State Agencies Lead-by-Example to Deploy Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Vermont

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 7, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Demonstrating Vermont’s ongoing commitment to flood mitigation, pollution reduction and energy preservation, four Vermont State Agencies and Departments submitted reports to the Governor today documenting their work to utilize and promote Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). These reports build on Executive Order 06-12 issued by Governor Peter Shumlin in March 2012 that directed the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Agency of Natural Resources, Agency of Transportation and the Department of Buildings and General Services to come together to form the Interagency Green Infrastructure Council.

Natural Resources Secretary Deborah Markowitz celebrated the submission of these reports, noting “Vermont must increase utilization of green stormwater infrastructure if we are going to successfully reduce polluted runoff and increase flood resiliency; these reports show state government leading by example.” She continued, “Passage of the Vermont Clean Water Act has reinforced the need for state agencies to work closely together to tackle water pollution and related challenges.”

Vermont’s agencies provide a range of services from offering innovative technical, financial, and educational resources needed to implement green stormwater infrastructure in downtowns, new developments, and on backroads to incorporating state-of-the-art green stormwater practices into new construction and retrofits for state buildings, state parks, and wildlife access areas. These reports show that, by working together, Vermont is making important strides in deploying this innovative approach to managing polluted stormwater run-off.

For more information on GSI, go to http://www.watershedmanagement.vt.gov/stormwater/htm/sw_gi_gsi.htm
Contact: Pete LaFlamme, Watershed Management Division Director, Dept of Environmental Conservation; (802) 490-6190; pete.laflamme (at) state.vt (dot) us