Banking on Green: A Look at How Green Infrastructure Can Save Municipalities Money and Provide Economic Benefits Community-Wide

Looks at the most cost-effective options for managing polluted runoff and protecting clean water, and finds that green infrastructure solutions save taxpayer money and provide community benefits by managing stor

Author: American Rivers, Water Environment Federation, American Society of Landscape Architects, and ECONorthwest

Date published: 2012

Community Based Public-Private Partnerships and Alternate Market-Based Tools for Integrated Green Stormwater Infrastructure

This guide provides guidance for local governments who wish to engage in community based public-private partnerships and alternative based tools for integrated green stormwater infrastructure.

Author: United States Environmental Protection Agency

Date published: 2015

Financing the Resilient City: A demand driven approach to development, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation

Provides a conceptual framework for better understanding how to integrate climate and other risk reduction measures in urban areas and systems.  Calls for more locally responsive climate financing invest

Author: ICLEI

Date published: 2011

Forging the Link

Illustrates the advantages of low-impact development (LID) in the economic terms of how municipal land use decisions are commonly made.

Author: University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center 

Date published: 2010

Green Infrastructure Approaches for Managing Wet Weather with Clean Water State Revolving Funds

Identifies several ways in which states, communities, and individuals can use the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) to finance green infrastructure projects. 

Author: Clean Water State Revolving Fund

Date published: 2008

Green Infrastructure Funding Resources

Lists potential federal funding sources for green infrastructure projects. 

Author: US EPA 

Date published: Ongoing

Green Values National Stormwater Management Calculator

An interactive tool that can be used to compare the performance, costs, and benefits of green infrastructure compared to conventional stormwater practices.

Author: Center for Neighborhood Technology 

Date published: Ongoing

Increasing Funding and Financing Options for Sustainable Stormwater Infrastucture

This report identifies innovative funding and financing mechanisms to support communities working to upgrade their water infrastructure.

Author: Center for Neighborhood Technology

Date published: 2020

Integrating Valuation Methods to Recognize Green Infrastructure's Multiple Benefits 

Reviews current methods, tools and case studies of valuation of the economic and social benefits produced by green infrastructure practices, particularly in urban settings.

Author: Center for Neighborhood Technology 

Date published: 2010

Local Government Stormwater Financing Manual: A Process for Program Reform

Inspired by and written for local government leaders, this manual attempts to demystify public sector financing in general and stormwater financing in particular.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2014

Promoting Green Infrastructure: Strategies, Case Studies and Resources

Reviews financial, regulatory, and incentive-based strategies for promoting the use of green infrastructure to manage stormwater.

Author: Environmental Finance Center Network

Date published: 2012

Requests for Proposals: When to Dive In and When to Pass on Grants

The RFP drops and the wheels immediately start turning. Do we have a project that fits? Can we do the work for the amount of money available? Do we have the time to write a proposal? The questions never end, and all too often, we fall down the rabbit hole of chasing money.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2023

The Staying Green: Strategies to Improve Operations and Maintenance of Green Infrastructure in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

This report highlights information related to the costs of green infrastructure maintenance, identifies the significant barriers to effective operations and maintenance of these systems, recommends strategies to improve operations and maintenance actions, and provides resources and case studies t

Author: American Rivers and Green for All

Date published: 2016

The Value of Green Infrastructure: A Guide to Recognizing its Economic, Environmental, and Social Benefits 

Cumulatively assesses the multiple benefits of low-impact development (LID) and green infrastructure (GI) as a municipal or private investment.

Author: Center for Neighborhood Technology, American Rivers 

Date published: 2010

Water Finance Clearinghouse

This resource database is a collection of reports, websites, trainings, and funding sources for water infrastructure projects, including stormwater.

Author: United States Environmental Protection Agency's Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center

Date published: Current

Financing Urban Tree Canopy Programs Guidebook for Local Governments in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

This document provides practical strategies for funding and financing municipal urban tree canopy for anyone involved in promoting the development and maintenance of community forests.

Author: The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Date published: 2019

Funding Stormwater Programs

This fact sheet provides information on funding alternatives available for local stormwater management programs. 

Author: US EPA

Date published: 2008

Green Infrastructure Map

This map provides examples of green infrastructure financing stories from diverse communities across the country showcased in an interesting and accessible way.

Author: Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2014

Guidebook of Financial Tools: Paying for Environmental Systems

Provides an overview of financial options available to fund local environmental programs, including climate adaptation.

Author: US EPA

Date published: 2008

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure: Municipal Handbook

Provides local governments with a step-by-step guide to growing green infrastructure in their communities.

