By Ed Michalenko PhD, President
Onondaga Environmental Institute

• In its broadest sense, GI can be planning, design, implementation and maintenance to enhance ecological services (built environment designed and managed to maintain and restore ecological structure and function)
• Should include soil, air, and water
• Locally we understand GI as a wet weather management strategy, with specific solutions; and this is rooted from the best management practices movement
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• The driving force is environmental law – government agencies are tasked with complying with water quality regulatory requirements
•
Climate change
– greater number and intensity of storms
• Decentralized approach – necessary to involve individual people, neighborhoods, property owners, business and industry in implementation and maintenance over the long term
•
All inclusive approach
– federal, state and local government agencies in GI design, implementation, and maintenance – particularly DOT, highway departments, planning and zoning boards, HUD, etc.
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The “Lemon”
• An aging combined sewer system that impacts water quality and degrades communities
• Court-ordered remedy
The “Lemonade”
• Creates opportunity for amenities: beautify neighborhoods
• Engage youth in meaningful science
• Empowers individuals to make sustainable choices
• Promotes community economic growth
• Community is empowered to achieve a sustainable future
• Act as a model for other communities
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• Holistic – in an ecological sense, but also social and economic justice considerations
• Participation – neighborhood involvement in entire process (planning through maintenance), inclusive of jobs for youth and adults
• Sustainable - consider GI growth as part of overall efforts towards creating a “sustainable” county or region
• Balance – between local economic benefit and effective implementation
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Environmental
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The goal of the GI education and outreach program at
OEI is to support and create opportunities for youth, adults, organizations, and businesses to learn and become involved in GI projects.
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Environmental
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• Partnered with
Onondaga County
Water Environment
Protection to design and install a demonstration rain garden at METRO.
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Environmental
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• Provided hands-on training in GI outreach, implementation and maintenance for the Onondaga
Earth Corps (OEC).
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• Assisting Home
HeadQuarters with incorporating GI and environmentally friendly landscapes on their properties
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• Working with F.O.C.U.S
Greater Syracuse and many other local agencies, both government and private, to incorporate alternative methods of transportation via greenways into everyday life. Understanding that
GI is not just about water management.
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Environmental
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• Building the capacity of the Partnership for
Onondaga Creek to educate their neighbors about GI
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• Developing teaching tools and educational materials such brochures and powerpoint presentations for the general public.
OEC youth build birdhouses with green roofs to be used at public events as a means to teach about green roofs.
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• Piloting green infrastructure curriculum materials with the
Onondaga Earth Corps, the Partnership for
Onondaga Creek and
ESF’s Green Train
Program
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Environmental
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• OEI advocated early for a broad approach to GI –
– Cannot just be regulatory or governmental implementation
– has to be a public/private cooperation
• OCRP (Appendix I : BMPs) – renaturalization of local waterways
– accommodate flooding, act as a natural corridor, and provide recreational greenspace
• Urban forests
• Holistic thinking and finding synergies – three converging efforts – creek walk, GI, creek renaturalization
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Onondaga
Environmental
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