Best Practices:
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: Green infrastructure reduces and treats stormwater before it discharges pollutants to surface waters. Some common examples of green infrastructure include [photos and descriptions of each Stormwater Control Device included on the following slides]:
- permeable pavement [Slide 10]
- bioretention areas [Slide 11]
- green roofs [Slide 12]
- planter boxes [Slide 13]
Green infrastructure provides more benefits compared to gray stormwater infrastructure (such as detention ponds and conventional piped drainage).
Gray stormwater infrastructure tends to be single purpose, meaning that its primary focus is to move stormwater away from where it lands, whereas green infrastructure manages stormwater AND provides ancillary benefits to the community.
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS:
- Encourage and incentivize community members to manage stormwater and install green infrastructure in their own back yards
- Programs may focus on activities such as planting trees or building and installing rain barrels and rain gardens
- Green infrastructure residential programs are a mechanism that communities can use to help encourage residents to contribute to the community’s stormwater management goals.
- Programs may focus on a variety of activities that community members can do at their own properties such as planting trees or building and installing rain barrels or rain gardens.
- Some programs even provide financial incentives if residents install and maintain green infrastructure on their properties.
- Residential programs are a great way to get people involved and invested in stormwater management at the local scale.
