Grey to Green was a five-year Environmental Services initiative with other city bureaus and community partners to boost green infrastructure in Portland. The Grey to Green initiative and Environmental Services’ ongoing investment in green infrastructure projects and programs helps implement the Portland Watershed Management Plan, protect existing sewer and stormwater infrastructure, and meet other city goals. To learn more about Grey to Green, see the links below.

What is green infrastructure?

Green infrastructure is constructed facilities such as green streets, ecoroofs, and rain gardens that capture and manage stormwater with vegetation and soils. Green infrastructure also includes the city’s natural resources like trees, streams, open spaces and wetlands that manage rain naturally. Green infrastructure provides many essential services and benefits, similar to other infrastructure systems like roads, bridges, sewer pipes and water pipes.

Environmental Services uses green infrastructure to keep stormwater out of the sewer system, reduce flooding and erosion, filter pollutants, provide habitat and increase neighborhood green space for healthier watersheds. Green infrastructure works with Portland’s sewer and stormwater pipe infrastructure to protect water quality, public health, and the environment. To learn more about local green infrastructure, follow the City Green Blog.

For more information about green infrastructure in general and to see what other communities are doing, visit these pages:

American Society of Landscape Architects www.asla.org/greeninfrastructure

Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure/