Chattanooga: Future of Green Infrastructure

The city had made a concerted effort to pursue a course of creating “green infrastructure” as an alternative of ‘gray infrastructure’: below ground and impervious surfaces above ground. Green infrastructure is the method of collecting stormwater above ground with natural vegetation and systems that are attractive, less expensive and accomplish multiple objectives; this effort will become the central theme for neighborhood and commercial revitalization. The Public Works Department has been tasked by the Mayor to provide the resources and support for this and the Water Quality Program has targeted our water quality credit system to give heavy incentives for development of green infrastructure to address stormwater issues. Water Quality Program is also in the process of developing a Retrofit Plan for private and public properties focusing on implementing Low Impact Development and green infrastructure practices and monitoring the change in the water quality from the landscape.