Green Infrastructure
and Green Highways
Hubs and Links to a Healthy
Environment
Low Impact Development Center
Summer 2007
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Challenges to Performance Based
and Watershed Approaches
Regucopy

Contradictions

Agendicizing and disaggregation and

specialization
Political Boundaries and Interests

Reliance on Minimum Standards

Zoning and Building Codes not integrated with

planning
Mass Production not Profession

Site Design Performance vs. BMP Efficiency

Contract Process “Per Unit”

LEED “no builder left behind”
 tm
Emailification “no one reads”2007
 Low Impact Development Center

Builder/Developer/Institution
Land Use Economic and
Design Requirements
Sustainability is not
achieved by minimum Localized
Industry
standards or ratingSustainable
Recognized
systems!!! Development
Standards
Local Community
Codes/Ordinances
Performance
and Watershed
Requirements
Based!!!
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Courtesy Region 3 OW
Sustainable Community = Green (natural) + Gray (built) + Multi (societal)
Built (“Gray”) Infrastructure
Green Highways
Social Infrastructure
Natural (“Green”)
Infrastructure
Source: Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators, Hart 1999
Low Impact Development Center 2007
Source: Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators, Hart 1999

Original Green Infrastructure
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure
Definitions
Finding common ground among
the descriptions
Low Impact Development Center 2007

APA - 7 principles of Green
Infrastructure
Recognize the social and natural ecosystem/ watershed

context
Provide a multi-functional framework for development,

protection, conservation, restoration and recreation
Protect and regenerate health and biodiversity

Create natural, social and economic linkage

Improve the visual quality and sense of place of

communities and landscapes
Involve and engage the community in planning,

implementation, management and monitoring
Provide a multi-functional framework for funding for

acquistion, restoration, management and development
Low Impact Development Center 2007

What is Green Infrastructure?
“Infrastructure – the substructure of underlying

foundation…on which the continuance and
growth of a community or state depends” –
Source: Webster’s New World Dictionary

“Green infrastructure – the ecological

processes, both natural and engineered, that act
as the natural infrastructure. It includes ditches,
creeks, wetlands, parks, open space, trees,
green roofs, gardens, working lands, aquifers
and watersheds that supply drinking water”
 source: http://www.wcel.org/issues/urban/sbg/glossary/
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Conservation Fund Definition of
Green Infrastructure
“…an interconnected network of green space

that conserves natural ecosystem values and
functions and provides associated benefits to
human populations….Green infrastructure differs
from conventional approaches to open space
planning because it looks at conservation value
and actions in concert with land development,
growth management and built infrastructure
planning.”
source: Green Infrastructure: Smart Conservation for the 21st Century, Benedict, Mark A., PhD,
Edward T. McMahon, J.D., The Conservation Fund, Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse Monograph
Series, www.sprawlwatch.org
Low Impact Development Center 2007

EPA definition of Green
Infrastructure
 Green infrastructure is a cost effective and environmentally friendly
approach to reduce stormwater and other excess flows entering
combined or separate sewer systems.
 Green infrastructure is a way to protect surface waters and drinking
water supplies, reduce drinking water and stormwater treatment
costs, reduce urban heat island impacts, and provide more
sustainable water resource management systems.
 Green infrastructure approaches use natural systems such as
forested areas or engineered systems such as raingardens to
cleanse water and reduce excess volumes by filtering and treating it
using plants, soils and microbes.
 Green infrastructure can be used to reduce our reliance on pipes,
channels and expensive engineered treatment systems that are
costly to build, operate and maintain.
source: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure.cfm
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure
An ecosystem , watershed based network

approach to managing growth and creating
sustainable environments in a variety of
development densities
Economically cost effective approach to solving

various issues (water quality, habitat, urban heat
island, CSO reductions, NPDES compliance,
TMDL, safe communities) when compared to
other approaches
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure in the 21st
century
Retrofits using green systems to restore

hydrological functional
Provides the means to ecologically link

one hub to the next
Form of infrastructure that is lower in cost

to maintain over its lifecycle
Improves the quality of life for all

inhabitants
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure MAY be parks
and large tracts of undeveloped land
that are set aside
HUBS
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure ALSO may
be green retrofits in an urban or
suburban landscape
LINKS
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Links and Hubs of Green
Infrastructure in the Urban
Environment
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Eco Roof – Link or Hub?
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Built Green Infrastructure
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Retrofits or Planned element
Green Roof Irvine CA
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure
opportunities are
everywhere
LID tools facilitate the development of

green infrastructure
Open Space and Transportation corridors

provide linking elements in a green
infrastructure network
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Watershed Planning Goals
Hydrologic

