The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week announced that it will award $400,000 to help six communities expand their use of green infrastructure to reduce water pollution and boost resilience to the impacts of climate change. In the last two years, EPA has provided $1.35 million to more than 20 communities for green infrastructure.
As part of EPA’s commitment to engaging with local communities to support green infrastructure, EPA has conducted two technical assistance programs focused on green infrastructure implementation. These technical assistance programs are intended to address a range of technical, regulatory, and institutional barriers to green infrastructure, and to build community capacity by sharing lessons learned.
The six new communities to receive assistance include:
Providence, R.I. ($75,000) – Assistance will support the design and construction of up to four public green infrastructure practices, with associated operation and maintenance plans, as well as public outreach efforts to help educate the public about green infrastructure practices.
Detroit, Mich. ($65,000) – Assistance will help develop a range of green infrastructure alternatives to meet polluted runoff reduction targets and contribute to regional revitalization.
Lincoln, Neb. ($65,000) – Assistance will help develop a menu of green infrastructure options for the Antelope Creek Watershed Basin Management Plan, which seeks to improve water quality in a highly urbanized creek in the center of the city.
Gary, Ind. ($65,000) – Assistance will help develop strategies to meet water quality goals through retrofitting underutilized parcels with green infrastructure. EPA assistance may also help develop a green infrastructure jobs training program.
Pima County, Ariz. ($65,000) – Assistance will help complete a green infrastructure guidance manual addressing selection, design, construction, and maintenance of green infrastructure practices, and assess the costs and multiple benefits of green infrastructure practices in a desert environment.
Spartanburg, S.C. ($65,000) – Assistance will support the development of conceptual designs for green infrastructure practices throughout the Northside Community, a low-income community located in the headwaters of the impaired Fair Forest Creek that is targeted for revitalization.
EPA has also released a new report analyzing the economic benefits of green infrastructure in 13 locations to help utilities, states, municipalities, and other stormwater professionals understand the potential financial benefits in their communities. Green infrastructure typically can cost less than traditional water infrastructure. Locations in the report include Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Milwaukee, Wis., Portland, Ore., and West Union, Iowa.
More information on the green infrastructure assistance, progress reports and strategy: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/gi_support.cfm.