Download - Green Infrastructure Overview
Green Infrastructure:Green Infrastructure:
A Foundation for Creating A Foundation for Creating
Sustainable Communities Sustainable Communities
Bill JenkinsBill JenkinsU.S. EPA, MidU.S. EPA, Mid--Atlantic RegionAtlantic Region
(215) 814(215) 814--29112911
[email protected]@epa.gov
Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview
�� History and History and
background on background on ““Green Green
InfrastructureInfrastructure””
�� What can it do for What can it do for
you?you?
�� What Do Benjamin What Do Benjamin
Franklin and the Franklin and the
Cheshire Cat have to Cheshire Cat have to
do with this?do with this?From: Common Ground, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2003.
The One ConstantThe One Constant……ChangeChange
•• Since European settlement we have lost more Since European settlement we have lost more
than 50% of our wetland acreage.than 50% of our wetland acreage.
•• Since 1992, we have lost approximately 80,000 Since 1992, we have lost approximately 80,000
acres of forest aacres of forest annuallynnually, for a total of 1.2 million , for a total of 1.2 million
acres.acres.
•• From 1992, and projecting to 2020, we will have From 1992, and projecting to 2020, we will have
lost over 2.3 million acres of forest and 150,000 lost over 2.3 million acres of forest and 150,000
acres of wetland.acres of wetland.
•• Developed land area is projected to increase Developed land area is projected to increase
from 2.9 million acres to 5.2 million acres.from 2.9 million acres to 5.2 million acres.
Ecological Impacts of Ecological Impacts of
Landscape ChangeLandscape Change�� Degradation of natural landscape features:Degradation of natural landscape features:
�� Loss and fragmentation of forestsLoss and fragmentation of forests
�� Loss of riparian buffers and wetlandsLoss of riparian buffers and wetlands
�� Stream channel and aquatic habitat Stream channel and aquatic habitat
impairment impairment
�� Loss of ecosystem services:Loss of ecosystem services:
�� Carbon and nutrient cycling Carbon and nutrient cycling
�� Sediment trappingSediment trapping
�� Biodiversity Biodiversity
�� Flood mitigationFlood mitigation
�� Climate change adaptation, etc. Climate change adaptation, etc.
�� Loss of Productive Farm and Loss of Productive Farm and Forest Land, Cultural Forest Land, Cultural Resources, Tourism RevenueResources, Tourism Revenue
�� Decreased Sense of Decreased Sense of Community: Community: ““Anywhere USAAnywhere USA””
�� Impacts to Human Physical and Impacts to Human Physical and Mental Health; Quality of Life Mental Health; Quality of Life
�� Loss of Services Provided by Loss of Services Provided by Natural Systems = Increased Natural Systems = Increased Costs for Services to Dispersed Costs for Services to Dispersed Development & to Restore Lost Development & to Restore Lost Ecosystem FunctionEcosystem Function
Economic and Social Economic and Social
Impacts of Landscape ChangeImpacts of Landscape Change
Region III Rivers and Streams Trend AnalysisRegion III Rivers and Streams Trend Analysis
303(d) impaired waters
303(d)
Delisted Waters
Waters
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
Year
Miles o
f W
ate
rs
Miles
G
A
P4000
8000
12000
16000
20000
24000
28000
TMDL's
Completed
and 303(d) Delisted
Headline:Headline:
We are discovering polluted streams fasterWe are discovering polluted streams faster
than we can clean them!than we can clean them!
The estimated costs for pollutant cleanups ranges from The estimated costs for pollutant cleanups ranges from $4/lb for iron reduction from Acid Mine Drainage to $66/lb $4/lb for iron reduction from Acid Mine Drainage to $66/lb for phosphorous reduction in the Chesapeake Bay ($29 for phosphorous reduction in the Chesapeake Bay ($29 billion for nutrient/sediment goals).billion for nutrient/sediment goals).