Runoff volume and peak discharge rate

Flood control

Water reuse

Ecological

Water quality and stream health

Habitat creation

Antidegradation

Community and economic development

Job creation

User fees

Historic preservation

Disturbance

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Stormwater Management Goals
Peak discharge rate (Q)

Runoff volume

Water quality

Runoff duration

Runoff frequency

Groundwater recharge

What tools are available to meet these goals?
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Highway Medians
and Shoulders
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Links and Hubs
An organizing form idea for planning green

infrastructure
Creates an interdependent network of

green
Fits a watershed model of planning

Can be implemented and maintained in

sections
Is an opportunity for public-private

partnerships
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure Form : Hubs
& Links
Hubs

Reserves (large protected areas)

Managed Native Landscapes

Working Lands (farms, managed forests)

Green Roofs (if large enough)

Links

Streetscapes

Water treatment swales

Bioretention

Highways

Green Roofs

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Infrastructure needs care
Green space is considered self-

sustaining…green infrastructure implies
something that must be maintained and at
times restored.”
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure Case Study:
Coyote Creek Watershed
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Courtesy E. Takata
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Coyote Creek Green
Infrastructure Principles
Start upstream

Connect the Dots

Use Nature as a Guide

All Fronts/No backs

Manage for the Long Term

Multiple Objectives

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007
Courtesy E. Takata

Courtesy E. Takata Low Impact Development Center 2007

Courtesy E. Takata
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007
Courtesy E. Takata

Courtesy E. Takata Low Impact Development Center 2007

Courtesy E.Takata
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Highways
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Theme Areas
Watershed Driven Stormwater

 Recyclables and Reuse
 Ecosystems
USEPA REGION 3 and FHWA
http://www.ghp.org
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Context Sensitive Solution?
Low Impact Development Center 2007

www.lowimpactdevelopment.org
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

• Either side of a closed-
LOCATION section roadway (median
or shoulder)
Siting Guidelines
FIXED-OBJECT
• No
HAZARD?
Materials
• Water quality MEDIUM
EFFECTIVENESS • Volume
Hydrology Hydraulics N/A
• Peak discharge LOW
Treatment Train/Process
STORAGE
• None
CAPACITY
Construction
• Total Suspend Solids
Maintenance coliform
• Fecal
TARGETED
POLLUTANTS • Oxygen depleting
substances
Safety Figure 8.1. Gutter filter along U.S. Route 1, Mount Rainier, MD._
NCHRP LID Manual
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

SHA Mt. Ranier Gutter Filters
Sierra ClubLow Impact Development Center 2007 Program
Community Award

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

• Bioretention
• Porous Pavements
• Environmentally Friendly Concrete
• Forest Buffers
• Restored and Stormwater Wetlands
• Stream Restoration
• Wildlife Crossings
• Soil Amendments
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Links and Hubs
An organizing form idea for planning green

infrastructure
Creates an interdependent network of

green
Fits a watershed model of planning

Can be implemented and maintained in

sections
Is an opportunity for public-private

partnerships
Low Impact Development Center 2007

AWI Great Streets:
Nannie Helen Burroughs
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Low Impact Development Center 2007

GHP/Stormwater EMS Roadmap
1. Identify environmental
issue(s) and/or
opportunity(ies) to be 11. Managers/senior
management. Review
addressed by EMS.
progress, identify
adjustments, and confirm
2. Identify desired commitments.
environmental and
business results and
APPROVAL – benefits. 10B. PERIODIC 10A. PROJECT
Management
REVIEW REVIEW
provides
Brief management on Assess EMS
feedback to 3. Establish objectives, status in meeting project
finalize issues, quantifiable measures and objectives and targets. performance.
opportunities, targets, and associated
and expected milestones.
results. 9. Identify EMS-related
training needs,
responsibilities and
4. Obtain management
schedule. Conduct the
commitment to EMS,
training.
characterize EMS resource
needs, and identify EMS
leaders.
8. Identify personnel (by
title) affected by EMS,
define responsibilities, and
5. Identify existing
communicate
initiatives, programs,
responsibilities.
procedures, processes,
and tools relevant to the
EMS.
7. Assign responsibility for
developing enhanced or
6. Identify improvements to new procedures,
achieve EMS objectives processes, and tools.
PLAN DO CHECK ACT
LEGEND:
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Watershed Recyclable/ Conservation/
Items/Activities Planning Design Management Driver Reuse Ecosystem
1 Develop templates and model protocols of
watershed based innovative stormwater
● ● ● ◉ ○ ◉
management for the Green Highways Approach
2 Develop the technical foundation for innovative
stormwater management applications in planning
● ● ● ◉ ○ ◉
and design strategies
Metric Benchmark
Categor Pollutan Natural Resource Operations & Threshold
Activity Regulatory Water Quality
y t Source Protection Maintenance units/values
P, W PS, NPS Develop templates and model • Vegetative • Maintain stream • Decrease O&M cost mg/l (ppm)
nutrients (TKN-N, NH3-N,
protocols of watershed based cover health (Erosion, • decrease need and mg/l (ppm)
NO3-N+NO2-N,TP,
innovative stormwater management • Decrease channel protection, frequency of mowing lbs/da of UOD
orthophosphate)
for the Green Highways Approach runoff volume habitat diversity) • reduce frequency of load
TSS
• §303d listed • Plant trees plant replacement
BOD
waters • improve safety
Action Measurement Metric
1 Offsite Acres of forest 1. Annual volume of runoff (ac/ft)
GHP Metrics
Reforestation
2. Peak Runoff Rate (Cn)
and Protocols
3. Annual volume of non-point source pollution (mg/l)
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Sustainable
Economic
Communities: Development
d
•Green Complement
n
Gray…. Environmental Community
Development Development
a
•Bridge Infrastructure Gap
ss
•etc
el
ga
ICLI, 1999
Sustainable Communities
ao
kG
in n
Programs
Lo Programs
te m
Green
Green Linkable and
Highways
Infrastructure
am
Expandable
re o
Theme Areas
CC
•Conservation Approach •Stormwater
•Structural Approach •Recycling
•Non-Structural Approach •Ecosystem
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Green Infrastructure Evolution
Green Infrastructure is the community

