Maintaining Green Infrastructure In Your Community

With the rise in Green Infrastructure in major cities, it is just as important to maintain these green spaces as it is to maintain gray infrastructure. However, it is much easier to maintain green infrastructure as it is surface level and residents can do their part in the maintenance as well. Below are some ways that green infrastructure allows the space for new job creation in the maintenance areas, as well as tips for residents to spot quick fixes and do their part.

Why is Green Infrastructure Maintenance Important?

Regular maintenance is crucial for maximizing the benefits of GI. Most items in our lives need regular maintenance to improve longevity, reduce risk to the environment and ourselves, as well as save cost over time. We regularly maintain our homes, cars, kitchen appliances, and even our bodies; GI is just as crucial to maintain for a sustainable community. GI maintenance ensures:

Green Infrastructure Maintenance Tasks

The specific maintenance needs of your GI will vary depending on the type of system. However, some general tasks apply to most GI practices:

Optimal Stormwater Management Functionality

Proper care keeps GI systems working as designed, effectively managing stormwater and filtering pollutants. Partnering with underground gray infrastructure, the surface level GI requires seasonal care and every day eyes to ensure it works properly to avoid pollutants entering nearby waterways.

Native Plant Health

Healthy vegetation is essential for GI's success. Regular maintenance promotes plant growth and prevents the spread of invasive species. Maintenance of these plants such as pulling dead leaves and trimming back lengthy branches ensures that water is able to reach the soil beneath and assisting the growth of these plants, maintaining animal species homes, and lessening stormwater pooling.

Community Aesthetics

Well-maintained GI enhances the beauty and functionality of our communities. If we expect to have beautiful communities that benefit us and our families, we must take responsibility and pick trash up before it enters our waterways, or simply call into the local Parks and Recreation department to inform them of GI structure that needs upkeep. We are just as responsible for our communities as those who get paid to do so.

Seasonal Inspection

Regularly inspect your GI for signs of erosion, clogging, or damage. If a resident often walks past GI structures along their path to work, it is important to take mental note of how the structure should look and notice when vandalism occurs, if the soil needs replenishing, if water is pooling in or around the location, or if the plants are simply in need of of maintenance. Local resident eyes see damage much quicker than those who work for the townships, and additional inspections allow for our communities to become sustainable and beneficial.

Debris Removal

Remove trash, leaves, and sediment buildup to ensure proper drainage and prevent clogging. While GI structures are built to remove pollutants from our stormwater systems, trash, leaves, and sediment are still able to accumulate and cause disruptions in its intended use, causing major structural damage over time. Clearly out what should not be there on a regular basis improves the structural integrity of the GI system as well as maintain it’s aesthetics in the community.

Vegetation Management

This may involve weeding, pruning, and replanting to maintain healthy plant communities. Much like any garden, it needs weekly tending to in the warmer months and monthly tending to in the colder months. Proper plant maintenance allows the structures to work as intended and avoid major, costly maintenance in the future.

Create

Create a Maintenance Plan

GI Cost

GI Cost & Operations

What can you do

What Can You Do?

Maintaining Green Infrastructure In Your Community

Why is Green Infrastructure Maintenance Important?

Green Infrastructure Maintenance Tasks

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE RESOURCES

New Jersey Green Infrastructure Project Database