$93,138$93,138$2,794,160$2,794,1603030BacteriaBacteriaWillis River, VAWillis River, VA
$290,222$290,222$2,612,000$2,612,00099BacteriaBacteriaMuddy Creek, VAMuddy Creek, VA
$144,117$144,117$2,450,000$2,450,0001717BacteriaBacteriaThumb Run, VAThumb Run, VA
$60,440$60,440$3,500,000$3,500,00057.957.9MetalsMetalsCatawissa Ck, PACatawissa Ck, PA
$192,800$192,800$964,000$964,00055MetalsMetalsBear Ck, PABear Ck, PA
$252,941$252,941$4,300,000$4,300,0001717NutrientsNutrientsConewagoConewago Ck, PACk, PA
$349,338$349,338$1,048,013$1,048,01333MetalsMetalsLittle Laurel Run, PALittle Laurel Run, PA
$2,300,000$2,300,000$17,500,000$17,500,0007.67.6NutrientsNutrientsCorsica River, MDCorsica River, MD
AvgAvg Cost/mileCost/mileCostCostMilesMilesImpairmentImpairment
The High Societal Cost of RestorationThe High Societal Cost of RestorationThe High Societal Cost of RestorationThe High Societal Cost of RestorationThe High Societal Cost of RestorationThe High Societal Cost of RestorationThe High Societal Cost of RestorationThe High Societal Cost of Restoration
The IssuesThe Issues
•• Rapid loss and fragmentation of natural Rapid loss and fragmentation of natural lands/open space resulting in: lands/open space resulting in:
‣‣ LLost habitat, water quality and ost habitat, water quality and economic benefits, social/cultural economic benefits, social/cultural heritage, and HUGE restoration costsheritage, and HUGE restoration costs
•• Future projections show continuation or Future projections show continuation or acceleration of loss and degradationacceleration of loss and degradation•• Many organizations have no information Many organizations have no information that identifies the most ecologically, that identifies the most ecologically, economically or culturally valuable lands.economically or culturally valuable lands.
‣‣ Most Most that do haventhat do haven’’t considered the t considered the role of these lands within a larger, role of these lands within a larger, landscape context.landscape context.
�� ReactiveReactive
�� SiteSite--SpecificSpecific
�� Narrowly, Narrowly, ““ContentContent””FocusedFocused
�� Not Technically Not Technically DefensibleDefensible
�� Not Integrated with Not Integrated with Other EffortsOther Efforts
Conservation Conservation activities that are:activities that are:
Haphazard ConservationHaphazard Conservation
Haphazard ConservationHaphazard Conservation……Not Getting Not Getting
Us Where We Want to GoUs Where We Want to Go
““If you donIf you don’’t know where t know where
you are going, any road will you are going, any road will
do.do.””Cheshire CatCheshire Cat
““Insanity: Doing what youInsanity: Doing what you’’ve ve
always done and expecting a always done and expecting a
different result.different result.””Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin
�� Proactive Proactive notnot ReactiveReactive
�� Systematic Systematic notnot PiecemealPiecemeal
�� MultiMulti--functional functional notnot Single Single PurposePurpose
�� Multiple Scales Multiple Scales notnot Single Single Scale (i.e. Scale (i.e. ““ContextContext”” sensitive) sensitive)
andand
�� ScienceScience--basedbased
Conservation that promotes planning, protection, Conservation that promotes planning, protection, restoration and long term management that is:restoration and long term management that is:
Strategic ConservationStrategic Conservation
““The substructure or The substructure or underlying foundation, underlying foundation,
especially the basic especially the basic installations and installations and
facilities, on which the facilities, on which the continuance and continuance and
growth of a community growth of a community or state dependsor state depends””..(Source: Webster(Source: Webster’’s s
New World Dictionary)New World Dictionary)
Infrastructure: A National PriorityInfrastructure: A National Priority……
And Source of PrideAnd Source of Pride
�� A necessity, not an A necessity, not an amenity amenity
�� A primary public A primary public investmentinvestment
�� Must be planned and Must be planned and developed as a developed as a network network –– a connected a connected systemsystem -- not as not as isolated partsisolated parts
�� Must be constantly Must be constantly maintained over time maintained over time to functionto function
Implications of DefinitionImplications of Definition
of of ““InfrastructureInfrastructure””
Green InfrastructureGreen Infrastructure
““StrategicallyStrategically planned and planned and
managed managed networks networks ofof natural natural
lands, working landscapeslands, working landscapes and and
other open spacesother open spaces that that conserveconserve
ecosystem values & functions and ecosystem values & functions and
provide associatedprovide associated
benefits to benefits to
human populationshuman populations..””(Benedict and McMahon, 2006)(Benedict and McMahon, 2006)
CORRIDOR
CORRIDORCORRID
OR
CORRIDOR
Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure
Conceptual ModelConceptual Model
HubHub
Hub
Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure
was identified as was identified as
one of five keys to one of five keys to
community community
sustainability in the sustainability in the
late 1990slate 1990s..
