1.
Creating a Green Stormwater
Infrastructure Program
Gary Belan
Senior Director, Clean Water Supply Program
February 9th, 2016

2.
That range will increase with climate
change
Dry
More frequent
and intense
droughts
More frequent
and intense
storms
Many places will also experience
a shifting average.
Wet

3.
Resilience in an age of
climate change
Dry Wet
This will require significant changes in
policies and practices as well as innovation
and cooperation.
Level of resilience must increase to
account for climate change

4.
 What is One Water?
The One Water approach considers the urban water cycle as a
single integrated system, in which all urban water flows are
recognized as potential resources, and the interconnectedness of
water supply, groundwater, stormwater and wastewater is
optimized, and their combined impact on flooding, water
quality, wetlands, watercourses, estuaries and coastal waters are
recognized.
Integrated Water Management
“One Water”

5.
WERF Sustainable Integrated Water Management
Challenge
Optimize:
Green Infrastructure
implementation through
analysis of co-benefits,
maintenance needs, and
gathering performance data.
Transition:
Alternative Water
Sources and
Integrated Planning
into practice through
developing Tools, Permitting
Guides, and Technical
Requirements for new
technologies.
Transform:
Watershed
Management through
engagement of partners
including Urban Planners,
Agricultural Operations, and
Forestry Programs & other
stakeholders.
Need for Innovative Institutions

6.
Stormwater control measures that harvest,
infiltrate, and evapotranspirate
stormwater are “critical to reducing the
volume and pollutant loading of small
storms.”
- National Research Council Report,
2008
Rain barrel, Delaware
County, PA
Green roof, Heinz Center,
Pittsburgh, PA Rain garden, Portland, OR
Green Infrastructure BMP’s

7.
Urban vs. Rural

8.
Impacts on the Hydropgraph

9.
1. Outreach
2. Metrics and Goals
3. Local Policy
4. Implementation
5. Maintenance
6. Valuing and Financing
Elements of a Green Infrastructure
Program

10.
Public Outreach

11.
Public Outreach
 Starters
 Rain garden initiatives
 Rain barrel sales
 Community workshops
 Scouting projects
 More involved
 Municipal Task Force
 Integration with
Sustainability or Climate
Change Plans
 Development of Green
Infrastructure Plans

12.
Green Infrastructure Training
Platform
www.americanrivers.org/green-infrastructure-training/

13.
www.americanrivers.org/green-infrastructure-training/

14.
Public Initiatives
Toledo, OH
www.raingardeninitiative.org
Grand Rapids, MI
wmeac.org/rainbarrels/
Charlottesville, VA
choosecleanwater.org/toolkit/

15.
 This task force should be broad and collaborative
 Initially it should include all relevant city agencies, but can
be broadened to include non-governmental partners
 Examples:
 Sustainability Director
 Chief Engineer
 City Development Director
 Director Department of Public Works
 Director Parks Department
 Director of City Transportation/Transportation Engineer
 City GIS and mapping team members
Establish a task force

16.
Metrics and Goals

17.
 Examples:
 Reducing the number of combined sewer overflows
 Improving water quality
 Increase in green space
 More specific metrics will come later. It’s important to
know what your are trying to accomplish first
Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard
 bit.ly/1QRuMFa
Commit to a broad measurable goal

18.
 Based on experience in the first year
 What percentage of our baseline are we expecting to
capture?
 How replicable is this from year to year?
 Establish an annual goal based on this analysis that is
achievable yet moves the bar
 1%-2% annual reduction is our recommendation
 Reasonable to do some averaging over a series of years
do to construction timelines
Establish an annual goal

19.
Benefits of a GI Portfolio Standard
Advantages similar to Renewable Portfolio Standards:
• Long-term program: 10 – 20 years or more
• Small annual goals: 1% – 2% per year
• Flexible: allows use of infiltration, evapotranspiration
and harvesting water for reuse
• Gives staff the ability to plan ahead, learn from
experience, adjust
• Cost effective way to make progress
• Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard
bit.ly/1QRuMFa

20.
 Progress toward meeting GIPS goal is based upon designed
performance, and not actual performance of installed green
infrastructure. Obtaining actual retention data through
empirical testing is encouraged where practicable, as this
will allow a municipality to:
 1.Confirm design criteria and intended benefits;
 2.Measure additional benefits and adjust performance goals
as necessary;
 3.Demonstrate value of investment in infrastructure, and
may:
 4.Help to meet current or future regulatory requirements.
Monitor Progress

21.
Local Policy

22.
 Permitting Green Infrastructure: A Guide to
Improving Municipal Stormwater Permits and
Protecting Water Quality
 MS4 Permit types with Green Infrastructure
Components
 E.g. Standard Based on Percentile Storm,
Comparable to E.I.S.A. Section 438
 Excerpts from Public Comment Letters on MS4
Permits
 Link at: http://bit.ly/1TOT9pE
Municipal Stormwater Permits

