Think green infrastructure might be right for your community, but want to learn more before moving forward? Green Communities Canada has been a leader in Green Infrastructure programming for years, and we have curated many resources in order to help you wade through the vast array of research that’s out there.
This particular resource documents some of the leadership Canadian jurisdictions took in green infrastructure strategies and stormwater management in the 2010-2020 period.
First Canadian green infrastructure strategy for stormwater management
An impressive commitment to green stormwater infrastructure was passed in April 2016 by the committee and ratified by the Vancouver City Council. The target is to “capture and treat 90% of Vancouver’s average annual rainfall through the implementation of green infrastructure (GI) on public and private property throughout the City.”
Stormwater management in Ontario
Get a better understanding of what the province of Ontario requires for stormwater management by reading this bulletin outlining expectations regarding stormwater management, released by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in 2015. The interpretation bulletin emphasizes the treatment train approach to stormwater, managing rain close to where it falls, for development and redevelopment projects.
Following a review of regional land use plans in Southern Ontario, the government has issued proposed changes that will affect the way rain is managed in the “Greater Golden Horseshoe Area”. The summary guide, Shaping Land Use In The Greater Golden Horseshoe, says the changes would: “Encourage the use of green infrastructure and require low-impact development techniques that include integrating green space in design strategies, landscaping with native plants, and using natural water systems to generate less runoff from developed land.”
- Shaping Land Use In The Greater Golden Horseshoe (Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, May 2016). Resource not currently available. Please email [email protected] if you have a stable link to this resource we can share.
- Interpretation Bulletin Re: Stormwater Management (Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, 2015)
- Stormwater management in Ontario: legal issues in a changing climate (Zizzo Allan Professional Corporation, 2014)
- Low impact development discussion paper (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Credit Valley Conservation, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, 2012)
Reports and research
As green infrastructure becomes more mainstream, new reports and research are being released all the time about performance, policy, and implementation. Here are a few reports to get you started:
- Rooftops to rivers II: green strategies for controlling stormwater and combined sewer overflows (2013, Natural Resources Defense Council)
- Banking on Green: A look at how green infrastructure can save municipalities money and provide economic benefits community-wide (2012, American Rivers)
- Case studies analyzing the economic benefits of low impact development and green infrastructure programs (2013, USEPA)
- Review of the science and practice of stormwater infiltration in cold climates (2009, Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program)
- Advancing low impact development as a smart solution for stormwater management (2015, Credit Valley Conservation)
- Low impact development stormwater management planning and design guide (2011, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation)
Other sites
Many other websites provide valuable information about green infrastructure. Here are a few of our favourites.
- Credit Valley Conservation’s low impact development resources
- Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program
- US Environmental Protection Agency’s green infrastructure resources
- International stormwater BMP database
Want to Learn More About Our Green Infrastructure Initiatives?
These materials were originally compiled through our award-winning RAIN Community Solutions program, a collaborative initiative led by Green Communities Canada and our member organizations from 2010 to 2021/2022. The program aimed to advance green stormwater infrastructure (also known as low impact development), restore the urban water cycle, and reduce runoff pollution. RAIN received national recognition, including the 2015 Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence and the 2014 Council of the Federation Excellence in Water Stewardship Award.
Now a legacy program, RAIN has been integrated into our broader green infrastructure work through Living Cities Canada, where our commitment to advancing sustainable, community-led stormwater solutions continues. Visit our Green Infrastructure webpage to learn more.