Green Streets Active Practice Guide, Tuscon, Arizona

Tuscon, Arizona faced stormwater management problems, with increased flooding and runoff, and degraded water quality. To address these issues and improve the urban tree canopy and recycle rainwater for irrigation, the city developed the Green Streets Active Practice Guidelines. This program requires integrating green infrastructure into all publicly funded roadway projects. The policy requires that green infrastructure retains at least the first .5 inches of water that falls within the public right of way. A majority of these goals are achieved through planted green infrastructure basins. These projects will reduce runoff and flooding, improve water quality, reduce the urban heat island effect, and help conserve water.