Building Resilient Communities - Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure Strategies

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1 Building Resilient Communities - Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure Strategies October 24, 2013 Bridgewater State University E. Heidi Ricci Senior Policy Analyst Mass Audubon

2 Shaping the Future of Your Community Program Working in the state s fastest developing regions to provide community leaders and concerned citizens with tools and support to chart a more sustainable future

3 Climate Change and Community Resiliency Climate Changes in the Northeast Impacts Resiliency Natural and Human Systems Landscape-level Planning Infrastructure Opportunities to Improve Resiliency Building More Sustainably Conservation Design, LID

4 Predicted Northeast Climate Change Impacts

5 Image credit: U.S. Global Change Research Program (

6 Climate Change Paradox Housatonic River More Floods Westfield River More Droughts Mass Rivers Alliance 2009

7 Impacts of Climate Change Natural Resources and Habitat Forests stressed by drought, insects, diseases; loss of fish, increase in pollution and toxic algal blooms Human Health and Welfare: Heat, air quality, mosquito-borne disease, flooding Key Infrastructure Roads, water and wastewater plants vulnerable to flooding Local Economy (including Government, Land Use) Costs of constant rebuilding, choices in land use Coastal Zone and Oceans Barrier beaches and salt marshes inundated, lobster and other cold water fisheries impacted

8 Adaptation ADAPTATION means increasing resiliency and reducing vulnerability of our natural and built systems, and better preparing our response capabilities

9 Resiliency The amount of change the system can undergo and still retain the same controls on function and structure The degree to which the system is capable of selforganization The ability to build and increase the capacity for learning and adaptation A Resilient City is one that has developed capacities to help absorb future shocks and stresses to its social, economic, and technical systems and infrastructures so as to still be able to maintain essentially the same functions, structures, systems, and identity. Source: ResilientCity.org

10 Landscape Context for Resiliency Ecological Resiliency: ability of a natural system to return to a stable state following a disturbance Intact habitats are most resilient to many threats and stresses Interconnection is vital for adaption and migration

11 Land Use and Resiliency Natural landscapes absorb rainfall during storm events, decreasing flooding, and filter the air and our drinking water. Compact development and land conservation keeps forested and natural (carbon absorbing) lands intact Massachusetts forests are sequestering 12% of our annual carbon emissions. An acre of forest holds 85 tons of carbon Blocks of forest are more resilient than small patches. Trees provide shade, reduce heat islands

12 Landscape Planning for Ecological Resiliency Focus land conservation on areas most critical for long-term persistence of rare and other native species, exemplary natural communities and a diversity of ecosystems Align local plans and zoning Look beyond parcel and municipal boundaries Protect the biodiversity of MA in the context of projected effects of climate change.

13 Planning Ahead for Growth and Development Prioritize Protection: Important habitat and Green Infrastructure Prioritize Development: Concentrate near infrastructure and away from important natural resources Regional Plans Toolkit for Implementing Priority Protection Areas Priority Development Areas

14 River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration Scour on the outside of meander bends Rivers erode and deposit. Give them room to move Deposition on inside of bends

15 Rivers use their floodplains River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

16 Bank hardening transfers energy downstream Photo: NRCS Photo: Matthew Grallert Photo: NRCS Swift River, Cummington River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

17 Protect Green Infrastructure Keep development out of floodplains River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

18 Resiliency and the Built Environment

19 Undersized culverts Walker Brook, Becket (10/06/05) River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

20 River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

21 Same Site Culverts washed out in 2005 replaced with similarly undersized culverts 6/30/2011 River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

22 Post Irene River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

23 Post Irene Replacement Culverts

24 Comparison of Estimated Crossing Lifespan and Costs Cost of Two Replacements in 6 years: $130k Estimate for Stream Crossing Span: 10 years 10 years 10 years 10 years 10 + years $ k River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

25 Design with the river in mind! Bronson Brook, Worthington 2-10 foot box culverts washed out in Road was closed to all traffic. Culvert had a history of clogging with debris River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

26 Bronson Brook During and Post Irene River process slides courtesy Carrie Banks, MA Division of Ecological Restoration

27 Remove Obsolete, Hazardous Dams Whittenton Dam, Taunton - DER Taunton River after dam removal H. Ricci

28 Remove Obsolete, Hazardous Dams

29 Watershed Barriers Taunton Watershed Dams Taunton Watershed Barriers Barriers to Aquatic and Terrestrial Life Movements Hazards - degraded conditions, undersized culverts Prioritize UMass CAPS modeling

30 Mosquitoes and Stormwater Stormwater catch basins and detention ponds are prime mosquito breeding habitat Reduce municipal maintenance costs and mosquitoes with Low Impact Development

31 Benefits of Reducing Sprawl & Protecting Natural Green Infrastructure Lower infrastructure costs less roads, stormwater management Reduced clearing and grading Protect water supplies Prevent flood damage, protect wetland buffers and floodplains Protect forests and farmlands Provide open space and trails for people and nature Support high quality of life and property values

32 No Regrets Solutions Remove barriers to fish and accommodate storm flows Green infrastructure and low impact development

33 Local Adaptation Planning and Actions Master Plan update or freestanding Adaptation Plan Vulnerability assessments, key infrastructure, emergency planning Local land use regulations zoning/subdivision, stormwater, wetlands, floodplain, etc. No Regrets - multi benefits Disaster Risk Reduction Public Health Sustainable Development

34 Heidi Ricci