Making it Easier to be Green

By Lisa Libby

SE Ankeny Green StreetThanks for all the support for the City’s new Green Streets Policy. I’m working with Sam on Environmental Policy and will do my best to field your questions. Please feel free to contact me if you need further explanation.

So here’s how it works… usually rain falls onto the street and flows toward the nearest storm drain picking up pollutants along the way. A “Green Street” directs the rain off the street (sometimes through a cut in the curb or a slope) so that the rain (or stormwater as we like to call it) will flow into a planted area and soak into the soil.

Many different plants are well suited for Green Streets and the mix typically depends on the conditions of the site. Stiff plants like rushes and sedges slow water passage and trap sediment on the surface of the soil. Different plants have a different level of tolerance to wet and dry conditions, or sun and shade, so these things are taken into consideration when designing a Green Street.

Similarly, different locations require different solutions. Staff at the Bureau of Environmental Services are working to develop a toolbox of solutions that can help to better manage our stormwater runoff.

Of course most of us would love to have a Green Street in front of our house or work, and thanks to the Green Streets Policy we will see more of them popping up around Portland. The City has already constructed or funded 11 Green Streets projects over that last two years. If you are interested in a Green Street for your neighborhood, please contact Emily Hauth at emilyh@bes.ci.portland.or.us. Just keep in mind, there are certain areas in Portland that have priority (due to things like basement flooding or inadequate sewer pipe size).

I have added a link to “greenstreet” in Sam’s blog post for more detailed information on Green Streets and also attached a copy of the Green Streets presentation that was shared with Portland City Council on Wednesday. Check out the Daily Journal of Commerce for a recap of the Council’s Green Streets Policy approval.

Thanks again for your support and for helping Portland make it easier to be green!

~Lisa Libby
Senior Policy Director
Office of City Commissioner Sam Adams
lisa.libby@ci.portland.or.us
503.823.4045

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Posted Thu, 04/19/2007 - 4:57pm.

[[ Categories: Environmental Services | Livability & Environment ]]

I have noticed that the new

Submitted by jim karlock on Tue, 04/24/2007 - 11:19am.

I have noticed that the new swales being put in on Sandy Blvd tend to be below sidewalk level with only a small curb around them. This appears to be a pedestrian hazzard, especially for the visually impaired, at night or when covered by a bit of snow.

If your office really cares about safety, you will find a solution to this problem before someone gets hurt.

Thanks
JK

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Safety Considerations

Submitted by Lisa Libby on Tue, 04/24/2007 - 2:13pm.

Jim,

Thank you for your post.

The Green Streets along Sandy Blvd. are approved by the Portland Office of Transportation and have been designed for safety based on accessibility requirements of the American Disabilities Act (ADA).

The raised curb is actually a safety feature which is designed to alert pedestrians (including those with strollers and those using a cane) that the area is restricted.

There have been no reports of any incidents, but we will be sure to evaluate if there are problems.

~Lisa Libby
Senior Policy Director
Office of City Commissioner Sam Adams
lisa.libby@ci.portland.or.us

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Thanks for the details

Submitted by Michael K on Tue, 04/24/2007 - 12:42pm.

Thanks for following up and posting more info about this. :)

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nice blog. I'm from salem.

Submitted by seo company on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 2:24pm.

nice blog. I'm from salem.

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Its good to be green.

Submitted by good to be green on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 2:29pm.

Its good to be green.

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We need to start using

Submitted by GreenGuy on Thu, 04/26/2007 - 2:33pm.

We need to start using renewable plastics instead of the petroleum based ones

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Swales

Submitted by RW on Mon, 06/04/2007 - 9:31am.

What's going to happen when these swales collect trash, shopping carts and bum piss? It's really going to look bad in 5 years. Believe me, these will be trash magnets, regardless if people throw stuff in there, or the wind blows it in.

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how much does the upkeep cost?

Submitted by Greg Tompkins on Tue, 06/05/2007 - 12:06am.

Apart from being aesthetically pleasing these things look like a joke! I can't imagine they actually serve any functional purpose except make the greenies feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I have several concerns with your approach in using these swales....
1. How are you protecting them from vandalism?
2. How will they survive in the dry summer months?
3. How much is the upkeep cost?

I think a much smarter approach would be to run all wastewater runoff through floating aquatic plants such as Eichhornia crassipes or water lettuce at a central location instead of maintaining all these individual swales. These aquatic plants are the best plant filters! They could live in greenhouses at this central location and a decomposition heat system could be used for heating in the winter months. Has anyone thought of a comprehensive "green" wastewater treatment system for Portland instead of this disingenuous "window dressing" approach?

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