\n\tAs a resident of Burlington, Vermont and an environmental sciences student, it\u2019s hard not to notice the downhill movement of rain to Lake Champlain when a large storm rolls through. Sediment, heavy metals, bacteria, and phosphorus gradually join the swirling mixture until it reaches the closest body of water or gutter. That rainfall, although an innocuous event, signifies a deeper problem within our community: managing our stormwater.<\/p>\n
\n\tFrom the \u201cresident of Burlington\u201d perspective, this kind of a storm may mean driving across miniature rivers in the streets, property damage from erosion, or perhaps a closed day at the beach. From the \u201cenvironmental sciences student\u201d perspective, this surplus of water signifies alarm bells ringing to the tune of eutrophication. Eutrophication happens when increased nutrient loads reach the nearest body of water\u2014Lake Champlain, in this case\u2014and cause algal blooms, which effectively take the oxygen out of the lake and can subsequently kill the organisms that occupy it. Eutrophication is a global problem that happens to be exacerbated in Burlington due to the urban expansion uphill of Lake Champlain and other causes.<\/p>\n
\n\tOver the past year, I have been working as an intern through University of Vermont (UVM) Extension, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)\u00a0to delve into an effective and simple solution to this stormwater problem: Green Infrastructure.<\/p>\n
\n\tGreen Infrastructure (GI) can be defined as\u00a0the natural systems that surround us, like forests, wetlands, and soil, plus the nature-based infrastructure, like rain gardens and constructed wetlands, that are engineered to bring the strategies and processes of natural systems into the built environment. Both the natural and engineered systems are doing work for our communities, like improving water quality and creating habitat. Green Infrastructure is much broader in scope than many people realize and can encompass vegetated swales, permeable pavers, infiltration steps, or filter berms. The main mantra of GI, in regard to stormwater, is to “slow it down, spread it out, and soak it in.”<\/p>\n
\n\tIn contrast to Grey Infrastructure (conventional pipes\/tubes to move water away from its source), GI works efficiently by mimicking the water cycle. Stormwater flows over a more pervious surface and is able to infiltrate into the ground at an increased rate rather than act as runoff. GI doesn\u2019t necessarily have to entail the construction of a whole new system and can include activities such as restoring a wetland habitat, building a park, or even planting a tree.<\/p>\n
\n\tAs an intern, this definition has shifted and changed for me over the past year. I began to focus more on the human aspect and the types of relationships people typically have with these systems. The average person may want to do their part to help the environment but is often unsure of where to start. Barriers to adopting GI systems often vary based on location and accessibility and, in the case of New England, may include the effects of colder climates on operation and maintenance.<\/p>\n
\n\tBy producing educational materials for homeowners and municipalities, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, UVM Extension, and Vermont DEC smooth this transition from grey to green. Some of the most memorable projects that I have had the pleasure of working on include: revising the current \u201cVermont Rain Garden Manual\u201d (soon to come!), compiling research on the maintenance aspect of GI, or helping to organize the Green Infrastructure Summit right at the UVM Davis Center.<\/p>\n
\n\tIn Vermont, we have community members that deeply care about and advocate for the Lake Champlain basin. We have an opportunity to pioneer effective Green Infrastructure practices and inspire other states to do the same. Homeowners, not just municipalities, can build a rain garden or plant a tree. They can advocate for permeable pavers and incorporate natural plants into their own stormwater management. If a system works in slowing it (the rainwater) down, spreading it out, and soaking it in, GI is in place and working to enhance Vermont\u2019s natural ability to manage stormwater.<\/p>\n
\n\tWater quality impacts each and every one of us. When humans take a step back and help nature take its course, rather than engineering a new system, we can reap the social, environmental, and economic benefits that inherently come with it.<\/p>\n