includes ditches, creeks, wetlands, parks, open space, trees, creeks, wetlands, parks, open space, trees, green roofs, gardens, working lands, aquifers green roofs, gardens, working lands, aquifers and watersheds that supply drinking water”and watersheds that supply drinking water”

source:source: http://www.wcel.org/issues/urban/sbg/glossary/http://www.wcel.org/issues/urban/sbg/glossary/


Conservation Fund Definition of Conservation Fund Definition of Green InfrastructureGreen Infrastructure

“…“…an an interconnected network of green space interconnected network of green space that conserves natural ecosystem values and that conserves natural ecosystem values and functions and provides associated benefits to functions and provides associated benefits to human populationshuman populations….Green infrastructure differs ….Green infrastructure differs from conventional approaches to open space from conventional approaches to open space planning because it looks at conservation value planning because it looks at conservation value and actions in concert with land development, and actions in concert with land development, growth management and built infrastructure growth management and built infrastructure planning.” planning.”

source: Green Infrastructure: Smart Conservation for the 21source: Green Infrastructure: Smart Conservation for the 21stst Century, Century, Benedict, Mark A., PhD, Benedict, Mark A., PhD, Edward T. McMahon, J.D., The Conservation Fund, Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse Monograph Edward T. McMahon, J.D., The Conservation Fund, Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse Monograph Series, www.sprawlwatch.orgSeries, www.sprawlwatch.org


EPA definition of Green EPA definition of Green InfrastructureInfrastructure

Green infrastructure is a Green infrastructure is a cost effective and environmentally friendly cost effective and environmentally friendly approach to reduce stormwater and other excess flowsapproach to reduce stormwater and other excess flows entering entering combined or separate sewer systems. combined or separate sewer systems.

Green infrastructure is Green infrastructure is a way to protect surface waters and drinking a way to protect surface waters and drinking water supplies, reducewater supplies, reduce drinking water and stormwater drinking water and stormwater treatment treatment costscosts, , reduce urban heat islandreduce urban heat island impacts, and provide more impacts, and provide more sustainable water resource management systemssustainable water resource management systems. .

Green infrastructure approaches Green infrastructure approaches use natural systemsuse natural systems such as such as forested areas or engineered systemsforested areas or engineered systems such as raingardens to such as raingardens to cleanse water and reduce excess volumes by filtering and treating it cleanse water and reduce excess volumes by filtering and treating it using plants, soils and microbes. using plants, soils and microbes.

Green infrastructure can be used to Green infrastructure can be used to reduce our reliance on pipesreduce our reliance on pipes, , channels and expensive engineered treatment systemschannels and expensive engineered treatment systems that are that are costly to build, operate and maintain. costly to build, operate and maintain.

source: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure.cfmsource: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure.cfm


Green InfrastructureGreen Infrastructure

An ecosystem , watershed based network An ecosystem , watershed based network approach to managing growth and creating approach to managing growth and creating sustainable environments in a variety of sustainable environments in a variety of development densitiesdevelopment densities

Economically cost effective approach to solving Economically cost effective approach to solving various issues (water quality, habitat, urban heat various issues (water quality, habitat, urban heat island, CSO reductions, NPDES compliance, island, CSO reductions, NPDES compliance, TMDL, safe communities) when compared to TMDL, safe communities) when compared to other approaches other approaches


Green Infrastructure in the 21Green Infrastructure in the 21stst centurycentury

Retrofits using green systems to restore Retrofits using green systems to restore hydrological functional hydrological functional

Provides the means to ecologically link Provides the means to ecologically link one hub to the nextone hub to the next

Form of infrastructure that is lower in cost Form of infrastructure that is lower in cost to maintain over its lifecycleto maintain over its lifecycle

Improves the quality of life for all Improves the quality of life for all inhabitantsinhabitants


Green Infrastructure MAY be parks Green Infrastructure MAY be parks and large tracts of undeveloped land and large tracts of undeveloped land

that are set asidethat are set aside

HUBS


Green Infrastructure ALSO may Green Infrastructure ALSO may be green retrofits in an urban or be green retrofits in an urban or

suburban landscapesuburban landscapeLINKS


Links and Hubs of Green Links and Hubs of Green Infrastructure in the Urban Infrastructure in the Urban

EnvironmentEnvironment


Eco Roof – Eco Roof – Link or Hub?Link or Hub?


