NAASF UCF Green Stormwater Infrastructure Subcommittee Report Spring 2016 Subcommittee Participants: Mark Hockley, Chair, Danielle Fitzko (VT) Ken Holman (MN) Marian Honeczy (MD) Donna Marie Foster (USFS)

What is GI & GSI? What is the GI subcommittee focusing on? Green Infrastructure (GI) is a wide range of multi-functional, natural and semi-natural landscape elements located within, around, and between developed areas at all spatial scales. This includes everything from forests and meadows to wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas. Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) are systems and practices that restore and maintain natural hydrologic processes in order to reduce the volume and water quality impacts of the built environment while providing multiple societal benefits. Define these questions Green Infrastructure is a wide range of multi-functional, natural and semi-natural landscape elements located within, around, and between developed areas at all spatial scales. This includes everything from forests and meadows to wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas.   Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) are systems and practices that restore and maintain natural hydrologic processes in order to reduce the volume and water quality impacts of the built environment while providing multiple societal benefits.

2015 Priority Actions Fact sheet for federal and state regulators on the potential contributions of urban trees and forests to air and water quality in storm water management. Aggregate best practices within our capabilities and expertise for sharing with federal and state regulators, with an emphasis on the value and benefits of tree canopy and green infrastructure enhancement to achieving their clean air and water goals. Request assistance of NA S&PF in the development of these tools, or apply for a LSR grant. Populate NAASF website with the results of these efforts. Mention this as our subcommittee’s charter and what we have been working towards this past year. Will require additional effort from states or LSR grant or USFS assistance to achieve these identified priorities. Handout that we will ask you to fill out to assist with the planning of future subcommittee tasks. Ken will discuss this in more detail at end of presentation

State UCF GSI Survey Subcommittee developed survey of 14 questions UCF program-based Regulatory emphasis 13 participated, not every state responded to all questions Responses summarized, resource list compiled and findings reported. Understanding rated on a Scale of 1 to 10 (12 responses) Over the past year, the GI subcommittee developed a survey to collect resources, etc.

I would just talk about the findings here rather than try to summarize I would just talk about the findings here rather than try to summarize. This is the clearest way to present.

State GSI Survey: UCF Program Emphasis Greatest Influencer for the use of trees in BMP’s for stormwater State agencies (DEP & DEQ) Non-profits, engineers, regional planning org’s, EPA, Universities and municipalities (in this order) Innovative projects/approaches States look to FS for funding. Capacity is a barrier to successfully competing for it. No projects listed. VT outreach poster targeted at municipal garages, a green streets manual and stakeholder meetings to discuss the inclusion of trees in the new State stormwater manual. Reporting of Findings

State GSI Survey: UCF Program Emphasis Resources identified by the States that help to inform the use of trees in stormwater management practices: i-Tree - Shows benefits but does not transfer to policy Peer reviewed information is of great value Triple bottom line cost analysis studies to substantiate the use of trees in GSI Pending CB Tree Planting Credit is a major accomplishment for the urban forestry community Non-profit that provides technical assistance (WV) NJ, MN, PA partnerships with Cooperative Extension (training) Reporting of Findings

State GSI Survey: Regulatory Emphasis Stormwater planning occurs at varying levels of gov’t in the States States with UCF supporting TMDL’s (5 of 13 responses) DC MS4 permit mitigates urban stormwater as part of their consent decree DC and PA have UCF included as a component of their MS4 plan Regulatory Tools VT State regulation for tree protection and reforestation, local regulations, model ordinances and a credit tool that includes shade tree planting that can be used to credit trees as component of GSI. Reporting of Findings

UCF Survey Findings: What do you need to help advance the use of UCF as a green solution to mitigate stormwater runoff in your state? Training and educational information (success stories were mentioned quite often) Science based research that supports benefits of trees in mitigating stormwater impacts cited as the priority need to help states advance the use of UCF as a green solution to mitigate stormwater Advocacy for policy changes Stronger non-traditional partnerships were cited as the next priority need and ranked equally important on survey. Findings: A few themes were identified among multiple states: Training and information, specifically science based research that supports benefits of trees in mitigating stormwater impacts. Advocacy for policy changes and stronger non-traditional partnerships were cited as the next priority need and ranked equally important in the survey. Grouped listing of Identified Needs to help advance the use of UCF as a green solution to mitigate stormwater runoff in your state. (Q13) Training and Information (7) Training support generally for stormwater Capacity to become familiar with resources Outreach and educational materials Information on how trees are being used to mitigate stormwater More research supported examples of the benefits of trees to mitigate stormwater Research to support how to quantify the benefits of trees for water quality State regulators want assurances about water quality improvement   Policy and Advocacy (3) Informed stormwater policy Advocacy to raise the issue Support of State & Feds to promote and require UCF for stormwater mitigation strategies Partnerships (3) Public partners with expertise Private partners with expertise, such as informed engineers Work more closely with stormwater agencies and partners Other (2) Rigorous community forest inventories Assured long-term maintenance and maintenance practices

Survey Findings: Regulatory emphasis Innovative funding sources that fund UCF planting for stormwater credit: PENNVEST Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) Ann Arbor—Fee-based credit programs FEMA resilience funding State revolving loan funds Findings: A few themes were identified among multiple states: Training and information, specifically science based research that supports benefits of trees in mitigating stormwater impacts. Advocacy for policy changes and stronger non-traditional partnerships were cited as the next priority need and ranked equally important in the survey. Grouped listing of Identified Needs to help advance the use of UCF as a green solution to mitigate stormwater runoff in your state. (Q13) Training and Information (7) Training support generally for stormwater Capacity to become familiar with resources Outreach and educational materials Information on how trees are being used to mitigate stormwater More research supported examples of the benefits of trees to mitigate stormwater Research to support how to quantify the benefits of trees for water quality State regulators want assurances about water quality improvement   Policy and Advocacy (3) Informed stormwater policy Advocacy to raise the issue Support of State & Feds to promote and require UCF for stormwater mitigation strategies Partnerships (3) Public partners with expertise Private partners with expertise, such as informed engineers Work more closely with stormwater agencies and partners Other (2) Rigorous community forest inventories Assured long-term maintenance and maintenance practices

2017 Next Steps Engage State Coordinators/representatives to serve on the UCF GI Subcommittee Continue to aggregate BMPs to use as a tool in the development of a factsheet. Develop a factsheet targeted at State regulators on the value of trees in GSI (MS4 communities?) Request assistance of NA S&PF in the development of these tools, or apply for a LSR grant. Populate NAASF website with updated findings. Mention this as our subcommittee’s charter and what we have been working towards this past year. Will require additional effort from states or LSR grant or USFS assistance to achieve these identified priorities. Handout that we will ask you to fill out to assist with the planning of future subcommittee tasks. Ken will discuss this in more detail at end of presentation

Next Steps Review subcommittee priority actions (Ken) Subcommittee leadership and capacity announcement