feb green team presentation 4

Atlanta Federal Executive BoardLeadership Government Program

PROPOSAL TO CREATE

A FEDERAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

TO BENEFIT METRO ATLANTA

Atlanta Federal CenterAugust 15, 2012

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• 10 Federal Agencies with an impact on Green Infrastructure (GI) in the Metro Atlanta Area

• Respondents included:– EPA - Brownfields, CDC, GSA, USDA

- Forrest Service, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service, EPA- Stormwater, USDA – National Resources Conservation Service and HUD.

• Percentages were calculated from the total number of respondents

Survey Distribution and Respondents

• 9 Responses – 9 different definitions of Green Infrastructure

• All respondents have a different view of what GI is and how to address it.

• Adopting a broader view of GI can help everyone work together to address GI in a way that meets all stakeholders needs.

Participant GI Definition Analysis

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11%

33%

33%

22%

ProductsServicesEnvironmentCombination

GI Continuum

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Preservation / Conservation

Low Impact Development

Site

Landscape Site specificRegional

Forest Service (FS)Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS)

FS FWS FHWA CDCEPA

Brownfields HUDEPA

Stormwater GSA

Federal Highway Administration (FWHA)

Centers For Disease Control (CDC)EPA – Brownfields (EPA-BF)

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

GSAEPA – Stormwater

Note: Based on Initial Survey

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• Continued Support and GI Education• Help identifying other agencies and organizations with funding

and authority to apply GI• “Spread the word”• Leads on material, resources and ideas• Water and Wetland Mitigation techniques• Stable Funding • Planning models that inventory sensitive lands and buffer them

to support synergistic public infrastructure• Storm water detention designed as community space

Current Needs Identified in Survey

• Green Infrastructure is a critical and basic step to achieve Sustainable Development

• Nature’s Ecological Services–Recharge Groundwater–Clean Air–Clean Water–Plants for Pollinators–Etc.

GI Essential Ecological Services -The Basic Infrastructure of All Life

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Undeveloped Land

95-100% nature

Is Our Current Land Development Approach Sustainable?

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Developed Atlanta85-95% Impervious

As we develop, tracks of undisturbed nature become fragmented. Ecosystem services are undermined in highly urbanized settings.

Incised, Unstable Banks - Commonplace with Urban Streams - Substantial Erosion

Impacts of Current Land Development Practices

Proctor Creek, Atlanta, GA

Urban Streams do not meetClean Water Act Goalsof Fishable and Swimmable


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Impacts of Metro Atlanta’s Growth and Increasing Impervious Surfaces

Historic Flooding of 2009– Stress for Residents– Damage to Metro Atlanta’s Economy

• Lake Lanier - Reduced Infiltration (Imperviousness!) • Less Groundwater Recharge• Drought Conditions Worse• Worries about Drinking Water Supply


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Historical Trends (Population Density)

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Green Infrastructure (GI) is strategically planned and managed networks of green space that protect ecosystem values and functions through an array of products, technologies, and practices.

GI conserves or mimics natural processes to ensure the provision of basic services provided by nature.

The continuum of GI includes practices at the individual project site, neighborhood and regional scale.

What is Green Infrastructure?

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GI Benefits to Metro Atlanta –“significant with tremendous opportunities”

In Addition to Essential Ecological Services: Social and Economic Benefits

• Improved quality of life• Better public health• Increased recreation

opportunities• Reduced flooding

Social Benefits Economic Benefits

• Reduced costs for treating drinking water

• Increased efficiencies in agencies working together

• Reduced Utility Bills• Increased Real Estate Values• Reduced Dependency on Cars

Triple Bottom Line Benefits: Environmental, Social and Economic

Green Infrastructure isNot More Expensive

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What is the Federal Green Infrastructure Community of Practice?

• Self-selected federal staffs, informally come together, to share expertise and passion for learning about and contributing to efforts to incorporate GI at all scales to benefit the City of Atlanta.

• The intrinsic value is in meeting to share information, discuss and solve problems, develop new ideas, leverage resources, and build relationships with peers who share common goals and objectives.

• The community of practice continues as long as interest is expressed.

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Broaden discussion to educate practitioners about all scales of Green Infrastructure – All scales produce a similar outcome - "a place for nature -

natural system processes to provide ecological services”

Breakdown the stovepipe mentality – Find and seek opportunities to tie different efforts together

Change in approach needs to be widespread. – Atlanta's efforts will encourage others to adopt

Why Develop a Green Infrastructure Community of Practice?

Comprehensive, integrated and strategic approach to land use decision making

AIR WATER SOIL LIFE

Bridge the Barriers of Traditional Disciplinary Boundaries

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Architects Civil Engineers Landscape Architects Ecologists Planners …

Architects - Civil Engineers - Landscape Architects- Ecologists - Planners

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• Fosters peer to peer information exchange and learning among members

• Promotes a consistent approach and terminology• Encourages Federal coordination, collaboration and

cooperation on plans, strategies and policies• Reduces duplication and increases partnerships• Encourages new ideas and innovation• Understanding funding sources

Benefits of a Community of Practice

Atlanta is AdoptingGreen Infrastructure Practices

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Atlanta City Hall Green Roof

Fernbanks Rain Garden

Atlanta Fire Station #16 Rain Garden

Serenbe Low Impact Community

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• Meet others working on this topic and create a network of practitioners

• Identify Topics for Discussion including developing a common terminology

• Educate federal agencies and their staffs about what GI is, how it works

• Share information• Develop a steering committee with rotating leadership so

ownership is shared• Focus the COP on the City of Atlanta - gain experience

working together here will translate into working together in other locations

Next Steps

Next Steps – Website and Environmental Directory

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• How to get involved – ideally it would be great for one person from each agency to be on the team; the hosting of the meeting would ideally rotate between agencies involved–Formulate how meetings would work…enjoyable,

meaningful, productive–Create an agenda—what other agencies are doing–Establish logistic for CoP and methods for

communication–Quarterly Meetings

Next Steps

feb green team presentation 4

Career