Built Green InfrastructureBuilt Green Infrastructure


Retrofits or Planned elementRetrofits or Planned element

Green Roof Irvine CA


Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure opportunities are opportunities are

everywhereeverywhere LID tools facilitate the development of LID tools facilitate the development of

green infrastructure green infrastructure Open Space and Transportation corridors Open Space and Transportation corridors

provide linking elements in a green provide linking elements in a green infrastructure networkinfrastructure network


Watershed Planning GoalsWatershed Planning Goals HydrologicHydrologic

Runoff volume and peak discharge rateRunoff volume and peak discharge rate Flood controlFlood control Water reuseWater reuse

EcologicalEcological Water quality and stream healthWater quality and stream health Habitat creationHabitat creation AntidegradationAntidegradation

Community and economic developmentCommunity and economic development Job creationJob creation User feesUser fees Historic preservationHistoric preservation DisturbanceDisturbance


Stormwater Management GoalsStormwater Management Goals

Peak discharge rate (Q)Peak discharge rate (Q) Runoff volumeRunoff volume Water qualityWater quality Runoff durationRunoff duration Runoff frequencyRunoff frequency Groundwater rechargeGroundwater recharge

What tools are available to meet these goals?What tools are available to meet these goals?


Highway Medians and Shoulders


Links and HubsLinks and Hubs An organizing form idea for planning green An organizing form idea for planning green

infrastructureinfrastructure Creates an interdependent network of Creates an interdependent network of

green green Fits a watershed model of planningFits a watershed model of planning Can be implemented and maintained in Can be implemented and maintained in

sectionssections Is an opportunity for public-private Is an opportunity for public-private

partnershipspartnerships


Green Infrastructure Form : Hubs Green Infrastructure Form : Hubs & Links& Links

HubsHubs Reserves (large protected areas)Reserves (large protected areas) Managed Native LandscapesManaged Native Landscapes Working Lands (farms, managed forests)Working Lands (farms, managed forests) Green Roofs (if large enough)Green Roofs (if large enough)

LinksLinks StreetscapesStreetscapes Water treatment swalesWater treatment swales BioretentionBioretention HighwaysHighways Green RoofsGreen Roofs


Infrastructure needs careInfrastructure needs care

Green space is considered self-Green space is considered self-sustaining…green infrastructure implies sustaining…green infrastructure implies something that must be maintained and at something that must be maintained and at times restored.”times restored.”


Green Infrastructure Case Study: Green Infrastructure Case Study: Coyote Creek WatershedCoyote Creek Watershed


Courtesy E. Takata


Coyote Creek Green Coyote Creek Green Infrastructure PrinciplesInfrastructure Principles

Start upstreamStart upstream Connect the DotsConnect the Dots Use Nature as a GuideUse Nature as a Guide All Fronts/No backsAll Fronts/No backs Manage for the Long TermManage for the Long Term Multiple ObjectivesMultiple Objectives

Low Impact Development Center 2007Courtesy E. Takata





Low Impact Development Center 2007Courtesy E.Takata



Green Highways


Theme AreasTheme Areas Watershed Driven StormwaterWatershed Driven Stormwater Recyclables and ReuseRecyclables and Reuse EcosystemsEcosystems

USEPA REGION 3 and FHWAhttp://www.ghp.org

Low Impact Development Center 2007Context Sensitive Solution?

Low Impact Development Center 2007www.lowimpactdevelopment.org




LOCATION • Either side of a closed-

section roadway (median or shoulder)

FIXED-OBJECT HAZARD? • No

EFFECTIVENESS

• Water quality MEDIUM • Volume N/A • Peak discharge LOW

STORAGE CAPACITY • None

TARGETED POLLUTANTS

• Total Suspend Solids • Fecal coliform • Oxygen depleting

substances

Figure 8.1. Gutter filter along U.S. Route 1, Mount Rainier, MD._

NCHRP LID Manual

Siting Guidelines

Materials

Hydrology Hydraulics

Treatment Train/Process

Construction

Maintenance

Safety







SHA Mt. Ranier Gutter FiltersSierra Club Community Award Program




• BioretentionBioretention • Porous PavementsPorous Pavements • Environmentally Friendly ConcreteEnvironmentally Friendly Concrete • Forest BuffersForest Buffers • Restored and Restored and StormwaterStormwater Wetlands Wetlands • Stream RestorationStream Restoration • Wildlife CrossingsWildlife Crossings • Soil AmendmentsSoil Amendments

http://www.greenhighways.org/dev/Template.cfm?FrontID=5103

















Links and HubsLinks and Hubs An organizing form idea for planning green An organizing form idea for planning green

infrastructureinfrastructure Creates an interdependent network of Creates an interdependent network of

green green Fits a watershed model of planningFits a watershed model of planning Can be implemented and maintained in Can be implemented and maintained in

sectionssections Is an opportunity for public-private Is an opportunity for public-private

partnershipspartnerships


AWI Great Streets: AWI Great Streets: Nannie Helen BurroughsNannie Helen Burroughs



GHP/Stormwater EMS RoadmapGHP/Stormwater EMS Roadmap

APPROVAL –Management provides feedback to finalize issues, opportunities, and expected results.

