TNJ Sustainability & Resilience Toolkit: Sustainability Solutions

Green Infrastructure

Storm water management is essential to reducing flood risks and protecting the health of waterways and riparian areas. Highly developed communities with lots of impervious surfaces, like roads, parking lots and rooftops, are more susceptible to flooding. During rainfall, pollutants such as car oil, are washed off of impervious surfaces into waterways, compromising water quality and ecosystem health. Standard storm water infrastructure (“gray infrastructure”) allows water to collect in curbs, gutters, drains and pipes, potentially resulting in flooding that overwhelm waterways and adjacent areas including sidewalks, streets and public and private property. In contrast, green infrastructure mimics the natural movement and filtration of water. Green infrastructure captures rain water directly or as runoff from impervious surfaces and slowly releases it back into the environment. In addition to environmental benefits, green infrastructure reduces energy costs, for example, through shading, and is more aesthetically pleasing than traditional alternatives.

Related TNJ Plan Focus Areas

Focus Area 10: Enhance the resiliency of the region’s communities and infrastructure
Focus Area 14: Manage water systems to improve water quality and supply

Implementation Strategies

Plan for green infrastructure

Identify and assess problem areas and recommend designs and strategies to reduce flooding and protect waterways.

Prioritize projects at accessible and visible sites

Implement at public and high-visibility areas to educate residents on benefits.

Apply green streets practices

Use permeable surfaces and plants into street and sidewalk planning, design, construction and operation.

Encourage implementation by property owners

Educate the public, create incentives and establish development requirements.

Develop maintenance plans and protocols

Create maintenance plans that identify funding sources and responsible parties and train personnel.

Adopt urban and suburban forestry management plans

Include tree management in master plan and adopt preservation ordinance.

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