The other four being:The other four being:
•• Land Use and DevelopmentLand Use and Development
•• Community Revitalization and Community Revitalization and
ReinvestmentReinvestment
•• Rural Enterprise and Community Rural Enterprise and Community
DevelopmentDevelopment
•• Materials Reuse and Resource Materials Reuse and Resource
EfficiencyEfficiency
Source: Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators, Hart 1999
Built (“Gray”) Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure
Social Infrastructure
Brings Science to Planning and ImplementationBrings Science to Planning and Implementation
�� Incorporates principles of:Incorporates principles of:
�� landscape & aquatic ecology, landscape & aquatic ecology,
�� conservation biology,conservation biology,
�� restoration ecology, andrestoration ecology, and
�� watershed management (e.g. watershed management (e.g.
hydrology)hydrology)
�� Key to all is Key to all is connectivityconnectivity and the and the
spatial patternspatial pattern of landscape of landscape
features features –– even in developed even in developed
areasareas
�� PatternPattern affects affects ProcessesProcesses which which
affects affects FunctionFunction
Better Worse
Better Worse
Better Worse
World Conservation Strategy
(IUCN 1980)
Better Worse
Green Green ““UrbanUrban”” InfrastructureInfrastructure
Integrated networksIntegrated networks or systems of built, or systems of built,
protected and managed urban ecosystems protected and managed urban ecosystems
that provide that provide multiple, complementary multiple, complementary
functionsfunctions (i.e. (i.e. abioticabiotic, biotic and cultural) in , biotic and cultural) in
support of support of urban sustainabilityurban sustainability.. (Ahern, 2007)(Ahern, 2007)
Abiotic Functions Biotic Functions Cultural/Social Functions
Maintenance of surface/subsurface hydrological regime(s)
Habitat and movement routes/corridors for generalist and specialist species
Integral and supportive of economic and recreational activity (employment, property value, greenways…)
Air pollution remediation Bio/phyto - remediation of wastes and toxics
Opportunity for physical recreation
Waste: processing -transformation - reuse
Supports metapopulationdynamics for wildlife
Supports alternative transportation
Buffer/stabilize urban climate (heat island effect)
Maintenance of disturbance and successional regime(s)
Provide a sense of solitude, quiet, and inspiration
Nutrient Cycling -buffering - sequestration
Biomass production Healthy context for social interactions
Flood buffering -protection
“Reservoir” of genetic diversity
Stimulus for artistic and abstract expression
Reduce Noise Control spread of vector-borne diseases
Supports Environmental education
(Ahern 1995, Ndubisi 2002)
Green Green ““UrbanUrban”” InfrastructureInfrastructure�� Focus on the ecology of the built Focus on the ecology of the built environment, as a complement to environment, as a complement to protecting the undisturbed environment.protecting the undisturbed environment.
�� Plan, design, manage at Plan, design, manage at multiple multiple scalesscales (regional (regional -- neighborhood neighborhood -- site site --construction details) construction details) and and across the land across the land use spectrum.use spectrum.
�� Need to consider the spatial Need to consider the spatial patternspatterns(e.g. connectivity) that support the (e.g. connectivity) that support the processesprocesses, which determine the , which determine the functions,functions, of the urban landscape.of the urban landscape.
�� Allows for strategic, proactive, Allows for strategic, proactive, technically defensible planning and technically defensible planning and implementation.implementation.
