U.S. Forest Service Looking at Improving Green Infrastructure

Take our forest's natural ability to filter and distribute source water with efforts in cities such as groundswells, tree plantings and such, and some say this is an example of green infrastructure.  Compared to the man-made reservoirs, pipes, pumping stations, and filtration plants used to bring in clean water to users.  For decades, funding mechanisms like bonds have supported traditional water infrastructure. Now Tommie Herbert of the US Forest Service said some cities are looking at similar funding methods to support green infrastructure.

"Washington DC, which issued an environmental impact bond a couple of years ago to test out how some of these green infrastructure interventions can support storm water filtration and waste water filtration as well. There are other cities, such as Atlanta and Baltimore that are thinking of that financing tool as well."

Herbert adds that green infrastructure can also serve as a method to protect cities from flooding.

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