Green Infrastructure Resources Available
Green infrastructure refers to a variety of options and techniques that mimic the natural process of rainwater absorption. Hard surfaces like roadways, parking lots, and rooftops decrease absorption of water back into the Earth, and can have disastrous consequences. Green infrastructure uses vegetation, soils, and natural processes to absorb, filter, and store rainwater which decreases stormwater-related pollution and run-off. Stormwater carries trash, bacteria, heavy metals, and other pollutants from the urban landscape, degrading the quality of the receiving waters. Higher flows can also cause erosion and flooding in urban streams, damaging habitat, property, and infrastructure. Green infrastructure refers to the patchwork of natural areas within a community that provide habitat, flood protection, cleaner air, and cleaner water.
Pennsylvania Sea Grant has been actively working on projects including stream corridor restoration, green roofs, ordinance language to implement greening of parking lots and municipal streets, rain gardens and other green stormwater best management practices. Now available - two fact sheets that describe some of the most effective and commonly used green infrastructure techniques.
Tom Cermak, Coastal Outreach Specialist, leads the green infrastructure efforts and works on projects related to sustainable land-use development, open space and recreational land conservation, and water quality improvement. Cermak is skilled in the use of GIS, constructs maps, and conducts other analyses. Tom earned his bachelor’s in Environmental Science from Thiel College, and his master's degree in Community and Economic Development from Penn State.
Download new green infrastructure resources
Green infrastructure options - This two page fact sheet provides eight different types of green infrastructure options.
Green infrastructure options - one page - The two page fact sheet with all eight options wrapped-up into a single-sided quick resource.