Community-Based Green Infrastructure in New Jersey

Transcription

1 Community-Based Green Infrastructure in New Jersey Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program International Low Impact Development Conference 2015 Houston, Texas January 21, 2015 Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E. Jeremiah D. Bergstrom, LLA, ASLA

2 Camden SMART Initiative CAMDEN COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY

3 The Camden SMART Team (Stormwater Management and Resource Training) Water Resources Program City of Camden Cooper s Ferry Partnership NJ Department of Environmental Protection Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority NJ Tree Foundation

4 A Collective Impact Approach Water Resources Program COMMON AGENDA SHARED MEASUREMENT MUTUALLY REINFORCING ACTIVITIES CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION BACKBONE SUPPORT

5 The Camden SMART Initiative Community Education Creating a Sustainable Network Green & grey infrastructure project implementation Green infrastructure training Water Resources Program Park Boulevard Rain Garden in Parkside

6 Process Green Infrastructure Feasibility Plan Project Partner Meetings Site Investigations Surveys Design Funding & Contracting

7 SMART Accomplishments Million Gallons of Stormwater Managed Annually

8 Camden SMART Accomplishments

9 SMART Green Infrastructure Projects Rain Gardens Cisterns Rain Barrels Trees

10 Waterfront South Rain Gardens 1,850 tons of contaminated soil 12 USTs removed from site 4 rain gardens designed to manage about 1 million gallons of stormwater per year A green gateway into the Waterfront South neighborhood Water Resources Program Green Infrastructure on Brownfield Sites

11 Green Infrastructure In Action Water Resources Program Waterfront South Rain Gardens

12 Green Infrastructure In Action Water Resources Program The Neighborhood Center Cistern

13 2014 Project Sites & Partners Water Resources Program Project # Project Site Property Owner 1 Acelero Learning Center Acelero Learning Center 2 Adventure Aquarium State of New Jersey 3 Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts School Camden Board of Education 4 Octavius V. Catto Community School Camden Board of Education 6 Cooper Sprouts Community Garden Cooper Lanning Civic Association 7 Dudley Grange Park City of Camden 8 Henry H. Davis School Camden Board of Education 9 Neighborhood Center The Neighborhood Center 10 Ferry Avenue Branch Library City of Camden 11 St. Joan of Arc Church St. Joan of Arc Church 13 St. Bartholomew s Church St. Josephine Bakhita Parish 14 Haddon Avenue Pocket Park Camden Redevelopment Authority 15 Vietnamese Community Garden Camden Board of Education (vacant lot) 16 Respond Inc. Respond, Inc. 18 U.S. Wiggins Elementary School Camden Board of Education 19 Yorkship Elementary School Camden Board of Education 20 Mt. Zion Highway of Holiness Mt Zion Highway of Holiness Church

14 Doing Infrastructure Green NEWARK DIG

15 DOING INFRASTRUCTURE GREEN City of Newark s Office of Sustainability Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund Greater Newark Conservancy Ironbound Community Corporation La Casa de Don Pedro Newark Environmental Commission New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New Jersey Tree Foundation NY/NJ Baykeeper Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program Trust for Public Land Unified Vailsburg Services Organization Urban League of Essex County

16 Newark DIG is... Committed to continuously improving the quality of life, health, and viability of the City of Newark and its residents through use of strategic collaborative methods, including: community-driven urban design public policy planning environmental and social justice advocacy education local capacity building Our primary goal is the establishment of sustainable green infrastructure as the first line of defense to better manage stormwater runoff improve water quality & resilience to flooding reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) with a focus on the Passaic River and its tributaries Community Garden Rainwater Harvesting System at 45 Lyons Avenue Community Pocket Park on GNC Adopt-a-Lot at 35 Murray Street

17 Why Green Infrastructure in Newark? Newark s land is ~70 percent impervious (paved) Source: Spatial Analysis Lab, University of Vermont, on behalf of US Forest Service The combination of paved surface and lack of capacity in sewer and wastewater systems means that heavy rains cause flooding and Combined Sewer Overflows, and could lead to fines and expensive mandates from the EPA.

18 Stormwater Management Plan: Green & Grey City of Newark s Office of Sustainability, Water & Sewer Department, and Engineering Departments are working together with Newark DIG partners to create a Stormwater Management Plan. This plan involves revising the City s stormwater ordinance, creating a city-wide Green Infrastructure Policy, identifying green infrastructure pilot projects, and exploring new funding sources for sustainable stormwater management. The Green Infrastructure Policy will include guidelines for how, when, and where to incorporate green infrastructure into City projects and into regulations for private development. Photo Credit: Office of Sustainability

19 Traffic Triangle at Badger/Clinton Ave City of Newark s Office of Sustainability, Engineering Office, Water & Sewer, Traffic & Signals have partnered with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program to turn a paved 4,000 sq. ft. traffic triangle into a stormwater planter.

