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Green Community Connections Project
In July 2007, the Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) began a statewide field test of green infrastructure planning in Virginia. Green infrastructure includes the forests, streams, groundwater recharge areas, wildlife habitats, recreational trails and cultural assets that communities depend upon for clear air, clean water and healthful and vibrant communities.
The goal of the connected communities project is to develop and test practical methods for identifying and conserving green assets such as forests, rivers, wildlife areas, historic landscape features and recreational opportunities. Field tests are spread across Virginia to represent several of the state’s distinct ecoregions – coastal, piedmont, ridge and valley -- as well as diversity of development patterns from rural, to urban to suburban.
Several of the field tests include graduate students from the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia. The GIC Director teaches a course in green infrastructure planning in which graduate students conduct research and mapping for some of the field tests. These classes are funded by the Virginia Department of Forestry.
These field tests are being used to generate new methods for green infrastructure planning that will be available for use by communities, planners, developers, conservation groups, and citizens who want to protect and/or restore their community’s green assets. Methods will be shared through a green infrastructure planning manual that will be available for free download.. Field tests are funded through grants and donations and support must be raised before any field tests are conducted. To request a field test project, please contact the center. Donations to this project are welcomed!
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Green Infrastructure Planning Field Tests
Through a series of demonstration projects and a new methods handbook and workshops, the GIC will show how Virginia localities can conserve their natural assets using a community-based green infrastructure planning process. The GIC is applying new mapping technologies and models and matching them to local goals for land planning so that development is channeled to the most appropriate locations and occurs in patterns that maximize public benefits, such as clean air, water and recreation values. Eight field tests have been completed or are underway. Case studies for each field test will be detailed in the final methods manual. Following are links to project descriptions. For completed projects, there is a link to download final reports that depict the green infrastructure strategies. To view slideshows about projects, see the resources page.
Charlottesville City:
The first urban field test was completed in Spring 2007 in Charlottesville, VA. This project was conducted as a partnership between the GIC and its partner firm E² Inc. and graduate students at the University of Virginia. This project was funded by the Virginia Department of Forestry and it includes a teaching curriculum. The final report was used by the city to update its comprehensive plan. It includes goals for urban forest conservation, trails and linkages, parks and cultural resources and water quality and riparian habitat and green building. For example, city tree canopy was found to be about 32 percent and the city adopted a goal of increasing it to 40 percent. The trail network identified by the strategy became part of the city’s transportation plan. As a result of this project, the city was adopted by the Virginia Department of Forestry as a demonstration city for the Chesapeake Bay and received a grant to expand forest conservation planning. The city also formed a sustainability team to carry out the recommendations. The city presented the GIC with its prestigious Eldon Fields Wood Design Professional of the Year Award. To read the environment chapter of the comprehensive plan, click here and select chapter 8.
Madison County:
The first rural project began in summer 2007 in rural Madison County in the central Piedmont region of Virginia. Funding was provided by the Virginia Department of Forestry and an anonymous foundation. The GIC worked with its partner firm of E² Inc. and University of Virginia graduate students who conducted the initial project research. Madison County was selected as the first rural field test project because it contains more than 170 intact habitat cores based on the Virginia Conservation Lands Needs Assessment as well as working farms and forests that the community wishes to protect. This project demonstrated that key intact forests are located across the county (both inside and outside of growth areas) and may be subject to increasing growth pressures. While the national park protects much of the western portion of the county, significant habitat cores are also found outside of the park and are threatened by development of second homes. The plan also shows where the Virginia Department of Forestry should focus their work based on forests that are high value for conservation and timber and are not under a protected status or included under a forest management plan. GIC staff created a geographic information system for the county and provided the data to the county to create a much more comprehensive and powerful tool for managing resources and determining how best to grow and develop while meeting their comprehensive plan priorities. To read the Madison Report click here.
