OGIRAD Support for GI Implementation

Research and development helps New York City ensure that its use of green infrastructure is a technically feasible and costeffective tool for improving water quality in New York Harbor now and into the future.

In 2009, recognizing the potential to apply green infrastructure strategies in ad¬dition to grey infrastructure to improve water quality in New York Harbor, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) developed a citywide Green Infrastructure (GI) program. The program included green infrastructure strategies such as biofiltration systems, detention/retention systems, green and blue roofs, porous pavement, and con¬structed wetlands.

As part of a multi-disciplin¬ary team led by Arcadis, Biohabitats is working with the City to implement that plan. Building upon ongoing monitoring and data collec¬tion by DEP and others, the team is providing research and development related to more than 50 constructed pilot projects. Goals include expanding and improving DEP’s monitoring program, and developing and imple¬menting a GI Monitoring Protocol; developing data-driven recommendations for the GI program at multiple scales in various conditions; preparing cost analyses of current and proposed GI designs; developing guid¬ance regarding maintenance; providing recommendations for improving the perfor¬mance of GI practices; and evaluating and quantifying co-benefits.