Strategies for implementing green stormwater infrastructure

Join us on the 27th of April to learn about tools for community-wide implementation of green stormwater infrastructure, presented by Green Communities Canada Executive Director Clifford Maynes.

See details and registration at https://raincommunitysolutions.ca/en/webinar-series/#webinar2

The webinar will provide an overview of programs and policies outlined in the Soak it Up! Toolkit, developed by our RAIN Community Solutions program.

The toolkit and webinar are designed for decision-makers, such as municipal staff and councillors, and influencers, like community organizations, professionals, and contractors.

“We’ve created a succinct summary of all the implementation approaches for people who want to get a bird’s eye view of the options,” said Maynes.

“It’s designed to help you develop an action strategy that works for your community,” he said. “Once you’ve got a general view of the elements that are locally appropriate, you can follow the links for more detail.”

A number of the tools address systematic implementation on public lands, including parks, road rights-of-way, alleys, parking lots, and school yards. Also included are market-based instruments that promote implementation on private lands, including volumetric stormwater user fees, credits and incentives, and stormwater retention credits.

“Green stormwater infrastructure can be incorporated into various municipal planning documents depending on local priorities, including plans for land use, watershed protection, water conservation, climate adaptation, sustainability, and stormwater management,” Maynes said. “Wherever it fits.”

The Toolkit includes relevant examples of on-the-ground implementation, and these are being added as we learn about them.

The Toolkit also summarizes key insights about factors affecting successful implementation, and a number of these will be introduced in the webinar.

The toolkit was prepared by Clara Blakelock (current on maternity leave), with funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. A number of workshops and presentations have occurred to date, and others are planned for the coming months. For information, contact [email protected].

The Soak it Up! Toolkit is available for free download at https://raincommunitysolutions.ca/en/toolkit/.

This article was published in The Umbrella Stormwater Bulletin Issue 43.

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