Funding Urban Green Infrastructure with Grant

Money

Faith HambletonNonpoint Source Program

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Trade Fair May 2018

NPS grant programWhat can be fundedGreen Infrastructure Examples of funded projects Monitoring data from projects

Topics

NPS Program Priorities

Restore impaired water bodies to meet the water quality standards

Reduce the loading of key pollutants into water bodies (N, P, and Sediment)

Fund holistic watershed restoration projects (TMDLs, Watershed Protection Plans)

319 Funding Split in TexasTX Commission on Environmental Quality

TX Soil & Water Conservation Board

Agriculture, Silviculture Urban stormwater

Eligible Applicants

State agenciesCities, CountiesRiver AuthoritiesPublic UniversitiesCOGsNon-profits

319 Grant from EPA

~ 3 year projects; $250,000 – $600,000

Approx. 18 months from project proposal to funding

TMDL Implementation Plans Watershed Protection Plans

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) and 319 Funding

MS4 and 319 Funding

MS4s required to implement 6 “minimum control measures” (MCMs)

319 grants are prohibited from funding activities required to meet the 6 MCMs

Can fund activities that go above and beyond the MCMs

WHAT CAN BE FUNDED?

319(h) grant can fund “above and beyond” what is required in permit.

Structural – bioswales, raingardens, permeable pavement New and Redevelopment – site-specific post construction

runoff controls Demonstration area for the public, education Tie these activities into TMDL Implementation or a Watershed

Protection Plan

Two Approaches to StormwaterGreen Infrastructure (LID) Capture/Infiltrate; more facilities Control volume

Grey Infrastructure Pipes; fewer facilities Little volume control

Green Infrastructure or LID

Objective - Mimic pre-development hydrology

Practices – Slow, capture, infiltrate, store

Purpose - Reduce runoff volumeand …….. Benefits – Reduce pollutant loading, conserve water supply

Reduce and Re-direct Runoff

Accelerated runoff creek blowouts

Channel blow out Erosive velocities Homes in danger Fish kills Loss of habitat Expensive to repair

Reduce & Redirect Runoff

Reduce Runoff – BMPsBio-retention

Bio-retention, also called rain garden: a shallow low-lying garden usually with porous fill to absorb and/or filter rainfall.

Reduce Runoff – BMPsBio-retention – Urban streets

Mulched bed below pavement level

Reduce Runoff – BMPsPermeable Pavement

captures, filters, and treats runoff in a porous subsurface storage layer.

Reduce Runoff – BMPsRain Water Harvesting

Household Uses

Commercial Scale

319 Funded Projects with Green Infrastructure and Water

Quality Data

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Mission Drive-In Redevelopment San Antonio

Cisterns

Mission Drive-In Redevelopment Water Quality Results

Austin Area Changes

Raised bed, continuous curb Lowered bed, Curb cuts

Street Drainage BMPs -Houston

Rain Gardens

Tree Boxes

Street Drainage BMPs - Houston

Pollutant load reductions

Dallas AgriLife Center

Dallas AgriLife Center BMP Research

Retention PondRetention Pond

Bioretention Area

Dallas AgriLife Center

Lower Rio Grande Valley

Lower Rio Grande Valley

Cisterns

Permeable Pavement

Do You Need Grant Money ?Green Infrastructure in MS4 areaMany types of pollutant reduction projects

in non MS4 areaTMDL ImplementationWatershed Protection Plans

Apply ! June 2018

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Nonpoint Source Program

nps@tceq.texas.gov