When cities and suburbs replaced forests and agricultural land, stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces increased, leading to aquatic pollution and increased flooding in our communities. Some metropolitan areas, having decided 20 years for big sewer replacement projects is too long to wait, are embracing 'green' infrastructure to slow stormwater.

A solution that's gaining ground is the rain garden. They're a great looking way to deal with low spots in your yard that pool up during heavy rains. And they can be watered by diverting a downspout (if your city’s code allows it), from a rain barrel or from water racing off a big parking lot.

Cleveland may be playing catch up to other cities, but it is starting to show interest and test the waters. For the second summer, Cleveland Division of Water and Water Pollution Control funded a program that employed 200 young adults from Cleveland who planted rain gardens at five community centers and parks. They also cleaned up beaches, painted fire hydrants and placed “No Dumping” warning stickers on sewer drain grates.

More than eight hundred pounds of garbage and debris was picked up from Edgewater, Euclid and Huntington beaches, said John Goersmeyer with the Cleveland Division of Water.

The rain gardens—planted with the help of the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District at Zone Recreation Center, Humphrey Park, Gunning Recreation Center, Fairview Park, Idalia Park and Rockefeller Park—were pilot projects for what may be a larger effort by Cleveland to develop its green infrastructure.

“Nothing has been approved as of yet, but the City is looking into a variety of ways of managing storm water including rain gardens, bio-swales, green roofs and rain barrels,” Goersmeyer said.

One goal for Cleveland could be creating Green Infrastructure Guidelines for developers. In Philadelphia, these guidelines—along with fast track approval for development proposals that include a ‘green’ or Low Impact Development stormwater plan—have made an impact on reducing stormwater flow. Like Chicago, Philly is also considering a tax credit or rebate for installing green roofs. The City of Milwaukee has a “stormwater rule”—that was signed by 28 municipalities—to reduce runoff on all properties greater than .5 acres. The city’s Every Drop Counts campaign has reduced its stormwater runoff by one-third.

Share your ideas for a regional green infrastructure plan.