(Ahern, 2007)(Ahern, 2007)
�� Managing water in urbanized Managing water in urbanized areas has historically focused on areas has historically focused on conveyance, treating water as a conveyance, treating water as a waste product waste product –– not an asset.not an asset.
�� This fails to recognize other This fails to recognize other ecological or cultural functions: ecological or cultural functions: stable stable streamflowstreamflow, groundwater , groundwater recharge and infiltration recharge and infiltration –– or or economic opportunities.economic opportunities.
�� Other Other ““functionfunction”” examples: trail examples: trail connections, moderation of urban connections, moderation of urban climate, urban revitalization, climate, urban revitalization, communitycommunity--based agriculture, based agriculture, wildlife corridors, etc. wildlife corridors, etc. (Ahern, 2007)(Ahern, 2007)
Water and Green Water and Green ““UrbanUrban”” InfrastructureInfrastructure
Giving Context to Planning, Giving Context to Planning,
Design, and ImplementationDesign, and Implementation
Regional/Landscape/Watershed Regional/Landscape/Watershed
FactorsFactors
((““ContextContext””))
Local or Site FactorsLocal or Site Factors
((““ContentContent””))
Ecological
Economic
Recreation
Historical
Cultural/Social
Vulnerability
The Green Infrastructure The Green Infrastructure approach helps shape approach helps shape the pattern of the pattern of development by development by providing a framework providing a framework for growth that for growth that firstfirstidentifiesidentifies ecologically, ecologically, culturally and culturally and economically significant economically significant landslands, , and thenand then suitable suitable areas for development.areas for development.
Green Infrastructure:Green Infrastructure:
A Framework for GrowthA Framework for Growth
Traditional DevelopmentTraditional Development
Source: Karen Firehock, Green Infrastructure Center Charlottesville, VA
Cluster DevelopmentCluster Development
Source: Karen Firehock, Green Infrastructure Center Charlottesville, VA
““HaphazardHaphazard”” Cluster DevelopmentCluster Development
Source: Karen Firehock, Green Infrastructure Center Charlottesville, VA
Green Infrastructure Approach Green Infrastructure Approach
Providing Strategic Providing Strategic ““ContextContext””
Source: Karen Firehock, Green Infrastructure Center Charlottesville, VA
The Green Infrastructure ApproachThe Green Infrastructure Approach
•• Helps reduce opposition to Helps reduce opposition to development development ANDAND conservation.conservation.•• Provides predictability and certainty Provides predictability and certainty (land use planning, project (land use planning, project sitingsiting, , mitigation and restoration, etc.).mitigation and restoration, etc.).•• Guides/maximizes/leverages public Guides/maximizes/leverages public and private investments in protection, and private investments in protection, restoration and management.restoration and management.•• Based on scientifically defensible Based on scientifically defensible principles.principles.
�� Provides a unifying vision Provides a unifying vision that people with diverse that people with diverse interests can support.interests can support.
�� A framework for integrating A framework for integrating sustainability, growth sustainability, growth management & strategic management & strategic conservation at all scales & conservation at all scales & across diverse landscapes.across diverse landscapes.
�� Recognizes and integrates Recognizes and integrates both ecosystem & human both ecosystem & human needs.needs.
The Green Infrastructure ApproachThe Green Infrastructure Approach
Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure
NetworkNetwork
Landscape Features Landscape Features
that Support Natural that Support Natural
Ecosystem Values and Ecosystem Values and
FunctionsFunctions
Landscape Features that Landscape Features that
Provide Associated Provide Associated
Benefits for Human Benefits for Human
PopulationsPopulations
+
�� Committed people make Committed people make projects work, not money:projects work, not money:-- look for people with fire in look for people with fire in their bellytheir belly-- money will come if you have money will come if you have committed people and a committed people and a technically defensible strategy.technically defensible strategy.
�� Involve people who can help Involve people who can help you create and tell your story.you create and tell your story.
Some Thoughts to ConsiderSome Thoughts to Consider……
Pima County Arizona: Sonoran Desert Multispecies Conservation Plan
Goal: to ensure the long-term survival of the full spectrum of plants and animals indigenous to the county (607,700 acres).