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
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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
The UNH Stormwater Center
Dedicated to the protection of water resources
through effective stormwater management
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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
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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
Hudson River Estuary Program Green
Infrastructure Projects: Riparian Buffers
Kevin Grieser, Riparian Buffer Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program
New York State
Water Resources
Institute
New Paltz, November 23rd, 2009
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NY/NJ Harbor GI Collaborators
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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
Forest Infrastructure Tools for Urban Communities
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$364,000 FY2008 US Forest Service NE Area State and Private Forestry Competitive Grant
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Project Sites:
– Bronx River
– Newtown Creek
– Newark Bay/Upper New York Bay in NJ
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Theme / Issues:
– Enhance Public Benefits from Trees and Forests,
– Green Infrastructure
– Environmental Justice
– Urban Forests
– Local Partnerships
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Goals:
– Development of Low Impact Development Rapid Assessment (LIDRA) model
– GI implementation in Environmental Justice communities
– Public Education
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Developing New York’s Green Infrastructure
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$500,000 FY2009 US Forest Service NE Area State and Private Forestry Competitive Grant
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Project Location: Syracuse, New York
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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
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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:
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Address water quality issues from Combined Sewer Overflows
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Green Collar Jobs training of various GI practices including planning,
design, implementation, maintenance, and monitoring; providing
certification to participants who complete requirements
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Community Outreach to provide educational and vocational
opportunities, and a qualified local work from affected areas
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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
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West Brook watershed is 5,444 acres & one of largest in the Lake George Basin
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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
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Now one of largest contributors of stormwater runoff and water quality degradation in Lake
George - about 50% of total tributary runoff into south end
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About 270 tons annually of suspended sediments, nitrogen, phosphorous, and chloride; most
from transportation corridors and developed parcels
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Delta formed at stream mouth impacts navigation, water quality, fish spawning and aesthetics
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Due to winter road salting, chloride four times higher than 20 years ago
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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 Brook
Stormwater Improvement Project
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Incorporating GI into DEC Programs
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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
Preservation of Undisturbed Areas
Preservation of Buffers
Reduction of Clearing and Grading
Locating Development in Less Sensitive
Areas
Open Space Design
Soil Restoration
Description
Delineate and place into permanent conservation undisturbed forests, native
vegetated areas, riparian corridors, wetlands, and natural terrain.
Define, delineate and preserve naturally vegetated buffers along perennial
streams, rivers, shorelines and wetlands.
Limit clearing and grading to the minimum amount needed for roads, driveways,
foundations, utilities and stormwater management facilities.
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.
Use clustering, conservation design or open space design to reduce impervious
cover, preserve more open space and protect water resources.
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
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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
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation