Water Quality Scorecard:
Incorporating Green Infrastructure Practices at the
Municipal, Neighborhood, and Site Scales
Overview
 What is the Water Quality Scorecard?
 Why was the Scorecard developed?
 How can you use the Scorecard?
 What’s next for the Scorecard?
 Additional resources
What is the Scorecard?
 An auditing tool to
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Assess local ordinances,
codes, plans, and programs
through the lens of water
quality management
Guide municipal staff in
adapting diverse policies and
programs to consistently
support green infrastructure
What is the Scorecard?
 A resource containing
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References
Case studies
What is the Scorecard?
 Released October, 2009
 Developed by EPA’s Smart Growth Program
and EPA’s Office of Water with more than 11
external reviewers
Motivation
 Developed land uses are growing

Impact of population growth exacerbated by large
lot development
•
Developed portion of land base expected to grow
from 5.2% in 1997 to 9.2% in 2025
Motivation
 When water quality objectives are not
broadly integrated into the management of
urban design and urban form, the
consequences include:
•
Increased volumes and
rates of runoff
•
Erosion of natural
channels
•
Increased flooding
•
Degradation of habitat
•
Increased pollutant
loads
Motivation
 In 2009, beach closings and
advisories exceeded 18,000
for the fifth consecutive year
 Stormwater runoff
contributed to ~80% of
closings with a reported
contamination source
Motivation
 According to the 2004 National Water Quality
Inventory:
•
44% of assessed rivers and streams impaired
•
64% assessed lakes impaired
•
30% assessed estuaries impaired
 Agriculture and hydromodification are top
sources of impairment for rivers and streams
Green Infrastructure
 Green Infrastructure addresses the water
quality impacts of development by promoting
four principles:
•
Preserve
•
Recycle
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Reduce
•
Reuse
Preserve
Preserve large, continuous areas of open space
 Preserve sensitive ecological areas
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Recycle

Direct development to already degraded lands
Reduce Imperviousness
(at the watershed scale!)
Low Density
Higher Density
Green Infrastructure and
Smart Growth
Smart Growth Principles
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Increased Density
Transit and Pedestrian
Accessibility
Infill and Brownfield
Development
Bridging Institutional
Barriers
Reuse
(and infiltrate and evapotranspire!)
Benefits of Green Infrastructure
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Reduces urban heat
island effect
Reduces energy
demand
Improves air quality
Provides recreational
space
Provides walkable
streets
Increases land values
And more…
Obstacles to Green Infrastructure
 Green Infrastructure requires coordination
across multiple municipal departments
 Green Infrastructure requires coordination
across multiple spatial scales
• Municipal
• Neighborhood
• Site
EPA’s Water Quality Scorecard
 Provides framework for engaging
representatives from multiple departments
 Identifies drivers of impervious cover at
regional, neighborhood, site scales
Scorecard Map
5 Strategies
22 Policy
Clusters
4 Tactics
230 Policies,
Codes, and
Incentives
5 Strategies
Protect Natural Resources and Open Space
2. Promote Compact Development and Infill
3. Design Complete, Smart Streets that Reduce
Imperviousness
4. Encourage Efficient Parking Supply
5. Encourage Green Infrastructure On Site
1.
1. Policies to Protect Natural Resources and
Open Space
 Natural Resource Protection
 Open Space Protection
 Tree Protection
2. Policies to Promote Compact
Development and Infill
 Support Infill and Redevelopment
 Direct Development to Existing Infrastructure
 Encourage Mixed-Use Development
3. Policies to Create Complete, Smart
Streets
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Street Design
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Context sensitive
solutions
Narrow streets
Driveway location/design
Green Infrastructure
Designs
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Standards and Design
Criteria
Construction
Maintenance
4. Policies to Encourage Efficient Parking
Supply
Reduce Parking Requirements
 Transportation Demand Management
 Minimize Stormwater from Parking Lots

5. Policies to Encourage Green
Infrastructure On Site

Green Infrastructure
Practices
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Allowed for residential
management
Required for new
developments
Maintenance and
Enforcement
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Monitoring, tracking and
maintenance protocols
4 Tactics
 Adopt Plans
 Remove Barriers
 Create Incentives
 Enact Regulations
How to Use the Scorecard
 Recommended partners include
representatives from the departments of:
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Parks and Recreation
Public Works
Planning
Environmental Protection
Utilities
Transportation
How to Use the Scorecard
 Recommended documents for review include:
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Zoning ordinances
Subdivision codes
Street standards or road design guidelines
Parking requirements
Setbacks
Open space or natural resource plans
Comprehensive plans
Example
QUESTION: Do local building and plumbing codes
allow harvested rainwater for exterior uses?
GOAL: Ensure that the municipality allows and
encourages stormwater reuse for non-potable uses.
WHY: Stormwater reuse is important for dense,
urban areas with limited space.
Answers based on online research and interview with
Vince Esposito, Superintendent of Sewers and Streams
Example
1
Guidance provided through New York State
Stormwater Design Manual and Onondaga County
Save the Rain program
Example
1
Code does not prohibit reuse of stormwater for
exterior uses.
Example
1?
0
City in process of revising ordinance with County to
encourage green infrastructure.
City does not charge stormwater utility fee
Example
0
No requirement, but may not be appropriate for
Syracuse
What’s Next for the Scorecard?
 Scorecard has already been piloted in Lenexa,
Kansas and used in many communities
 EPA has just begun collecting feedback
 EPA’s Office of Sustainable Communities is
about to announce 4 communities selected
for technical assistance
Additional Resources
 EPA Green Infrastructure website
 EPA Smart Growth website
 Interagency Partnership for Sustainable
Communities website
•
Initiatives such as Recovery Through Retrofitting,
Green and Healthy Homes, and Urban Waters
Design Guidebooks
Inspiration that allows designers,
developers, and city staff to learn about
a variety of green street and parking lot
projects already built.
Education that gives the user an
understanding of both the general and
technical issues associated with design,
construction, as well as the long-term
care of sustainable stormwater projects.
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Green Streets Guide
 Describes green
approaches for:
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Residential Streets
Commercial Streets
Arterial Streets
Alleys
 Includes concept
designs
 Discusses functions
and applications
37
Municipal Handbooks
Series of guidance documents to help local officials
implement green infrastructure in their communities.
Chapters released as completed, including:
 Rainwater Harvesting Policies
 Green Streets
 Funding Options
 Retrofit Policies
 Municipal Incentives
Tamara Mittman
mittman.tamara@epa.gov
202- 564-1093
http://picasaweb.google.com/buildgreeninfrastructure