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How Green CanHow Green Can

Lead to BlueLead to Blue

Johanna HunterJohanna Hunter

EPA New EnglandEPA New England

Perceived BarriersPerceived Barriers

Cost to installCost to install

Operation and MaintenanceOperation and Maintenance

Unclear on whatUnclear on what greengreen isis

Environmental Benefits?Environmental Benefits?

Why bother in an urban settingWhy bother in an urban setting

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Protect GreenProtect Green

Healthy watershedsHealthy watersheds

Ensuring restoration/protection of urbanEnsuring restoration/protection of urban

biodiversity and ecological functionsbiodiversity and ecological functions

Limit impactsLimit impacts

Restore GreenRestore Green

Watershed plans identify opportunities forWatershed plans identify opportunities for

restoration (urban and rural)restoration (urban and rural)

May include: habitat, buffer, stream flowMay include: habitat, buffer, stream flow

Programs in place to accomplish thisPrograms in place to accomplish this319 and CWA funds (e.g., stimulus)319 and CWA funds (e.g., stimulus)

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Install GreenInstall Green

Examples abound in New EnglandExamples abound in New England

Should be part of our rhetoric as normalShould be part of our rhetoric as normal

and notand not newnew or innovativeor innovative

Promote real sustainabilityPromote real sustainabilityincorporateincorporate

energy and water efficiencyenergy and water efficiency

Part of ARRA and future CWSRF/DWSRFPart of ARRA and future CWSRF/DWSRF

fundingfunding

05%

ImperviousnessImperviousness varies by usevaries by use

015% 5- 65% 50- 95%SlidefromUConnCenterforLandUseEducationandResearch

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HydrologicHydrologic ImpactsImpacts ofof DevelopmentDevelopment

more water arriving more quickly

Slide from UCONN Center for Land Use Education and Research

GlenGGlenlen BrookBBrookrook GreenGGreenreen (Jordan((JordanJordan

Cove)CCove)ove)Research/DemoRResearch/Demoesearch/Demo ProjectPProjectroject

ono nnnUCUUCC onnCTDEPCCTDEPTDEP

TraditionalTraditioTra nalditional BBBMMMPPP ClusterCClusterlusterEPAEEPAPA owo nwn ofofTTT own of

aterforaterforWWW aterforddd

ontractoo rntractorCCC ontractor

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JordanJordan CoveCove StudyStudy

cluster cluster layoutlayoutgrassed grassed swalesswales

LIL DID ClusterClusterpervious pervious roadroadpervious pervious drivewaysdrivewaysrain rain gardensgardens

- -bioretention bioretention cuc lul-dede -sas caclow low mom wow areasareas

TraditionalTraditional

Slide from UCONN Center for Land Use Education and Research

PP UUTTTTIINNGG IITT AA LLLL

TT OOGGEETTHHEERR aa ltt eerr nnaa tt ivvee ssuurr ffaa cceessl i ggrreeeennddeessiggnn i RRRaaa ininin ggg aaa rrr ddd eee nnn sss EEE nnn ggg ininin eee eee rrr eee ddd sss www aaa leee sssll mmeecchhaa nniccaa l BBMMPP ssi l eedduuccaa ttioonn aa ss aa BBMMPPi

PerviousPPerviouservious roadwayrroadwayoadway

ClusterCClusterluster

designddesignesignBioretentionBBioretentionioretention circleccircleircle

nonnoo mowmmowow zonzzoneone

NaturalisticNNaturalisticaturalisticPerviousPPerviouservious drivewaysddrivewaysrivewayslandscapinglalandscapingndscaping

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PerviousdrivewaysPerviousPerviousdrivewaysdriveways

Concretegrid linedgrassswaleConcrete grid lined grass swaleConcrete grid lined grass swale

JordanCoveBMPClusterSubdivisionJordan Cove BMP Cluster Subdivision

BioretentionareainturnaroundBioretention area inBioretention area inturnaroundturnaround

RaingardensRain gardensRain gardens

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Benefits of Green Infrastructure/LIDBenefits of Green Infrastructure/LID

Cleaner water, reducedCleaner water, reduced CSOCSOss, reduced flooding, reduced flooding

Cleaner air, more trees, decreased erosionCleaner air, more trees, decreased erosion

Enhanced water supplies, increased infiltrationEnhanced water supplies, increased infiltration

Reduced urban heatReduced urban heat-island effect and reduced coolingisland effect and reduced coolingcosts in the summercosts in the summer

Increased energy efficiencyIncreased energy efficiency

Increase property valuesIncrease property values

More Green BenefitsMore Green Benefits

Community benefits, parks, trails, habitats,Community benefits, parks, trails, habitats,

gardens, involvement and stewardshipgardens, involvement and stewardship

Beach OpeningsBeach Openings

Cost savings to cities and developersCost savings to cities and developers

Frees up capacity in aging sewer systemsFrees up capacity in aging sewer systems

Less longer term O & M costsLess longer term O & M costs

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WhatWhats Challengings Challenging

Hurdles to OvercomeHurdles to Overcome

Public perceptionPublic perception rivers are pollutedrivers are polluted

ContaminationContamination water, land, sediment,water, land, sediment,fishfish

Lack of constituencyLack of constituency what river orwhat river orwatershed?watershed?

Out of sight, out of mindOut of sight, out of mind

Poor design, pattern of developmentPoor design, pattern of development

Safety issuesSafety issues liabilityliability

Maintenance issuesMaintenance issues parks, trailsparks, trails

ParkRiverentering conduitinHartford,CT

Water QualityWater Quality

oo NutrientsNutrients

oo PathogensPathogens

oo DebrisDebris

oo Toxic ContaminantsToxic Contaminants

oo SedimentSediment

oo Thermal StressThermal Stress

oo Etc., etc., etc.Etc., etc., etc.

SlidefromUCONNCenterforLandUseEducationandResearch

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Green toGreen to BlueBlue

Protect, restore, installProtect, restore, install

Common place approachCommon place approach

ConsiderConsider stormwaterstormwater as a resourceas a resource

CT as leaders in effortCT as leaders in effort

EPA in step with integratedEPA in step with integrated sustainablesustainable

strategy approachstrategy approach