The American Society of Landscape Architects has joined with American Rivers, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and other organizations to support congressional passage of the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2009.  The Act would allow EPA to provide green infrastructure planning and development grants to states, municipalities and other qualified entities.  Planning grants could be used to identify and develop standards for local zoning or other codes, and to identify fee structures for the design, installation and maintenance of green infrastructure projects.  Implementation grants could be used for green infrastructure installation projects as well as for monitoring their environmental, economic, and social benefits.  Finally, three Centers of Excellence for Green Infrastructure would be established across the country to provide technical assistance, and to conduct research on stormwater and sewer overflow reduction.

The recent issue of Landscape Architect News Digest talks about this effort. View the complete article here.

Did you know that the Philadelphia Water Department is an early adopter of green infrastructure–and has a number of exciting programs underway? Keep your eyes on StormwaterPA for information about Philly’s Clean Water — Green City program, including videos explaining the program, BMPs being used, and long term benefits that go far beyond protecting the city’s many rivers and streams.

Upcoming Events

Southeast Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts…
Post Construction Stormwater Management Workshop
March 26, 2010, Conference Center at Penn State, Great Valley.
Registration deadline March 19, 2010.  See the agenda.

Registration information.

admin General clean water, conservation district, economic stimulus, green infrastructure, stormwater, stormwater legislation, stormwater runoff, water quality, wet weather, zoning codes

The Center is pilot testing a Circuit Rider Network approach to providing technical support to local governments in Maryland and Virginia working to address water quality goals for local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

Recognizing the diverse needs, interests, and resources of the hundreds of local governments in the Bay watershed, as well as the challenges of meeting water quality goals, the goal of the Circuit Rider Network is to create a group of technical service providers that can assist local governments in meeting those goals.

Over the next year the Center will be working with elected officials in priority areas to create watershed plans, evaluate codes and ordinances, design and implement stormwater best management practices (BMPs), as well as other technical services to address Chesapeake Bay goals.  Understanding that the Center cannot possibly work with all of the local governments at one time, informative programs will be developed that are designed for the larger audience of local government leaders and elected officials.  These programs will be designed to provide leaders with information and skills to move towards improved water quality and eventually lead to a greater level of involvement.  The Center, along with project partners and state agencies, is currently identifying priority areas for on-the ground-support.

For more information, contact the Center for Watershed Protection.

We Wonder:

• Would something like this make sense for Pennsylvania municipalities?
• If you are a municipal official, would you be willing to cover some level of cost to support Network services in your municipality?

Let us Know What you Think!

admin Chesapeake Bay BMPs, Chesapeake Bay, ordinances, stormwater best management practices, water quality, watershed plans, watershed protection, zoning codes