1. Identify environmental issue(s) and/or opportunity(ies) to be addressed by EMS.

2. Identify desired environmental and business results and benefits.

3. Establish objectives, quantifiable measures and targets, and associated milestones.

5. Identify existing initiatives, programs, procedures, processes, and tools relevant to the EMS.

6. Identify improvements to achieve EMS objectives

4. Obtain management commitment to EMS, characterize EMS resource needs, and identify EMS leaders.

7. Assign responsibility for developing enhanced or new procedures, processes, and tools.

8. Identify personnel (by title) affected by EMS, define responsibilities, and communicate responsibilities.

9. Identify EMS-related training needs, responsibilities and schedule. Conduct the training.

10A. PROJECT REVIEWAssess EMS project performance.

10B. PERIODIC REVIEWBrief management on status in meeting objectives and targets.

11. Managers/senior management. Review progress, identify adjustments, and confirm commitments.

LEGEND: PLAN DO CHECK ACT


◉○◉●●●Develop the technical foundation for innovative stormwater management applications in planning and design strategies

2

◉○◉●●●Develop templates and model protocols of watershed based innovative stormwater management for the Green Highways Approach

1

Conservation/ Ecosystem

Recyclable/ Reuse

Watershed DriverManagementDesignPlanningItems/Activities

mg/l (ppm)mg/l (ppm)lbs/da of UOD load

nutrients (TKN-N, NH3-N,

NO3-N+NO2-N,TP, orthophosphate)TSSBOD

• Decrease O&M cost• decrease need and frequency of mowing• reduce frequency of plant replacement• improve safety

• Maintain stream health (Erosion, channel protection, habitat diversity)• Plant trees

• Vegetative cover• Decrease runoff volume• §303d listed waters

Develop templates and model protocols of watershed based innovative stormwater management for the Green Highways Approach

PS, NPSP, W

Threshold units/valuesWater Quality

Operations & Maintenance

Natural Resource ProtectionRegulatoryActivity

Pollutant Source

Category

BenchmarkMetric

3. Annual volume of non-point source pollution (mg/l)

2. Peak Runoff Rate (Cn)

1. Annual volume of runoff (ac/ft)Acres of forestOffsite Reforestation

1

MetricMeasurement Action

GHP Metrics and Protocols


Sustainable Communities

Economic Development

Environmental Development

Community Development

Sustainable Communities:•Green Complement Gray….

•Bridge Infrastructure Gap

•etc

Green Infrastructure

Green Highways

•Stormwater

•Recycling

•Ecosystem

•Conservation Approach

•Structural Approach

•Non-Structural Approach

Theme Areas

Programs

Programs Linkable and Expandable

Create Link

ages a

nd

Common Goals

ICLI, 1999


Green Infrastructure EvolutionGreen Infrastructure Evolution Green Infrastructure is the community Green Infrastructure is the community

open space and infrastructure assets (e.g. open space and infrastructure assets (e.g. parks, roads, vacant land)parks, roads, vacant land)

Functional Environmental Assett Functional Environmental Assett (stormwater, energy, air)(stormwater, energy, air)

Integrated functions with the watershed Integrated functions with the watershed (e.g. hydrology, habitat, circulation)(e.g. hydrology, habitat, circulation)


Recommendations for Local Recommendations for Local Decision MakersDecision Makers

Get development right the first timeGet development right the first time Incorporate Green Infrastructure into Incorporate Green Infrastructure into

Watershed Management PlansWatershed Management Plans Revise state and local stormwater regulationsRevise state and local stormwater regulations Establish dedicated funding that rewards green Establish dedicated funding that rewards green

infrastructure (SRF)infrastructure (SRF) Provide incentives for residential and Provide incentives for residential and

commercial developmentcommercial development


Recommendations for Local Recommendations for Local Decision Makers (cont’d)Decision Makers (cont’d)

Review and Revise local development Review and Revise local development ordinancesordinances

Preserve existing trees, open space, and Preserve existing trees, open space, and stream buffersstream buffers

Encourage and use Smart GrowthEncourage and use Smart Growth Get the community involved!Get the community involved!


