What is Green Infrastructure?
Green Infrastructure (GI) is an approach to stormwater management that protects, restores, or mimics the natural water cycle. As the climate changes, heavy rainfall events including winter rain storms can result in flooding as conventional/hard infrastructure like sewer systems and seawalls, are overloaded. These systems also provide a multitude of economic, environmental, and social benefits!
Through climate change adaptation planning, ACAP Saint John recommends that municipalities embrace green infrastructure strategies to help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Green Infrastrucutre projects by acap Saint John
Use the map below to explore our GI sites are located.
These projects would not have been possible without the partnerships of the municipality, local business and schools, and community volunteers! Thanks to all!
Green Infrastructure can take many forms
Urban forests and woodlots
Street trees (see Urban Forest Inventory Report)
Bioswales, engineered wetlands and stormwater ponds
Wetlands, ravines, waterways and riparian zones
Meadows and agricultural lands
Green roofs and green walls
Urban agriculture
Parks and grassed areas
Permeable pavement
innovative green infrastructure research
ACAP Saint John has been selected to partner with Green Communities Canada and organizations from municipalities around Canada on the Living Cities project. This national program is focused on brining bring green infrastructure into communities in an equitable, thriving and abundant way.
The University of New Hampshire’s Stormwater Center is a research, testing, and educational facility in New Hampshire focused on development of innovative stormwater treatment systems and implementation of these resources in the community.
This facility serves as a technical resource for water managers, planners, and design engineers in New England and throughout the United States.