23.
I. Why local stormwater controls can be
effective
II. Understanding the political landscape
III. Choosing a local policy
IV. Understanding key components of your
stormwater ordinance
V. Mobilizing Community Support
Local Water Policy
(More of a guide than a tool)
http://bit.ly/1QpwtHd

24.
1. Review current zoning code for regulatory barriers and
quick improvements
2. Some zoning codes are “prescriptive” – requiring the
use particular design features to control stormwater.
3. Take additional measures to reduce impervious
surfaces
4. Promote the use of Specific LID Techniques
5. Use “Overlay Districts” to add new requirements to
existing zoning districts
The following Ten Guidelines are intended to guide you
in the selection of potential stormwater measures.

25.
The other half….
6. Create standards to improve
stormwater management in developed
areas
7. Address the storage and use of
pollutants that may come in contact
with stormwater
8. Create and protect buffers for water
resources
9. Require LID techniques for municipal
projects
10. Connect zoning decisions to a
comprehensive plan

26.
EPA’s Water Quality Score Card
www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/water-quality-scorecard

27.
 This scorecard is a locally controlled self-assessment and
guide for better incorporating green infrastructure
practices at the municipal, neighborhood, and site scales.
 Best if multiple departments are involved.
 Documents needed include:
 Zoning Ordinances
 Subdivision Codes
 Street Standards or Design Guidelines
 Parking Requirements
 Setbacks
 Height Limitations
 Open Space or Natural Resource Plans
 Comprehensive Plans
Policy: The Scorecard

28.
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/water_scorecard.htm

29.
Building & Implementation

30.
Implementation
 Have a plan
 Choose the right contractor
 Choose the right designer
 Be aware of compaction
Link at:
www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/bmp-im/

31.
Aspects to consider
 Site selection
 BMP Selection
 Soil media selection
 Proper Storage Volume
Calculated

32.
Maintenance

33.
 Was it built correctly?
 Does designed storage volume match actual storage volume?
 Are maintenance requirements properly understood?
 Function
 Aesthetics
 Safety
 Costs of Maintenance
 Annual inspection and maintenance on sand filter - $1500
 Cost to reconstruct sand filter: $30,000
Maintenance
Staying Green: Strategies to Improve Operations and Maintenance of
Green Infrastructure in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
http://bit.ly/1omelat

34.
Other Considerations:
 BMP’s need:
 Regular inspection
 Protection from sediment
 Regular trash cleaning
 Watch out for:
 Confining layers in
bioretention , particularly
during construction
(construction sequence is
key).
 Clogged outlets
 Cattails
 Clogged permeable
pavement (please vacuum).
NCSU BMP Inspection and Maintenance
Certification Program
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/bmp-im/

35.
Valuing & Financing

36.
Financing Insecurity
 Loans and grants go to
“old” infrastructure
 Bonds support large
capital projects
 Ratepayers can’t fund
maintenance, let alone
innovation
Problem : Communities challenged to finance sustainable
infrastructure that meets current and future needs.

37.
Key Challenges:
 Identify new financing
techniques for
sustainable
infrastructure
 Directing private capital
toward sustainable
water management
 Build new partnerships
Link at: http://bit.ly/1TQmjEM

38.
 Local Government Stormwater Financing Manual by
Environmental Finance Center:
 http://bit.ly/1Se5bcu
 Economic Value of Riparian Buffers
 http://bit.ly/20IFhCM
 Funding Green Infrastructure in PA
 http://bit.ly/23V4ed8
 Incentivizing Clean Water: A Great Lakes guide to
incentivizing green infrastructure through stormwater
credit programs.
Financing Resources

39.
Valuing Green Infrastructure:
Link at: bit.ly/23V4ed8

40.
Valuing Green Infrastructure:
What are the measureable benefits?

41.
Valuing Green Infrastructure:
How does it work?
This guide focuses only on benefits – It’s not a cost/benefit analysis
 Two step process –
1. Quantification
2. Valuation
 Focus of equations on 4 areas
1. Water
2. Energy
3. Air Quality
4. Climate Change

42.
Seems small,
but when you add it up:
A recent analysis of Lancaster,
PA’s green infrastructure plan
(both current and planned green
infrastructure) show estimated
total benefits over 25 years at
approximately:
$127,000,000
The bulk of this came in reduced
infrastructure needs.
Case study at:
http://1.usa.gov/1o0shHs

43.
 Full life-cycle analysis beyond scope of this guide
 This includes O&M
 Local Performance and Regional Impacts need to be
considered
 Spatial scaling limitations
 For larger projects, a discounting analysis is
recommended
 Prices in some of the equations may have some
variability
 Double Counting
Valuing Green Infrastructure:
Limitations

44.
Questions?
The End