Green Infrastructure partnerships precipitate learning in Southeast Michigan

Attendees of the Green Infrastructure Champions SEMCOG University didn’t let a little October drizzle “rain on their parade” as they toured green infrastructure in Midtown Detroit.

Last week, SEMCOG hosted a workshop in partnership with the Great Lakes Commission (GLC). Bringing together leaders (mentors) from communities that have implemented green infrastructure. With communities that are interested in learning how to implement innovative green techniques to manage stormwater (mentees).

The unique Green Infrastructure Champions Pilot Program is intended to catalyze the adoption of green infrastructure practices and policies across the Great Lakes region. By providing technical assistance, building capacity, and facilitating knowledge transfer through a peer-to-peer mentoring network. It also provides mini-grants for green infrastructure implementation.

Regional green infrastructure leaders shared information with the nearly 60 attendees that “overflowed” the room. The City of Southfield discussed lessons learned from codes and ordinances update that was conducted to support and incentivize implementing green infrastructure in new developments and redevelopments.

Terry Croad, Southfield’s Planning Director speaks about his experience updating Southfield’s codes and ordinances to create the Sustainable Southfield Master Plan, which considers green infrastructure planning and implementation opportunities to maximize environmental, social, and economic outcomes.

Macomb County offered insights on using Green Macomb’s Urban Forestry Partnership – which focuses on planting trees in areas with low tree canopy – to manage stormwater while simultaneously generating multiple community benefits, including improved aesthetics.

And finally, Clinton Township showcased how they holistically integrated green infrastructure into the township’s parking lot to improve water quality in the Clinton River Watershed while also enhancing mobility at the popular civic center.

SEMCOG members also welcomed a guest expert from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). Kate Morgan, MMSD Outreach Coordinator, talked about a new tool that enables communities to tackle barriers to green infrastructure implementation by conducting an internal audit and update of local codes and ordinances to improve environmental outcomes while focusing on economic development.

Tackling Barriers to Green Infrastructure: An Audit of Local Codes and Ordinances by The University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute; Photo credit: Kevin Miyazaki

The workshop ended with a walking tour of the Green Garage, Green Alley Project, and the El Moore in Detroit. Cold and rainy weather, normally not what we hope for with outdoor events, meant that attendees saw the green stormwater infrastructure in action – and it was working!

SEMCOG members tour green alleys in Midtown, Detroit

If you are interested in becoming a green infrastructure mentor or mentee, sign up for the Green Infrastructure Champions program! There’s always “excess capacity” for more green infrastructure workshops at SEMCOG! If you are “flooded” with ideas for future training and education opportunities, please send them our way!