Green Infrastructure for Healthy Watersheds
Green infrastructure involves strategically designing and managing landscapes using nature-based solutions to address various challenges, particularly those related to water management and climate resilience. Landscape horticulturists are crucial in implementing and sustaining green infrastructure because they have expertise in plant selection, landscape installation, and maintenance. In addition, they understand the importance of integrating vegetation, such as trees, shrubs, and green spaces, into the built environment to create functional and sustainable landscapes.
One significant aspect of green infrastructure is its ability to maintain healthy watersheds. Using vegetation and natural features, such as rain gardens, bioswales, and green roofs, permeable paving, helps manage rainwater or stormwater runoff. These features capture, absorb, and filter rainwater, allowing it to gradually infiltrate into the ground, replenish groundwater sources, and reduce the burden on stormwater systems. This process helps prevent water pollution by removing contaminants and sediment before they enter rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.
Furthermore, green infrastructure contributes to the development of resilient ecosystems. Mimicking natural processes, such as the water cycle and nutrient cycling, enhances biodiversity, promotes habitat creation for wildlife, and supports ecological connectivity. By incorporating diverse plant species and creating green corridors, green infrastructure provides food and shelter for birds, insects, and other animals, allowing them to thrive in urbanized areas.
Regarding climate resilience, green infrastructure mitigates the adverse effects of climate change. For example, vegetation and green spaces help regulate temperature, reduce heat island effects, and improve air quality. Trees, in particular, offer shade, cool the surrounding areas, and sequester carbon dioxide, mitigating the urban heat island effect and contributing to carbon reduction efforts. Additionally, green infrastructure helps manage extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and flooding, by absorbing and storing excess water, minimizing the risk of infrastructure damage and flooding in urban areas.
Overall, green infrastructure works with natural processes to provide a range of benefits. It improves water management, promotes ecological health, contributes to climate resilience, and enhances the quality of life in communities. Through the expertise and efforts of landscape horticulturists, the integration and maintenance of green infrastructure can create sustainable and thriving environments.
Video Credit: Rain Gardens Explained in 2 minutes (Alberta Low Impact Development Partnership, 2018)
Video Credit: Vancouver’s Rain City Strategy (City of Vancouver, 2018)
Introduction to Permeable Pavement
Permeable pavement, also known as pervious or porous paving, is a type of green infrastructure. Permeable pavement functions as a hard surface but allows rainfall to percolate to an underlying reservoir base, where rainfall is either infiltrated into underlying soils or removed by a subsurface drain (Capital Regional District, n.d.). The following videos describe how permeable paving works, as well as the benefits and constraints.
Teaching and Learning Examples for Instructors
Download the lesson plan for the FLOW case study
Resources
Feedback/Errata