The State of Public Sector GSI, 2022 is a research report created to establish a baseline to better understand the state of local public sector green infrastructure implementation as well as create a shared blueprint for how we go forward together. The report offers an unprecedented look at implementation, best practices, investment trends and drivers for increasing the use of GSI in stormwater management.
Several media outlets have covered the report’s release. Executive Director, Barbara Hopkins, was interviewed by Katie Johns, Editor of Stormwater Magazine, in April. You can find that interview in the Stormwater Solutions video library.
Two great articles, one from Governing titled Cities Are Learning to Manage Urban Stormwater the Way Nature Would and the other from Stormwater Report titled Public-Sector Green Infrastructure on the Rise, New Report Finds speak to the rise in green infrastructure adoption and how the recently released The State of Public Sector GSI report can help facilitate this upward swing in GI interest and implementation. “Investment in GSI has been growing, and projections for the next five years show even greater growth,” says Barbara Hopkins, Executive Director of Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange.
The Governing article highlights SPPC members, Kate England, Green Infrastructure Director for the city of Boston and Torrey Lindbo, Water Resources Science and Policy Manager for the City of Gresham, Oregon.
Torrey discusses GI implementation such as streetside planters, stormwater tree wells, bioswales, rain gardens and pond facilities in Oregon and how it can prevent pre-spawn mortality in Coho salmon. Green infrastructure can reduce runoff from urban areas by mimicking natural processes, but flooding is also a natural process. Development standards also need to take the functions of streams and floodplains into account, says Lindbo. “We need to stay out of spots that we shouldn’t be in.”
Kate England notes that, “a comprehensive citywide plan will only be successful if every agency prioritizes the use of green infrastructure in every investment.” Kate is working across city departments such as public works and transportation, city’s housing and school and public facilities. As the Director of GI she requires every transportation or public works project that changes curb geometry to choose from one of five green infrastructure design alternatives.
Hopkins discusses our Learning Circles: “Peer-to-peer learning is open to any public-sector practitioner who wants to participate. Six learning circles meet monthly, and grants are available for them to work with consultants to work out approaches to especially thorny problems. Through peer learning, we’re trying to come up with innovations in GSI practice that will advance the whole field,” says Hopkins. “It’s a very collegial network of people.”