open space and infrastructure assets (e.g.
parks, roads, vacant land)
Functional Environmental Assett

(stormwater, energy, air)
Integrated functions with the watershed

(e.g. hydrology, habitat, circulation)
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Recommendations for Local
Decision Makers
Get development right the first time

Incorporate Green Infrastructure into

Watershed Management Plans
Revise state and local stormwater regulations

Establish dedicated funding that rewards green

infrastructure (SRF)
Provide incentives for residential and

commercial development
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Recommendations for Local
Decision Makers (cont’d)
Review and Revise local development

ordinances
Preserve existing trees, open space, and

stream buffers
Encourage and use Smart Growth

Get the community involved!

Low Impact Development Center 2007

EMS/Performance
Based Approach
Protect Environmental Legacy

Save Costs/Reduce Consumption

Ease Regulatory Burden

Improve Review Cycles

Low Impact Development Center 2007

DOT Institutional Goals
Compliance

Stewardship

Public Benefit

Operational Value

Consistency and predictability

Streamlining

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Regulatory Goals
Watershed Based Approaches

Trading

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)

Flexibility

Transparency and Measurability

Economic Viability and Sustainability

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Opportunities and Challenges
 Technical
 Institutional
 Fiscal
 Political
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Technical Challenges
Regulatory system based on land development Best

Management Practices (BMPS)
Prescriptive solutions with non-structural and structural

practices that do not address pollutant loads that are
unique to linear systems
BMPs use is presumptive (e.g. 80% TSS removal =

control of entire suite of pollutants).
Hydrologic analysis does not reflect direct and indirect

impacts of linear systems
Current Regulatory Credit Systems not “mature” for

watershed approaches
Define Scale and Extent of Project (watershed influence)

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Technical Opportunities
Integration of watershed based objectives

(e.g. water quality loading, CSS) into
design and analysis procedures
Regulatory Credit for innovative

techniques
Stormwater trading and banking

Advance monitoring science and Materials

selection
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Institutional
Challenges/Opportunities
Internal Awareness

Training (DOT, Resource and Regulatory

Agencies)
Decision Support Systems (Process)

Environmental Management System

Development (Entire Operations)
Demonstration of Success of Flexible

Approaches
Consistent and predictable response to flexible

and innovative solutions
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Fiscal Challenges and
Opportunities
Long-Term Support for Research and

Training
Long-Term Support for Monitoring

Leveraging of Funding (Public and Private

and Joint Public Agency Partnerships)
Funding of Maintenance Activities

True Costing to Communities (Triple

Bottom Line) and DOTs
Low Impact Development Center 2007

Political
Awareness of Context Sensitive Solutions

and Watershed Approaches
Highway “Hot Potato”

Inter-jurisdictional

Funding competition

Who gets to cut the Ribbon

Low Impact Development Center 2007

Keys to Success
Leaving the
Strong Problem Definition and Common Language

Economic Drivers = Environmental Results

Protocols, Metrics, Consistency, Adaptability (not

Watershed
adaptive management)
Determine User Needs

“Address” stakeholders issues

“Better than
Mission may not be accomplished

Training (everybody at the table)

Navigate and Collaborate

Before”
Institutions and Large Impacts

Regulatory Credit for Innovation and Flexible

Approaches
Pilots and Baby Steps

Low Impact Development Center 2007