The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced $860,000 to help 14 communities expand their use of green infrastructure to reduce water pollution and boost resilience to the impacts of climate change. The funding supports President Obama?s Climate Action Plan, which directs federal agencies to support community-based preparedness and resilience efforts across the country.
?Investing in green infrastructure pays off for our environment and our economy. It reduces water pollution and energy consumption while creating jobs,? said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. ?These investments help local communities build resilient systems to protect from severe storms, floods, and other impacts of climate change.?
In the last three years, EPA has provided $2.2 million to 39 communities for green infrastructure. The 14 communities to receive funding this year are:
- Ada County, Idaho ? Explore stormwater mitigation techniques, concepts, and financing options to support green infrastructure.
- Albuquerque, N.M. ? Help with the design and specifications of a rooftop vegetable garden, which will recycle captured rainwater for irrigation.
- Bath, Maine ? Help produce a feasibility study and conceptual design for a green infrastructure project in order to mitigate flooding and combined sewer overflows.
- Buffalo, N.Y. ? Develop a protocol and institutional controls for post-demolition stormwater assessments to verify stormwater control performance and ensure that properties retain their stormwater control during redevelopment.
- Clarkesville, Ga. ? Design green infrastructure solutions for a highly impervious downtown area within a small community.
- Denver, Colo. ? Support the completion of green infrastructure practice criteria suited for ultra-urban environments and transportation projects including design elements, maintenance procedures and schedules.
- Fall River, Mass. ? Help with the evaluation and concept design of tree plantings to address combined sewer overflows, stormwater and air quality issues, urban heat island effect and climate change adaptation.
- Iowa City, Iowa ? Help develop conceptual designs for green infrastructure practices for a riverfront property prone to flooding.
- Milwaukee, Wis. ? Develop a model utility operation and maintenance plan to ensure green infrastructure practices are properly maintained and effective in reducing stormwater runoff.
- Norfolk, Va. ? Help identify green infrastructure alternatives to improve water quality and address shoreline erosion for a waterway in an urban area with a need to plan for how changes in sea level rise will affect green infrastructure methodology.
- Pueblo de Cochiti, N.M. ? prepare a plan that will integrate green infrastructure into land use planning, stormwater management, infrastructure improvements and transportation planning.
- Saint Paul, Minn. ? Help produce a green infrastructure feasibility study for a waterfront stormwater park in a vacated industrial area undergoing redevelopment.
- Santa Monica, Calif. ? help develop a conceptual design for a 100,000- gallon storage tank that will be used to harvest stormwater from a storm drain system, reducing runoff and replacing potable water used to irrigate parkland.
- Scranton, Pa. ? Incorporate green infrastructure included under the city?s combined sewer overflow long-term control plan into a comprehensive master plan for a newly developing arts district.
For more information on green infrastructure assistance, progress reports and strategy, visit water.epa.gov. ?
