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

A Healthy Body NeedsHealthy Parts, Linked, toSupport Healthy Systems

Wired Magazine, 11/08

What Does Green Infrastructure Do?What Does Green Infrastructure Do?


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


““HaphazardHaphazard”” Cluster DevelopmentCluster Development


Green Infrastructure Approach Green Infrastructure Approach

Providing Strategic Providing Strategic ““ContextContext””


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


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).

““Make no small plansMake no small plans……for they have for they have no ability to stir menno ability to stir men’’s blood.s blood.””

Daniel Burnham (1846Daniel Burnham (1846--1912)1912)

green infrastructure overview

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