Cincinnati is one of the nation’s top five combined sewer overflow (CSO) dischargers, causing severely polluted waterways and building damage. The Lick Run Watershed hosts the Cincinnati-area's largest combined sewer and was a priority for improved stormwater management. The Lick Run Watershed Strategic Integration Plan aims to eliminate 400 million gallons of combined sewer overflow annually.  

Toledo, Ohio has experienced increased stormwater flooding and sewage system overflows, causing water quality issues and flood hazards. The city created the the Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Task Force to address these issues. One of GSI’s projects on Maywood Avenue used green infrastructure to improve water quality and reduce runoff.  

Dangerous and costly flash floods in Tulsa, Oklahoma resulted in deaths, injuries, and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. Mingo Creek was a flood control priority waterway for the city to reduce damage and flood risk. The Tulsa Department of Stormwater Management implemented a voluntary acquisition program by purchasing flooded properties and began floodplain restoration. 

The San Antonio River was historically modified to reduce flooding, leaving it devoid of its ecological function. The Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration and Recreation Project aimed to reduce flooding, restore the riverine ecosystem, and provide recreational opportunities to a 13-kilometer stretch of the river.  

The Illinois Coastal Management Program and Navy Pier, Inc collaborated to redevelop Chicago’s Navy Pier with green infrastructure projects. These projects aimed to reduce runoff, flooding, and pollution. The project planted trees in planters designed specifically for this project to retain and filter stormwater, or redirect it for future use.

New York City is taking steps to mitigate current heat conditions and improve resiliency to future heat conditions. The city is increasing the use of cooling centers and promoting green infrastructure projects like urban foresting and green roofs to mitigate the urban heat island effect.  

Northerly Island on Lake Michigan was used as a private airport until 2003, and sat unused and contributing no ecological or public benefits until 2012, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed a restoration project. This project would restore 16 hectares into 6 habitats native to the Chicago area. 

The Regional Transportation Authority partnered with the Arizona DOT to construct two wildlife crossing structures (one overpass and one underpass) with adjacent wildlife-funnel fencing on Oracle Road to help wildlife move between protected habitat areas. The two wildlife crossing structures were constructed at the best available location to accommodate both large mammals and small animals.

The city of Kinston, North Carolina experienced devastating flood losses in the 1990s. After a string of three hurricanes flooded or damaged over 75% of homes in Lenoir county, Kinston took action to improve flood resiliency. The city purchased flood-prone properties and relocated neighborhoods to higher ground. This restored natural floodplain functions. 

Aging infrastructure in Pittsburgh has resulted in sewer overflows and street flooding with more frequent and intense heavy rainfall under climate change. The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) identified priority neighborhood and designed an integrated watershed plan utilizing green and gray infrastructure to improve water quality and manage stormwater.

Located at the intersection of North Plum Street and East Walnut Street, the site of numerous vehicle accidents from a confusing merge lane, the Plum and Walnut Green Intersection Project integrated green infrastructure (GI), enhanced pedestrian amenities and a roadway realignment to improve traffic safety and reduce stormwater runoff.

Hampton, Virginia created the state’s first environmental impact bond to finance community resilience projects. The city’s resiliency officer led the effort, and partnered with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, an outcomes-based capital firm, and local partners to make the bond and the storm-water management resilience projects a reality.  

In 2011, a 1,000-year flood caused deaths and over $2 billion in damage in Nashville, Tennessee. The city created a vibrant downtown park that incorporates flood protection measures. Riverfront Park includes a bioswale, bioretention areas, rainwater harvesting infrastructure, green roofs, and permeable pavers to reduce flood impacts. 

The MWRD is working with the village of Robbins to help reduce flooding, restore Midlothian Creek, and create recreational and economic development opportunities to strengthen and revitalize the community. The Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project helps address overbank flooding through a new stormwater park and pond, along with improvements to Midlothian Creek and an overflow channel.

The San Francisco Parks Alliance, San Francisco Department of the Environment, and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department received EPA Brownfield grants to clean up a former boatyard and revitalized the bayside property into a public park and greenspace. They also conducted a study to assess the property’s vulnerability to sea-level rise. 

The Paseo de las Iglesias restoration project aims to reverse severe environmental degradation and improve flood resilience along the Santa Cruz River. The project’s main goals are: significant ecosystem revitalization, on-site water reclamation and storage, hybrid green/gray erosion control, historic programming, and public access and recreation.  

Urban development caused poor water quality, a falling water table, and erosion in the Sante Fe River. The city and county of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Watershed Association are integrating river restoration with green infrastructure projects and public recreation opportunities to improve water quality, riverine habitat and mitigate flood risk.  

Since 2016, the USFWS and Get Outdoors Nevada (GON) have been working in partnership to engage southern Nevada community members with outdoor spaces like Desert National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) through education and creation of urban wildlife habitat for pollinators and the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).

Massachusetts government initiated the Permeable Paving Materials and Bioretention in the Silver Lake Beach Parking Lot, aiming to reduce runoff volume, improve water quality, and enhance groundwater recharge. The project incorporated permeable paving materials, bioretention cells, and two ten-foot-wide vegetated water quality swales.

Teaneck Creek Park is a low-lying area in a highly urbanized neighborhood of North New Jersey. During storm and rain events, this area experienced flooding, erosion, and produced untreated runoff that degraded Teaneck Creek. This project restored 8 hectares of wetland habitat to mitigate these negative outcomes.