The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) released a database of 479 stormwater case studies from 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. These studies highlight the advantages of green infrastructure, including benefits to the bottom line. Of the projects in the database, 75% actually reduced development costs or had no impact on them. ASLA also recently teamed up with the Water Environment Federation, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, and American Rivers to present a congressional briefing on the benefits of green infrastructure. See presentation slides or read the Oct. 28 issue of This Week in Washington for more information. 

According to another recent report — Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment— the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that an investment of $188.4 billion is necessary to manage stormwater and preserve water quality. Spread over the next 5 years, this investment could generate $265.6 billion in economic activity and create nearly 1.9 million jobs. The report, with a focus on green infrastructure, breaks out job creation estimates for each state and discusses workforce opportunities. The report was created by Green For All along with American Rivers, the Economic Policy Institute, and the Pacific Institute, with funding by the Rockefeller Foundation.