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Making the Texas Case for Green Infrastructure
- 1. Making the TexasCase for Green Infrastructure Luke Metzger Executive Director of Environment Texas
- 2. Hello! Environment Texas isa citizen-based, non- profit advocate for clean air, clean water and open spaces. 2
- 3. Problems ▰ Polluted runoff= polluted waterways ▰ Flooding ▰ Water scarcity/drought ▰ Climate/urban heat island effect 3
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- 6. Want big impact? Usebig image.6 Austin Waller Creek
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- 8. GSI/LID is Partof the Solution
- 9. Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) ▰Low-impact development (LID) ▰ Models natural processes ▰ Infiltrates, evapotranspirates, or reuses stormwater ▰ Flexible and resilient ▰ Accessible to everyone 9
- 10. Effects of GSI ▰Pollution reduction ▰ Flood mitigation ▰ Erosion mitigation ▰ Aquifer replenishment ▰ Improved air quality ▰ Economic benefit ▰ Beautification10
- 11. Green Roofs ▰ Livingroofs ▰ Sequester carbon ▰ Reduce the urban heat island effect 11
- 12.
- 13. Want big impact? Usebig image.13 Austin Dell Medical School
- 14. Rain Gardens ▰ Filterrunoff pollutants ▰ Recharge groundwater ▰ Provide habitat 14
- 15.
- 16. Want big impact? Usebig image.16 El Paso University of Texas at El Paso
- 17. Rain Barrels ▰ Storewater for reuse ▰ Irrigation or plumbing water 17
- 18.
- 19. Want big impact? Usebig image.19 Kaufman Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- 20. Permeable Pavement ▰ Rechargesgroundwater ▰ Reduces urban heat island effect ▰ Helps reduce impervious cover 20
- 21.
- 22. Want big impact? Usebig image.22 Dallas Residential Driveway
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- 24. Drivers of GSI ▰Consent decrees ▰ Public relations ▰ Aesthetics ▰ Environmental concerns ▰ Economic benefits 24
- 25. Want big impact? Usebig image.25 San Antonio Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building & Courthouse
- 26. Barriers to GSIand Their Solutions
- 27. Lack of Regulatory Pressurein Texas ▰ The biggest push for GSI has come from the EPA in the form of sewer overflow regulations ▰ 880 cities in the U.S. use combined systems: wastewater and stormwater ▰ No Texas city has a combined wastewater-stormwater sewage system27
- 28. Regulatory Background ▰ CleanWater Act ▰ Water Quality Act ▰ Included stormwater ▰ National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ▰ Municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permits28
- 29. Want big impact? Usebig image.29 San Antonio Mission Branch Library
- 30. Barriers Confronting Local Governments ▰Perception that GSI performance is unknown ▰ Perception of higher costs ▰ Unfamiliarity with maintenance requirements ▰ Lack of staff or other resources 30
- 31. Barriers Confronting Developers ▰ Skepticismabout long-term performance ▰ Perception of higher costs ▰ Perception that GSI practices are inflexible and inappropriate for certain contexts 31
- 32. Solutions ▰ Learn aboutother cities’ experiences ▰ Develop pilot programs ▰ Learn about design variations ▰ Recognize avoided costs (conventional approaches) ▰ Recognize that all infrastructure requires maintenance32
- 33. Cost Effectiveness ▰ ReducingStormwater Costs through LID (EPA case study) ▰ In 11/12 cases, GSI features were less expensive to construct than conventional development 33
- 34. Cost Effectiveness ▰ Bankingon Green (ASLA) ▰ In addition to lower initial costs, GSI reduces costs associated with polluted runoff treatment, energy expenses, flood damage, and gastrointestinal illnesses. 34
- 35.
- 36. HB 1059 ▰ Amendsthe Water Code to require the TCEQ to produce GSI biennial reports 36
- 37. Want big impact? Usebig image.37 Houston
- 38. Want big impact? Usebig image.38 Austin
- 39. EPA ▰ Provides fundingfor GSI projects and other sustainable/cleanup work ▰ Technical assistance ▰ Brownfields revitalization ▰ Sustainable communities ▰ GIWiz39
- 40. Thanks! Any questions? You canfind me at: ▰ luke@environmenttexas.org ▰ (512) 479-0388 40