Lynchburg City:
In summer 2008, the GIC launched its second urban demonstration project in Lynchburg, Virginia in partnership with graduate students at UVA. Lynchburg was found to have significant forest canopy overall at 57.4 percent. This is a good canopy level and exceeds the recommended minimum of 40 percent canopy cover for metropolitan areas east of the Mississippi. Using CITYGreen modeling software showed that the benefits of the existing canopy are sequestration of 6,085 tons of carbon and removal of 1,764,880 pounds of air pollution per year with a financial benefit of $4,261,614. While the City of Lynchburg should be proud of its 57.4 percent canopy, there exist many opportunities for expanding canopy and increasing related benefits for all city residents, businesses and tourists. Downtown Lynchburg's total tree canopy within the business district is only 9.5 percent and this should be increased. Several studies show that consumers are willing to shop longer and pay more in tree-lined areas, while office space and apartments sell faster and command higher rents. In addition, adding more trees will expand the quality of life for downtown residents since trees have been shown to reduce stress and improve health. For a full report click here.
Crater and Richmond Regional Planning Districts:
In 2008, the GIC launched its largest regional project with funds from the Virginia Environmental Endowment, the Robins Foundation and Altria Group Inc. to pilot a regional and local approach to green infrastructure mapping. The GIC worked with its partner firm of E² Inc. and the Richmond Regional and the Crater Planning District Commissions to update Virginia’s conservation lands needs assessment to create a more accurate regional model. A committee of representatives from each locality advised the project. The GIC produced the report for the Richmond Region while the PDC published the Crater Report. The Capital Region Land Conservancy was also a partner in this effort. They are using the green infrastructure map to target the most appropriate lands for seeking conservation easements. Most importantly, the regional map provides a basis for cooperation and conservation of linkages across jurisdictions. This project and New Kent County (below) were funded by the Virginia Environmental Endowment, the Robins Foundation and the Altria Family of Companies. Click here to download the Richmond Region Report or visit the Richmond Region GIC Page.
New Kent County:
The GIC worked with its partner firm of E² Inc. to create a detailed county-scale green infrastructure plan for New Kent County Virginia within the Richmond Region. The plan includes a priority asset map of key forest, agricultural and water resources, risk assessment and a strategy report of opportunities to protect green assets. New Kent County was selected for a local pilot because it has significant natural resources yet it is located in close proximity to the growing Richmond metro region, putting these resources at risk from sprawl-patterned development. The green infrastructure plan shows land that may be included in a purchase of development rights program or when transferring rights from one area to another. It also shows opportunities for developers who wish to link their developments into the larger network. The plan also demonstrates how nature-based recreation and heritage assets relate to a green infrastructure networks. The project was completed in July 2009. Click here to download the New Kent County Report.
City of Richmond
The GIC is working with its partner firm of E² Inc., the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission (RRPDC) and the City of Richmond to assess the city’s urban green infrastructure. This partnership is evaluating and mapping Richmond’s green resources such as forest canopy, streams and parks and other open spaces and seeking opportunities to expand them. Like many older cities, Richmond has large paved areas and vacant lots that have not yet redeveloped. Paved lands contribute polluted runoff to the James River and its tributaries during rainfall events. These developed areas will be evaluated to determine whether they can be re-greened to contribute to the city’s green network by adding more trees, gardens or simply allowing water to percolate into the soil instead of srunning off into rivers. The project builds on the successful regional partnership begun in 2009 (see the regional project description). The project is funded by the Altria Family of Companies, the Virginia Coastal Zone Program and the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF). The Richmond city project webpage is coming soon.
City of Staunton
In Fall 2009, the GIC launched the Staunton project in partnership with graduate students from the University of Virginia. In urban areas, tree canopy helps keep the city cooler in the summer while also absorbing pollutants from the air and uptaking and cleaning stormwater. To create the report, students conducted research concerning the urban forest, trail network, park and school sites and water resources. Students interviewed city staff, regional agencies and solicited community input through a public open house and a survey of city walkers and bicyclists. They found that the City of Staunton has approximately 40% tree cover overall, but neighborhood canopies vary widely, from less than 17% in Crosscrest to over 75% in Vista Heights. The role trees play in stormwater management and urban flooding abatement is important to Staunton, since the city has experienced several major floods over its history. In a two year, 24-hr rainfall, Staunton’s existing tree cover absorbs water and slows runoff, eliminating the need for an additional 40 million cubic feet of stormwater storage. This represents a total of $80 million of stormwater infrastructure that the city does not have to pay for and install. This project was funded by the Urban and Community Forestry Program of the Virginia Department of Forestry. For a copy of the Staunton Report click here.
