Green Infrastructure. NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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1 Green Infrastructure

2 Green infrastructure is an interconnected network of natural areas and open spaces that sustains ecosystems. Benedict, M.A. and E.T. McMahon Green Infrastructure Linking Landscapes and Communities. The Conservation Fund. Island Press. Washington, D.C.

3 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Green Infrastructure (GI) is the network of naturally occurring and engineered systems in the environment, generally vegetated, that provide the ecosystem services necessary to sustain life. On a large scale, GI includes forests, grasslands, and wetlands. On a small scale, GI includes green roofs, green walls, green streets, rain gardens, swales, natural landscaping, constructed wetlands, porous pavement, and rain barrels.

4 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE (cont d) GI removes contaminants from the air, soil, and water; reduces stormwater run-off and Combined Sewer Overflows; replenishes groundwater; provides wildlife habitat; sustains species diversity; reduces noise; provides oxygen; stores carbon; moderates temperatures; reduces energy usage; and mitigates human impacts that contribute to climate change. (As defined by NYS DEC)

5 Landscape Scale

6 Site Scale Green Infrastructure practices such as wetlands, vegetated swales, rain gardens, green roofs, complete streets, and porous pavement can produce a variety of environmental benefits.

7 Green Infrastructure techniques use soils and vegetation to infiltrate, evapotranspirate, and/or recycle runoff, creating an effective stormwater management system.

8 These technologies can also help filter air pollutants, reduce energy demands, mitigate urban heat islands, and sequester carbon while also providing communities with aesthetic and natural resource benefits.

9 Benefits of Trees Improve air quality Improve water quality Reduce stormwater run-off Reduce soil erosion Reduce noise Reduce energy costs Reduce crime Increase property values...and now you can prove it!

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14 The UNH Stormwater Center Dedicated to the protection of water resources through effective stormwater management Research and development of stormwater treatment systems To provide resources to stormwater communities currently involved in design and implementation of Phase II requirements 14

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17 Chicago

18 Portland

19 Saratoga County Green Infrastructure Plan

20 Goal is to Balance Gray Infrastructure

21 With Green Infrastructure.

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24 Green Infrastructure Network Natural Systems Hubs Farmland Core Areas Greenways and Trails Heritage Hubs Green Infrastructure Gateways

25 Hudson River Estuary Program Green Infrastructure Projects: Riparian Buffers Kevin Grieser, Riparian Buffer Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program New York State Water Resources Institute New Paltz, November 23 rd, 2009

26 NY/NJ Harbor GI Collaborators NYS DEC Office of Environmental Justice NYS DEC L&F Urban & Community Forestry Program NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program NYS DEC Division of Water Drexel University Gaia Institute Youth Ministries for Piece & Justice RiverKeeper New York City Department of Environmental Protection New York City Department of Parks & Recreation New Jersey Urban & Community Forestry Program Others

27 Forest Infrastructure Tools for Urban Communities $364,000 FY2008 US Forest Service NE Area State and Private Forestry Competitive Grant Project Sites: Bronx River Newtown Creek Newark Bay/Upper New York Bay in NJ Theme / Issues: Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests, Green Infrastructure Environmental Justice Urban Forests Local Partnerships Goals: Development of Low Impact Development Rapid Assessment (LIDRA) model GI implementation in Environmental Justice communities Public Education

28 Developing New York s Green Infrastructure $500,000 FY2009 US Forest Service NE Area State and Private Forestry Competitive Grant Project Location: Syracuse, New York Theme / Issues: Addressing environmental quality issues with Green Infrastructure Green vs. Gray Cost/Benefits Analyses Green Collar Jobs Environmental Justice Urban Forests Partnerships Best Management Practices Project Partners: NYS DEC SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry Onondaga County Atlantic States Legal Foundation, Inc.

29 Developing New York s Green Infrastructure (cont d) Goals: Address water quality issues from Combined Sewer Overflows Green Collar Jobs training of various GI practices including planning, design, implementation, maintenance, and monitoring; providing certification to participants who complete requirements Community Outreach to provide educational and vocational opportunities, and a qualified local work from affected areas Empirical Data Collection for environmental and cost/benefits analysis

30 Positioning Rust Belt Cities for a Sustainable Future: A Systems Approach to Enhancing Urban Quality of Life The National Science Foundation and the US Forest Service selected up to 16 US Cities to be an Urban Long-term Research Area (ULTRA), with each receiving $150,000 per year for two years. Key elements: Sustainability Multiple disciplines (including social and economic) Integration with the City, NGOs and businesses. Partners: NYS DEC US Forest Service SUNY ESF Upstate Freshwater Institute Syracuse University Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies.

31 WEST BROOK STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT West Brook watershed is 5,444 acres & one of largest in the Lake George Basin 1983 NYS DEC study found that the south end of Lake George could be impacted by the large impervious areas, loss of wetlands, and inadequate treatment of runoff Now one of largest contributors of stormwater runoff and water quality degradation in Lake George - about 50% of total tributary runoff into south end About 270 tons annually of suspended sediments, nitrogen, phosphorous, and chloride; most from transportation corridors and developed parcels Delta formed at stream mouth impacts navigation, water quality, fish spawning and aesthetics Due to winter road salting, chloride four times higher than 20 years ago Phosphorous promotes growth of algae, leaving water green and murky, with impaired recreational uses, aesthetic enjoyment, and drinking water; altering the biological community as it consumes available oxygen; and may produce harmful toxins

32 West Brook Stormwater Improvement Project

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34 Incorporating GI into DEC Programs Climate Change Sustainability Energy Use Smart Growth Environmental Justice Brownfields Best Management Practices Water Quantity & Quality Stormwater Management Combined Sewer Overflows GIS Rare & Endangered Species Grants Management of DEC facilities and properties Public education and the dissemination of GI information

35 The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual Table 5.1 Planning Practices for Preservation of Natural Features and Conservation Design Practice Description Preservation of Undisturbed Areas Preservation of Buffers Reduction of Clearing and Grading Locating Development in Less Sensitive Areas Open Space Design Soil Restoration Delineate and place into permanent conservation undisturbed forests, native vegetated areas, riparian corridors, wetlands, and natural terrain. Define, delineate and preserve naturally vegetated buffers along perennial streams, rivers, shorelines and wetlands. Limit clearing and grading to the minimum amount needed for roads, driveways, foundations, utilities and stormwater management facilities. Avoid sensitive resource areas such as floodplains, steep slopes, erodible soils, wetlands, mature forests and critical habitats by locating development to fit the terrain in areas that will create the least impact. Use clustering, conservation design or open space design to reduce impervious cover, preserve more open space and protect water resources. Restore the original properties and porosity of the soil by deep till and amendment with compost to reduce the generation of runoff and enhance the runoff reduction performance of post construction practices.

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38 Potential Partners State agencies Municipalities Watershed coalitions Smart Growth planners Minority groups Brownfield restoration interests Open space supporters Environmentalists Wildlife advocates Recreational trail users Garden clubs Community gardeners Educational institutions Other

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40 Ponder the Possibilities with Plants Presentation prepared by: Karen Engel Green Infrastructure Coordinator NYS DEC 625 Broadway Albany, NY (518)