Funding Green Infrastructure Solutions:Funding Green Infrastructure Solutions:Stormwater Management in PennsylvaniaStormwater Management in Pennsylvania

Liz Garland

American Rivers

ABSTRACTABSTRACT

Across the nation, American Rivers is promoting a sustainable approach to water management that integrates built and natural assets by focusing first on green infrastructure. Along with an array of planning, regulatory and technical resources to support green infrastructure practices, a 21st century vision is necessary to assure financial resources reach municipalities responsible for sustainable stormwater management in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania’s infrastructure needs are tremendous. Sprawl continues while existing infrastructure crumbles.  In some urban areas our water conveyance system is older than 100 years and treatment systems pre-date World War II.  Pennsylvania’s deteriorating infrastructure overflows and chronically leaks. The results are inadequate treatment when coupled with mounting costs for replacement, repair, upgrade, operation and maintenance.

Unfortunately, resources to meet water infrastructure needs are dwindling. Pennsylvania’s gap between need and available resources is approximately $46 billion over the next 20 years for wastewater treatment and drinking water delivery alone. The 2008 Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force report recommends reducing costs by maximizing innovative solutions such as green infrastructure practices for stormwater management. Yet, Pennsylvania is still challenged to overcome historical patterns of funding water management that prioritized wastewater treatment and drinking water delivery over stormwater management solutions.

American Rivers’ recommends investing in “green infrastructure first” while supporting structural water management needs. Green infrastructure cost effectively controls runoff volume and velocity, reducing sewer overflows and minimizing flooding. Despite the long tradition of funding hard infrastructure, Pennsylvania will need growing boldness and investment in green infrastructure solutions for municipalities to achieve sustainability.

Presented here are new approaches and recommendations for greener investments in stormwater management to narrow the funding gap. This boldness can help Pennsylvania communities develop water management systems that make clean water achievable today and offer resilience to the effects of a changing climate in the future.

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Foster a symbiotic relationship amongst stormwater management planning, regulation, guidance and funding institutions.

• Promote low impact development solutions within Pennsylvania’s Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual for use by municipalities guiding economic growth. • Adopt green infrastructure as the practicable standard in urban stormwater permits by enabling municipal leaders and, in turn, engaging citizens.

• Prioritize projects that lead with natural infrastructure stormwater management by distributing funding to new partners and encouraging innovative approaches from traditional partners. Explore the value of green infrastructure and develop a diversity of funding solutions.

• Following Task Force discovery:

• assess needs and resources fully, include stormwater management at pipe and at source,

•seek funding sources from an array of sources– federal, state and local; incentives, fees and taxes,

•permit right sizing of operations and management for multi-municipality functioning for stormwater management.

• Weigh green infrastructure costs and benefits prior to investing in alternative hard structural practices.

• Support multi-faceted planning strategies that “green” a municipal or watershed landscape, growing benefits.

Establish investment principles for stormwater management with green practices; guiding funders and applicants toward natural infrastructure.

• Enhance the principle of re-use first with green first.

• Embody the principles in planning, funding and accountability measures.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFOR MORE INFORMATION

www.americanrivers.org (717) 763-0742

Liz GarlandClean Water Program, Pennsylvania

355 N. 21st St., Suite 309Camp Hill, PA 17011

Prepared for:

Bailing Out Stormwater

October 2009– Villanova University

Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium

DEVELOPING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOUNDATIONS:DEVELOPING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOUNDATIONS:RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PENNSYLVANIARECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA

While stormwater burdens the growing funding gap for water infrastructure, the Chesapeake Stormwater Network awards Pennsylvania a “F” grade for stormwater management funding. No wonder– the state is attempting to fund a management program with an overall grade of “D.”

The problem? An MS4 permit that does not fully embrace Pennsylvania’s BMP Manual; a planning process with low compliance; and a regulatory structure that does not encourage better than the minimum model.

The solution? Integrate all stormwater programs, emphasizing the strongest and most innovative– green infrastructure practices are cost effective, so too should be the state’s stormwater program.

What’s New in Pennsylvania:•The Philadelphia model. The City unveiled a broad plan, Greenworks, with comprehensive vision for innovation and followed by assessing and than proposing green infrastructure options for controlling CSO events.

• PENNVEST stimulates the economy with green. In 2009, federal funding for the State Revolving Fund included a 20% set aside for green investment. PENNVEST will assess long-term effectiveness and program changes to enable more riparian buffers, pervious pavement and natural functions.

• The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources completes its Greening the Grants guidance. Beginning in 2010, applicants for agency awarded grants will self assess a project’s embodiment of green principles.