Green Infrastructure Case Examples

Many components can make up a GI strategy Green Infrastructure Strategy Describing Cores, Hubs Protection and Restoration Tools Connections via Green and Blue Corridors Existing Constraints Desired Conditions and Opportunities Assessment of Features e.g. vegetative cover

Case Studies in Green Infrastructure  Regional  County  City

Who is doing this work? State agencies, e.g. forestry and park departments Regional planning districts, e.g. New River Conservation groups, e.g. TNC and Conservation Fund, American Forests, Arbor Day Foundation, Trust for Public Lands Associations, e.g. International Society of Aboriculture & American Planning Association Universities, e.g. VA Tech, UVA, U. of FL

Bioregion Example: Two Countries One Forest  Appalachian/Acadian ecoregion  Includes 80-million acres and forests spanning eastern edge of North America  Spans two countries, five states and four provinces.  5.4 million people live here.  Rare alpine vegetation, at-risk species, old-growth forests  Ecoregion risks being separated into a series of ecological islands.

Bioregion Example: Two Countries One Forest 5 priority linkages:  Black River Valley (connecting Tug Hill and the Adirondacks in New York State),  Lake Champlain Valley (connecting Adirondacks and Vermont),  Green-Sutton Mountains (connecting Vermont and Quebec),  Gaspe Peninsula-Northern Maine,  Chignecto Isthmus (connecting New Brunswick and Nova Scotia).

FL Greenways & Ecological Network Project

Results:  The Ecological Network includes 57% (22.8 million acres) of state’s land and open water.  Coastal waters, existing public conservation lands, and private preserves comprise 53% of the Ecological Network.  Private lands made up 37% of the network; proposed public conservation lands rounded out the network’s areas.

Next Steps and Current Status:  Development of Florida Greenways and Trails System based on ecological and recreational networks. 700,000 acres of land and 1,500 miles of trails designated as of  Land acquisition and conservation efforts focused on ten critical linkages between important protected areas in regions with heavy growth pressure.  Ongoing updating and refining of network’s GIS model. FL Greenways & Ecological Network Project

Maryland Greenways, Green Infrastructure Assessment, and GreenPrint Program Maryland Greenways Commission, 1991 Statewide green infrastructure assessment, mid-1990s GreenPrint Program 2001

Assessment Goals and Next Steps:  Systematically identify, protect ecologically important lands,  Address problems of forest fragmentation, habitat degradation, and water quality,  Maximize effectiveness of conservation investments,  Promote shared responsibilities for land conservation between public and private sectors,  Encourage compatible uses and land management practices,  Provide coordination and targeting of mitigation efforts to enhance urban environments and land conservation goals. Maryland Greenways, Green Infrastructure Assessment, and GreenPrint Program

Results:  1,762,299 acres of hubs / 262,591 acres of corridors (77% forest, 23% wetlands, 1% beaches).  33% of total state land area, 63% of the state’s forestland, 87% of the state’s wetland resources, 91% of the state’s streams within interior forests, and 99.9% of the state’s natural heritage areas.  26% of Maryland’s green infrastructure protected (by federal, state or local ownership or conservation easements).

FloridaMaryland Ecological and recreational resources Areas of ecological importance Stakeholders engaged in public meetings Organizations, state agencies, local gov’t Reject unsuitable/cleared/ag lands, high road density ditto Include lands most ecologically valuable and most vulnerable to development ditto

County Example  Prince Georges County, MD.  Builds on state assessment findings.  2025 goals and objectives set.  Additional focus on natural hazard mitigation (steep slopes, expanded riparian corridors).

Charlottesville City Example Fall 2007 University Class: Green Cities – Green Lands Tree Canopy and Street Trees Tree Canopy and Street Trees Streams and Stormwater Streams and Stormwater Trails and Linkages Trails and Linkages Green Building Green Building

Mapped forest canopy in GIS by digitizing aerial photos. Set goals for future canopy Today = 31.6 % Future = 40 % Tree Canopy

Trails: Linkages for people and wildlife Rivanna Trail =

 How can we link to existing trails?  How can we create new linkages and for what purpose?  As recreational amenities, trails can be offered as proffers.

Stream buffers Green Infrastructure also includes blueways. Riparian areas are critical wildlife linkages. Meadow Creek Moore’s Creek Rivanna River

Healthy Stream Buffer Characteristics   Dense, native woody vegetation   Tree canopy to keep water cool   Stable vegetated banks   Floodplains free of encroachment Moore’s Creek

This creek requires stream buffers … note where they are insufficient ….

  Class mapped rest of potential buffers.   50, 75 or 100 feet.   Seek to not impact > 30% existing structures.   Look for places where easy to protect.   City is now drafting this into an ordinance!

Examples of green building policies in comp plan Goal A: Promote the achievement of a 30 percent reduction from current energy use by businesses and residences through a citywide education, assistance and incentive program. Objective A1: Provide residents and businesses with information about energy efficiency and green building programs and opportunities for energy use reduction, such as Energy Star®, Earth Craft® and LEED through a City web site, web links to other programs and educational workshops and presentations. Goal B: Encourage green building and resource and energy conservation practices in new and existing buildings through financial incentives. Objective B1: Consider opportunities for awarding density bonuses for those developers who commit to build LEED silver® or better certified buildings.

Site Scale Green Infrastructure What happens at the site scale is important too. GI requires an ability to scale up and down

Monticello Example: Viewsheds can be part of GI strategy

Moore’s creek in Charlottesville, Virginia – Before restoration Restoration Strategies to Expand Green Infrastructure

Moore’s creek in Charlottesville – After – Habitat and Geometry restored to natural patterns. Wow!

Student Project for Madison County Part of a larger project to develop a green infrastructure strategy based on Comp Plan Goals. University of Virginia Students: Defined, assessed and mapped green assets. Developed proposed strategies for protecting assets. Developed tools to promote GI as new planning paradigm.

The Comprehensive Plan Goal : Maintain agriculture and forestry as the primary land use in the County. Objective: Develop a plan for providing land owners options for the voluntary preservation of farm and forest lands. Objective: Develop a plan for providing land owners options for the voluntary preservation of farm and forest lands. 1. Enhance current zoning and planning practices which allow for and encourage the retention of farm and forest lands. 1. Enhance current zoning and planning practices which allow for and encourage the retention of farm and forest lands. Goal : Protect and enhance the natural ecosystems and working lands that support the County’s quality of life and economic base Objective: Protect the natural resource base Objective: Protect the natural resource base 2. Establish a county Purchase of Development Rights program or Transfer of Development Rights program as allowed by the state legislature. Pursue all available state, federal and private funds compatible with any program developed. 3. Encourage adding financial incentives for establishing agriculture and forestall districts. 4. Encourage economic development in the county that is compatible with agriculture and forestry. 5. Continue the timed phasing of subdivisions of land such as the current 4 divisions in 10 years as a tool to assist keeping large tracts intact

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