Accomack County:
The GIC began the Accomack County project in 2009 with its partner firm of E² Inc. The Accomack County Project will serve as the coastal field test to evaluate and link green land assets with the county’s coastal and estuarine resources. Accomack County is located on the Virginia portion of the Delmarva Peninsula with half of the county draining to the Chesapeake Bay and the other half draining to the Atlantic Ocean. Many studies have been conducted for birds, wildlife and fisheries, but there is no one comprehensive strategy that links all these studies together into a master plan that shows how to grow, what to conserve and where to recreate. This project will link green infrastructure across the county as well as create priorities for conserving near-shore blue infrastructure resources, such as clam and oyster beds. As the County grows, it will need to ensure that growth patterns do not result in excessive runoff and negative impacts to their seafood industry or their nature-based recreation. The project is funded by the Blue Moon Fund and the USDA Forest Service. See the Accomack County Project page for more information.
Southeast Assessment
Under a Redesign Grant from the US Forest Service’s Southern Region, the GIC is conducting a capacity assessment of green infrastructure planning for states in the USFS Southern Region. This project began in summer 2009 and will conclude in mid 2010 when the GIC will publish a report of its findings.
Technical Assistance to Localities and Regions:
The GIC also assists other localities in evaluating green infrastructure and developing their own plans. The GIC has provided advice to several other planning districts including the New River Planning District in Southern Virginia, The Thomas Jefferson Planning District in Central Virginia and most recently, to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. The GIC is available to provide advice and assistance on a contracted basis and can develop projects for grant funding if local funding sources can be identified and obtained. Contact the GIC for more information or to request assistance at firehock@gicinc.org.
Water and Community Health
Since May 2007, GIC Director Karen Firehock has worked with faculty and students from the University of Virginia to evaluate problems related to water infrastructure and community health in the Venda Region of northern South Africa (S.A.) and to develop community-based solutions. The water and community health project was developed to address the critical problem caused by the lack of access to clean water across the globe. Two thirds of international water interventions fail within the first five years, often because the community is not engaged in designing and maintaining the water system. This project seeks to model how community values and ideas can be incorporated while building local capacity so villagers can maintain these systems and take charge of their community’s health.
According to health workers in the Venda Region, in some areas up to 30% of people are living with HIV aids. Lack of access to fresh and safe water can have dire consequences for those who have HIV. Water-borne diseases cause diarrhea that leaves its sufferers dehydrated, malnourished, and more prone to infections. In addition, diarrhea may prevent the absorption of patients' life-saving anti-HIV medications so they die sooner. Studies have shown that lack of access to clean water is one of the top problems faced by local family caregivers for people living with HIV. The caregivers are often not able to keep patients clean and hydrated because of water scarcity. Time spent fetching water that is miles away can reduce time available for patient care or for seeking jobs.
GIC director Karen Firehock co-facilitated a workshop in May 2008 with faculty and community residents from the U.S. and S.A. to develop a shared research agenda and project plans. Staff and students met with five villages to learn of their concerns and challenges in providing safe drinking water. The team chose the villages of Thoyandou and Tshibuvumo and are working with an interdisciplinary team to assess community awareness, knowledge, threats and existing water infrastructure in terms of access, health, and safety. A community water census and mapping effort conducted in 2009 have provided valuable data that will be used to design workable solutions.
The outcome of this three-year process will be a model for a community based water planning to create safe, abundant and affordable water systems. Results from this multi-year project will be reviewed and shared with other regions and countries interested in implementing community-based approaches to water infrastructure protection. To donate to this project please send a donation to GIC marked “South Africa Water Project.”
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Note: Ongoing and anticipated projects, as well as funding needs, are highlighted in the Strategic Plan.
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