20 Sussex Avenue Elementary School Trust for Public Land is spearheading a project at the Sussex Ave School playground that will incorporate Green Infrastructure solutions. Photo Credit: Trust for Public Land

21 Creating Neighborhood Voices for Newark Clean Water Action is preparing the next generation of Newark s environmental advocates for leadership and emerging green jobs. Giving priority to youth and young adults (18-24 years old). Photo Credit: Clean Water Action Clean Water Fund

22 Installing GI Systems that Work for Newark Ensuring Newark residents are green jobs ready - Possess a wide range of skills needed and hired first and supported to do the work. Maximizing community engagement in the design and implementation of green infrastructure in the areas of Water, Waste and Energy

23 Educating Youth: The Secrets of Newark s Water A project by the Newark Public Art Program and Sussex Avenue School is working with groups of 5th, 6th and 7th grade students to investigate how Newark gets clean water and where the water goes after use. Photo Credit: Newark Planning Office

24 Increasing Newark s Tree Canopy Water Resources Program Photo Credit: New Jersey Tree Foundation Lincoln Park Tree Planting South 13th Street Tree Planting New Jersey Tree Foundation has planted over 2,000 trees in the City of Newark since 2006 with 4,800 volunteers in the community. Over 17,000 sq ft of concrete has been removed! Highland Ave Tree Planting

25 Engaging Newark Youth in Urban Forestry Photo Credit: Office of Sustainability The Newark Sustainability Office s Newark Greenstreets program has worked with over 100 students since 2013 to study and enhance the city s tree canopy. Partners include Greater Newark Conservancy, UVSO, Urban League of Essex County, New Community Corporation, ICC, La Casa, and NJ Tree Foundation.

26 Developing a Newark-based Green Workforce Through the Newark Youth Leadership Project and the Clean & Green Team program, the Greater Newark Conservancy is working to reinforce interpersonal communication skills, job training experience, leadership development, and exposure to different career options. Photo Credit: Greater Newark Conservancy

27 Rainwater Harvesting for Community Gardens 179 Broadway Community Garden 483 Washington St Community Garden The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, with funding from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Newark s Office of Sustainability, are installing rainwater harvesting systems in community gardens throughout the city and delivering water conservation workshops. Rain harvesting has also been installed by Greater Newark Conservancy and Ironbound Community Corporation. 45 Lyons Avenue Community Garden

28 Opportunities for Funding Green Infrastructure Projects Work with Newark DIG partners in identifying and implementing green infrastructure projects Revising the City s stormwater ordinance to allow the same volume of water to be managed through off-site green mitigation projects on public land Integrating green infrastructure into planned City projects, including street or sidewalk improvements Explore options with Newark s Water & Sewer Department in restructuring fees dedicated solely to stormwater management.

29 What does it look like today? GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW JERSEY

30 PVSC Sewerage District Water Resources Program

31 Green Infrastructure Feasibility Plans Newark Traffic Triangle Elysian Fields Community Garden, Paterson Bergen County Township of Saddle Brook Essex County Township of Montclair City of Newark Township of West Orange Hudson County City of Bayonne City of Jersey City Town of Harrison Town of East Newark Town of Kearny Town of North Bergen City of Union City Passaic County Township of Little Falls City of Paterson

32 Greening the Department of Public Works Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County and Clark, Union County

33 Timber Creek High School Water Resources Program Stormwater Management In Your Schoolyard Birches Elementary School Penn Tech High School

34 Hamilton Township, Mercer County Flood Reduction and Stormwater Management Program Develop Hydrologic Model for Hamilton Township Conduct Inventory and Assessment of Stormwater Management Basins Prepare a GIS Database of Stormwater Infrastructure Implement Rain Garden Demonstration Projects Implement Detention Basin Maintenance Training, Inspection, and Monitoring Program Conduct Rain Barrel Workshops for residents Educate Municipal Officials Water Resources Program

35 City of Hoboken, Hudson County Sustainable Jersey Grant for Green Infrastructure Water Resources Program

36 Princeton Township Environmental Commission Rain Barrel Program

37 298 Sussex Avenue Newark, NJ Community Garden Above Ground Cistern Installation Workshop with Rainwater Harvest Company Greater Newark Conservancy

38 Can your community benefit Water Resources Program 1. Does your community suffer from localized flooding? 2. Does your community have combined sewers? 3. Does your community pay too much for treating wastewater because of inflow and infiltration (I&I) problems? 4. Is your community committed to protecting the health of its residents? Department of Public Works, Paterson Bayonne High School

39 Green Infrastructure Municipal Action Teams Camden SMART Newark DIG Next communities. City of Paterson Jersey City Perth Amboy

40 Next Steps Evaluate existing infrastructure for green opportunities Identify local partners and technical assistance Little Falls, NJ Prioritize needs Educate residents, officials, staff, and professionals Identify funding mechanisms Saint Agnes Church, Little Falls, NJ Develop implementation strategy

41 Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E Jeremiah D. Bergstrom, LLA, ASLA