Author: US EPA

Date published: 2008

Preserving Assets in At-Risk Municipalities: Financial Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation

A large share of population location, businesses and economic activity now occurs in coastal areas.

Author: New England Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2009

Rain to Recreation: Making the Case for a Stormwater Capital Recovery Fee

Case study of Lenexa, Kansas' experience developing and implementing a systems development fee to help fund its "Rain to Recreation" stormwater management program.

Author: Michael T. Beezhold, Donald W. Baker

Date published: 2016

Stormwater Fees Literature Review

Prepared for the Pennsylvania Stormwater Authority, this report catalogs the most successful arguments for and against stormwater fees and presents three core recommendations for successfully making the case for

Author: Water Words that Work, LLC

Date published: 2014

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Anne Arundel County, MD

This case story summarizes findings from the Environmental Finance Center's assessment of Anne Arundel County's financial capacity to meet stormwater permit requirements.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Berkeley County, WV

EFC provided technical assistance to the Berkeley County (WV) Public Service Sewer District as it worked to comply with a MS4 Phase II stormwater permit under unique and challenging circumstances.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2015

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Berlin, MD

Berlin is a town on Maryland's Eastern Shore with a population of approximately 4,000.  EFC worked with the Town to complete a stormwater financing feasibility study.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2012

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Blair County, PA

In collaboration with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and American Rivers, EFC worked to accelerate the implementation of green infrastructure in Blair County, PA and to continue the development of regional

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2016

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Bowie, MD

Summary of findings from the Environmental Finance Center's stormwater financing feasibility study for the City of Bowie, Maryland.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Calvert County, MD

The goal of the project was to provide leaders in Calvert County, MD with a framework for financing stormwater management and water quality restoration as efficiently and effectively as possible.  EFC and i

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Federalsburg, MD

This project was a collaboration between EFC and students from University of Maryland's Clark School of Engineering, who conducted field investigations to confirm the location and sizes of existing stormwater sy

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2014

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Lancaster County, PA

This case story describes the Environmental Finance Center's work with six Lancaster County (PA) municipalities to conduct a stormwater management financing feasibility study.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Lynchburg, VA

EFC's work with Lynchburg, VA was part of a larger project designed to expand the ability and capacity of local governments to achieve water quality restoration priorities through more efficient stormwater finan

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Ocean City, MD

This case story summarizes the Environmental Finance Center's efforts working with Ocean City, Maryland, to develop a sustainable financing strategy to support a comprehensive stormwater program.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2011

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Oxford, MD

This case story summarizes the work of EFC and other partners to help the town of Oxford, MD address recurring stormwater and tidal flooding.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Salisbury, MD

EFC partnered with the City of Salisbury, MD, to analyze the City's stormwater program, determine permit requirements and future needs, and identify strategies for enhancing level of service.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Scranton, PA

EFC worked with Scranton, PA to identify opportunities to implement green infrastructure practices in order to save money and reduce stormwater flows to the City's over-burdened system.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Shenandoah Valley, VA

EFC worked with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSVRC) to help several counties in the region address new state stormwater regulations that require each jurisdiction to develop (1) a stormwat

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center, Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission

Date published: 2014

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Warrington Township, PA

Warrington Township, PA passed a voter referendum in 2012 committing $3 million to open space protection.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2014

Stormwater Financing Case Story: Warwick Township, PA

EFC worked with several municipalities in Lancaster County, PA, to recommend sustainable financing approaches to help meet local stormwater management goals.

Author: University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2013

Stormwater Innovation

This paper reviews innovations and lessons learned in stormwater programs in Prince George’s County, MD and the District of Columbia and goes in depth to look at Montgomery County’s (MD) current approach.

Author: Environmental Policy Innovation Center

Date published: 2018

Stormwater Utility Fees: Considerations and Options for Inter-Local Stormwater Working Group

Reviews 11 key considerations to keep in mind when developing a stormwater utility.

Author: New England Environmental Finance Center

Date published: 2005

The Economic Value of Riparian Buffers in the Delaware River Basin

This report values losses in ecosystem services that may result from losing riparian forests and buffers. It promotes conservation of these systems as climate change and urbanization have threatened their utilization in the Delaware River Basin.

Author: ECONorthwest

Date published: 2018

The Economics of Low-Impact Development: A Literature Review 

Reviews methods for evaluating the financial benefit of green infrastructure compared to traditional "gray" stormwater mitigation practices. 

Author: ECONorthwest 

Date published: 2007