Green Infrastructure Research in EPA’s Office of Research and Development

CURA Guest Speaker, Christopher A. Impellitteri 

Associtate National Program Director, USEPA Office of Research and Development, Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Research Program

Green infrastructure uses plants, soils, landscape design, and engineered techniques to retain and infiltrate stormwater runoff thereby preventing or reducing the amount of runoff that flows directly into storm drains. It provides many environmental, social, and economic benefits that promote urban livability, such as storm water management, water conservation, augmented green space, and increased property values. Stormwater discharges continue to cause impairment of our Nation’s waterbodies. Scientists and engineers in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) are studying green infrastructure practices to help support local, state, and national stormwater management objectives to reduce runoff through infiltration and retention. ORD’s research supports the increased adoption of both constructed and natural green infrastructure into communities through the development and improvement of models and tools, case studies, and the evaluation of data from applications of green infrastructure practices throughout the Nation.