creating a green infastructure program

Creating a Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program

Gary BelanSenior Director, Clean Water Supply Program

February 9th, 2016

That range will increase with climate change

Dry

More frequent and intense

droughts

More frequent and intense

storms

Many places will also experience a shifting average.

Wet

Resilience in an age of climate change

Dry Wet

This will require significant changes in policies and practices as well as innovation and cooperation.

Level of resilience must increase to account for climate change

What is One Water?

The One Water approach considers the urban water cycle as a single integrated system, in which all urban water flows are recognized as potential resources, and the interconnectedness of water supply, groundwater, stormwater and wastewater is optimized, and their combined impact on flooding, water quality, wetlands, watercourses, estuaries and coastal waters are recognized.

Integrated Water Management“One Water”

WERF Sustainable Integrated Water Management Challenge

Optimize:Green

Infrastructure implementation

through analysis of co-benefits, maintenance needs, and gathering

performance data.

Transition:

Alternative Water Sources and Integrated

Planning into practice through

developing Tools, Permitting Guides, and

Technical Requirements for new

technologies.

Transform:

Watershed Management

through engagement of partners including

Urban Planners, Agricultural

Operations, and Forestry Programs & other stakeholders.

Need for Innovative Institutions

Stormwater control measures that harvest, infiltrate, and evapotranspirate stormwater are “critical to reducing the volume and pollutant loading of small storms.”

- National Research Council Report, 2008

Rain barrel, Delaware County, PA

Green roof, Heinz Center, Pittsburgh, PA Rain garden, Portland, OR

Green Infrastructure BMP’s

Urban vs. Rural

Impacts on the Hydropgraph

1. Outreach2. Metrics and Goals3. Local Policy4. Implementation5. Maintenance6. Valuing and Financing

Elements of a Green Infrastructure Program

Public Outreach

Public Outreach

Starters Rain garden

initiatives Rain barrel sales Community

workshops Scouting projects

More involved Municipal Task Force Integration with

Sustainability or Climate Change Plans

Development of Green Infrastructure Plans

Green Infrastructure Training Platform

www.americanrivers.org/green-infrastructure-training/

www.americanrivers.org/green-infrastructure-training/

Public Initiatives

Toledo, OHwww.raingardeninitiative.org

Grand Rapids, MIwmeac.org/rainbarrels/

Charlottesville, VAchoosecleanwater.org/toolkit/

This task force should be broad and collaborative Initially it should include all relevant city agencies, but

can be broadened to include non-governmental partners

Examples: Sustainability Director Chief Engineer City Development Director Director Department of Public Works Director Parks Department Director of City Transportation/Transportation Engineer City GIS and mapping team members

Establish a task force

Metrics and Goals

Examples: Reducing the number of combined sewer overflows Improving water quality Increase in green space

More specific metrics will come later. It’s important to know what your are trying to accomplish first

Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard bit.ly/1QRuMFa

Commit to a broad measurable goal

Based on experience in the first year What percentage of our baseline are we

expecting to capture? How replicable is this from year to year? Establish an annual goal based on this analysis

that is achievable yet moves the bar 1%-2% annual reduction is our recommendation Reasonable to do some averaging over a series

of years do to construction timelines

Establish an annual goal

Benefits of a GI Portfolio Standard

Advantages similar to Renewable Portfolio Standards:• Long-term program: 10 – 20 years or more• Small annual goals: 1% – 2% per year• Flexible: allows use of infiltration, evapotranspiration

and harvesting water for reuse • Gives staff the ability to plan ahead, learn from

experience, adjust• Cost effective way to make progress• Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard

bit.ly/1QRuMFa

Progress toward meeting GIPS goal is based upon designed performance, and not actual performance of installed green infrastructure. Obtaining actual retention data through empirical testing is encouraged where practicable, as this will allow a municipality to:

1.Confirm design criteria and intended benefits; 2.Measure additional benefits and adjust performance

goals as necessary; 3.Demonstrate value of investment in infrastructure,

and may: 4.Help to meet current or future regulatory

requirements.

