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Threats to Water Resources: Polluted Stormwater Water Resource Congress October 2014 Slide 2 Founded in 1973 to protect and restore Americas rivers Headquartered in DC, American Rivers has offices across the country and more than 100,000 supporters, members, and volunteers nationwide Slide 3 Why does Stormwater matter? Slide 4 Credit: Conservation Trust for North Carolina Slide 5 Runoff: a growing problem Development rates outpace population growth Slide 6 Hydrological Impacts of Increased Runoff More Frequent F looding Slide 7 Hydrological Impacts of Increased Runoff Credit: NRCS Increased Flood Peaks Slide 8 Hydrological Impacts of Increased Runoff Lower Baseflow Slide 9 Goal of Stormwater Management: Restore Natural Hydrology Slide 10 Where is the Water Quality Management? Slide 11 Traditional Infrastructure Modern Infrastructure Slide 12 Slide 13 Environmental Economic Social Triple Bottom Line Analysis Recreational use Energy savings Improved air quality Fewer heat related fatalities Less time spent in traffic Green jobs Benefits of a Green Approach Slide 14 photo courtesy of Howard Neukrug, City of Philadelphia Philadelphia in 2025 Slide 15 Slide 16 Green roofs Permeable Pavers Bioretention Slide 17 Peter Raabe American Rivers 919-682-3500 praabe@americanrivers.org Facebook.com/AmericanRivers Twitter.com/AmericanRivers www.americanrivers.org Thank you! Questions? Slide 18 Environmental Economic Social Triple Bottom Line Analysis Slide 19 Cost-Effective Infrastructure Investments Avoided costs at site and project levels Reduced infrastructure, land costs Community scale cost- efficiencies lower cost/gallon removal Quantifiable benefits (offset costs, add value) Likely lower O&M costs (less capital intensive) Slide 20 Energy Savings, Fiscal Efficiency Street trees shade, cool buildings, reduce heat loss. Improve energy efficiency by 5- 10% Green roof energy efficiency gains can exceed 10% Reduced demand reduces transport & treatment costs Photo: Mahan Rykiel Associates Inc. Slide 21 Photo: Adam Kurbin Capturing Runoff Reduces Cost of Localized & Regional Flooding 2011 $ 8.41 billion flood damages 25% due to urbanized flooding Long term indirect costs Green infrastructure effective on multiple levels Slide 22 Reducing Public Health Threats Slide 23 What Is It Worth? Quantifying the economic value of local benefits Slide 24 National Green Values Calculator Compares green & conventional grey infrastructure: hydro impact life cycle costs benefits Adaptable to local ordinance compliance greenvalues.cnt.org Slide 25 Slide 26 Valuing Green Infrastructure: How does it work? This guide focuses only on benefits Its not a cost/benefit analysis Two step process 1. Quantification 2. Valuation Focus of equations on 4 areas 1. Water 2. Energy 3. Air Quality 4. Climate Change Slide 27 Introducing the Market : the Emergence of Stormwater Credits Alternative way of complying with on-site performance standard : DC Credits against stormwater fee : Philadelphia Slide 28 EPA estimates approximately $188.4 billion in capital investments needed for stormwater infrastructure This doesnt even include O&M, local needs or population growth The size investment would generate: $265.6 billion in economic activity Economic Impact Green Jobs