NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Green Infrastructure

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Green infrastructure is an

interconnected network of natural

areas and open spaces that

sustains ecosystems.

Benedict, M.A. and E.T. McMahon. 2006.

Green Infrastructure Linking Landscapes and Communities.

The Conservation Fund. Island Press. Washington, D.C.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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)

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Landscape Scale

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Green Infrastructure

techniques use soils

and vegetation to

infiltrate,

evapotranspirate,

and/or recycle runoff,

creating an effective

stormwater

management system.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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!

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 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

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Chicago

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Portland

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Saratoga County

Green Infrastructure Plan

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Goal is to Balance Gray Infrastructure…

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

With Green Infrastructure.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Green Infrastructure Network

Natural Systems Hubs

Farmland Core Areas

Greenways and Trails

Heritage Hubs

Green Infrastructure Gateways

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Kevin Grieser, Riparian Buffer Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program

New Paltz, November 23rd, 2009New York State

Water Resources

Institute

Hudson River Estuary Program Green

Infrastructure Projects: Riparian Buffers

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

• $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

Forest Infrastructure Tools for Urban Communities

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

West BrookStormwater Improvement Project

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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

•

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual

http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/29072.html

Table 5.1 Planning Practices for

Preservation of Natural Features

and Conservation Design

Practice Description

Preservation of Undisturbed Areas Delineate and place into permanent conservation undisturbed forests, native

vegetated areas, riparian corridors, wetlands, and natural terrain.

Preservation of Buffers Define, delineate and preserve naturally vegetated buffers along perennial

streams, rivers, shorelines and wetlands.

Reduction of Clearing and Grading Limit clearing and grading to the minimum amount needed for roads, driveways,

foundations, utilities and stormwater management facilities.

Locating Development in Less Sensitive

Areas

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.

Open Space Design Use clustering, conservation design or open space design to reduce impervious

cover, preserve more open space and protect water resources.

Soil Restoration 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.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

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

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Ponder the Possibilities with Plants

Presentation prepared by:Karen Engel

Green Infrastructure Coordinator

NYS DEC

625 Broadway

Albany, NY 12233

(518) 402-9517

kmengel@gw.dec.state.ny.us