Who knew green infrastructure was such a divisive topic?
Patrick Thornton reports on a curious case of neighborhood controversy in Montgomery County, Maryland, where residents are rejecting the idea of new "rain gardens" to help control stormwater Wheaton Woods.
"Rain gardens are designed to help stop flooding and prevent pollution in rivers and streams by holding and purifying stormwater," explains Thornton. But some residents are calling the rain gardens "pits of death" in effort to keep the county from building any more. According to Thornton, "some neighbors are fighting the gardens, saying they're worried that people will fall into them, that they'll hurt property values, or that stormwater pollution will end up in their yards."
Thornton notes that local candidates for county executives are echoing some of those opposing talking points, but all as a prelude to a photo essay exposing the ridiculousness of those claims. One thing Thornton will grant the opposition—Montgomery County could have done a better job with outreach before building new rain gardens.
FULL STORY: The 10 best “pits of death” in the Washington region
New York Sets a Goal for 5,000 New Curbside Rain Gardens
Seventy percent of the surface of New York City is impervious. A program with a goal to build a total of 9,000 curbside rain gardens will put a dent in the hardscape.
Adapting Combined Sewer-Stormwater Systems to Climate Change
Only one coastal city has a sewer system that must handle stormwater as well as wastewater. San Francisco's efforts to adapt its combined sewer-stormwater system has put it on the vanguard of the city's climate adaptation efforts.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods
A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
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