Monitor Progress

Local Policy

Permitting Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Improving Municipal Stormwater Permits and Protecting Water Quality

MS4 Permit types with Green Infrastructure Components E.g. Standard Based on Percentile Storm,

Comparable to E.I.S.A. Section 438

Excerpts from Public Comment Letters on MS4 Permits

Link at: http://bit.ly/1TOT9pE

Municipal Stormwater Permits

I. Why local stormwater controls can be effective

II. Understanding the political landscapeIII. Choosing a local policyIV. Understanding key components of your

stormwater ordinanceV. Mobilizing Community Support

Local Water Policy(More of a guide than a tool)

http://bit.ly/1QpwtHd

1. Review current zoning code for regulatory barriers and quick improvements

2. Some zoning codes are “prescriptive” – requiring the use particular design features to control stormwater.

3. Take additional measures to reduce impervious surfaces

4. Promote the use of Specific LID Techniques5. Use “Overlay Districts” to add new

requirements to existing zoning districts

The following Ten Guidelines are intended to guide you in the selection of potential stormwater measures.

The other half….

6. Create standards to improve stormwater management in developed areas

7. Address the storage and use of pollutants that may come in contact with stormwater

8. Create and protect buffers for water resources

9. Require LID techniques for municipal projects

10.Connect zoning decisions to a comprehensive plan

EPA’s Water Quality Score Card

www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/water-quality-scorecard

This scorecard is a locally controlled self-assessment and guide for better incorporating green infrastructure practices at the municipal, neighborhood, and site scales.

Best if multiple departments are involved. Documents needed include:

Zoning Ordinances Subdivision Codes Street Standards or Design Guidelines Parking Requirements Setbacks Height Limitations Open Space or Natural Resource Plans Comprehensive Plans

Policy: The Scorecard

http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/water_scorecard.htm

Building & Implementation

Implementation

Have a plan Choose the right contractor Choose the right designer Be aware of compaction

Link at: www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/bmp-im/

Aspects to consider

Site selection BMP Selection Soil media selection Proper Storage

Volume Calculated

Maintenance

Was it built correctly? Does designed storage volume match actual storage

volume? Are maintenance requirements properly understood?

Function Aesthetics Safety

Costs of Maintenance Annual inspection and maintenance on sand filter - $1500 Cost to reconstruct sand filter: $30,000

Maintenance

Staying Green: Strategies to Improve Operations and Maintenance of Green Infrastructure  in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

http://bit.ly/1omelat

Other Considerations:

BMP’s need: Regular inspection Protection from

sediment Regular trash

cleaning

Watch out for: Confining layers in

bioretention , particularly during construction (construction sequence is key).

Clogged outlets Cattails Clogged permeable

pavement (please vacuum).NCSU BMP Inspection and Maintenance Certification Programhttp://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/bmp-im/

Valuing & Financing

Financing Insecurity

Loans and grants go to“old” infrastructure

Bonds support largecapital projects

Ratepayers can’t fundmaintenance, let alone innovation

Problem : Communities challenged to finance sustainable infrastructure that meets current and future needs.

Key Challenges: Identify new

financing techniques for sustainable infrastructure

Directing private capital toward sustainable water management

Build new partnerships

Link at: http://bit.ly/1TQmjEM

Local Government Stormwater Financing Manual by Environmental Finance Center: http://bit.ly/1Se5bcu

Economic Value of Riparian Buffers http://bit.ly/20IFhCM

Funding Green Infrastructure in PA http://bit.ly/23V4ed8

Incentivizing Clean Water: A Great Lakes guide to incentivizing green infrastructure through stormwater credit programs.

Financing Resources

Valuing Green Infrastructure:

Link at: bit.ly/23V4ed8

Valuing Green Infrastructure:What are the measureable benefits?

Valuing Green Infrastructure:How does it work?

This guide focuses only on benefits – It’s not a cost/benefit analysis Two step process –

1. Quantification 2. Valuation

Focus of equations on 4 areas1. Water2. Energy 3. Air Quality 4. Climate Change

Seems small, but when you add it up:

A recent analysis of Lancaster, PA’s green infrastructure plan (both current and planned green infrastructure) show estimated total benefits over 25 years at approximately:

$127,000,000The bulk of this came in reduced infrastructure needs.

Case study at: http://1.usa.gov/1o0shHs

Full life-cycle analysis beyond scope of this guide This includes O&M

Local Performance and Regional Impacts need to be considered

Spatial scaling limitations For larger projects, a discounting analysis is

recommended Prices in some of the equations may have some

variability Double Counting

Valuing Green Infrastructure:Limitations

Questions?

The End