EMS/Performance EMS/Performance Based ApproachBased Approach

Protect Environmental LegacyProtect Environmental Legacy Save Costs/Reduce ConsumptionSave Costs/Reduce Consumption Ease Regulatory BurdenEase Regulatory Burden Improve Review CyclesImprove Review Cycles


DOT Institutional GoalsDOT Institutional Goals ComplianceCompliance StewardshipStewardship Public BenefitPublic Benefit Operational ValueOperational Value Consistency and predictabilityConsistency and predictability StreamliningStreamlining


Regulatory GoalsRegulatory Goals Watershed Based ApproachesWatershed Based Approaches Trading Trading Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) FlexibilityFlexibility Transparency and MeasurabilityTransparency and Measurability Economic Viability and SustainabilityEconomic Viability and Sustainability


Opportunities and ChallengesOpportunities and Challenges

TechnicalTechnical InstitutionalInstitutionalFiscalFiscalPoliticalPolitical


Technical ChallengesTechnical Challenges Regulatory system based on land development Best Regulatory system based on land development Best

Management Practices (BMPS)Management Practices (BMPS) Prescriptive solutions with non-structural and structural Prescriptive solutions with non-structural and structural

practices that do not address pollutant loads that are practices that do not address pollutant loads that are unique to linear systemsunique to linear systems

BMPs use is presumptive (e.g. 80% TSS removal = BMPs use is presumptive (e.g. 80% TSS removal = control of entire suite of pollutants).control of entire suite of pollutants).

Hydrologic analysis does not reflect direct and indirect Hydrologic analysis does not reflect direct and indirect impacts of linear systemsimpacts of linear systems

Current Regulatory Credit Systems not “mature” for Current Regulatory Credit Systems not “mature” for watershed approacheswatershed approaches

Define Scale and Extent of Project (watershed influence)Define Scale and Extent of Project (watershed influence)


Technical OpportunitiesTechnical Opportunities Integration of watershed based objectives Integration of watershed based objectives

(e.g. water quality loading, CSS) into (e.g. water quality loading, CSS) into design and analysis proceduresdesign and analysis procedures

Regulatory Credit for innovative Regulatory Credit for innovative techniquestechniques

Stormwater trading and bankingStormwater trading and banking Advance monitoring science and Materials Advance monitoring science and Materials

selectionselection


Institutional Institutional Challenges/OpportunitiesChallenges/Opportunities

Internal AwarenessInternal Awareness Training (DOT, Resource and Regulatory Training (DOT, Resource and Regulatory

Agencies)Agencies) Decision Support Systems (Process) Decision Support Systems (Process) Environmental Management System Environmental Management System

Development (Entire Operations)Development (Entire Operations) Demonstration of Success of Flexible Demonstration of Success of Flexible

ApproachesApproaches Consistent and predictable response to flexible Consistent and predictable response to flexible

and innovative solutionsand innovative solutions


Fiscal Challenges and Fiscal Challenges and OpportunitiesOpportunities

Long-Term Support for Research and Long-Term Support for Research and TrainingTraining

Long-Term Support for Monitoring Long-Term Support for Monitoring Leveraging of Funding (Public and Private Leveraging of Funding (Public and Private

and Joint Public Agency Partnerships)and Joint Public Agency Partnerships) Funding of Maintenance Activities Funding of Maintenance Activities True Costing to Communities (Triple True Costing to Communities (Triple

Bottom Line) and DOTsBottom Line) and DOTs


PoliticalPolitical Awareness of Context Sensitive Solutions Awareness of Context Sensitive Solutions

and Watershed Approachesand Watershed Approaches Highway “Hot Potato”Highway “Hot Potato” Inter-jurisdictionalInter-jurisdictional Funding competitionFunding competition Who gets to cut the RibbonWho gets to cut the Ribbon


Keys to SuccessKeys to Success Strong Problem Definition and Common LanguageStrong Problem Definition and Common Language Economic Drivers = Environmental ResultsEconomic Drivers = Environmental Results Protocols, Metrics, Consistency, Adaptability (not Protocols, Metrics, Consistency, Adaptability (not

adaptive management)adaptive management) Determine User NeedsDetermine User Needs ““Address” stakeholders issuesAddress” stakeholders issues Mission may not be accomplishedMission may not be accomplished Training (everybody at the table)Training (everybody at the table) Navigate and Collaborate Navigate and Collaborate Institutions and Large ImpactsInstitutions and Large Impacts Regulatory Credit for Innovation and Flexible Regulatory Credit for Innovation and Flexible

ApproachesApproaches Pilots and Baby StepsPilots and Baby Steps

Leaving the Watershed “Better than

Before”

Neil Green Day3

Technology

green systems

natural infrastructure

green retrofits

green roofs

land development

form of infrastructure

built infrastructure

green highways hubs