The Green in Green Infrastructure: Plant Selection, Design and Management in Successful BMPs.

A wide variety of stormwater best management practices are now being implemented that are considered “green” versus “gray” approaches to quantity and quality management. Runoff capture and infiltration, as well as filtering of runoff through engineered media, provide multiple engineering and environmental benefits such as reduced runoff quantities, lowered runoff curves, and enhanced water quality for runoff that re-enters gray infrastructure or nearby streams or lakes. Engineered solutions typically focus on volume calculations, soil structure and media enhancement. But often times, the “green” component of vegetation is simplified to a level that does not fully exploit the potential role that plants can play in maximizing green infrastructure benefits. Quality planting design that enhances proper selection and placement of vegetation from functional, environmental and aesthetic perspectives is a significant step towards broader green infrastructure acceptance, success and cost-effective maintainability. This presentation will use several case study bioretention projects to illustrate the benefits as well as the challenges of effective green infrastructure plant selection and use.