GREEN STREETS | GREEN JOBS | GREEN TOWNS INITIATIVE
Hie Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Partnership (G3) aims to stimulate the green jobs market and enable families to work
where they live and play. Small to mid-sized communities can boost their local economies and protect water resources through the
use of watershed planning, design and construction of stornrwater best management practices,
G3 DEMONSTRATION SITE - TOWN OF
FOREST HEIGHTS, MD
Forest Heights demonstrates effective stornrwater management on their
municipal grounds.
IllI


90% zero run off effective
rate in a 2-3 inch rain event
and 100% of the first flush
800 gallons of water storage
3400 ft2 of rain gardens
1600 native plants
2535 ft2 riparian plantings
5,000 ft2 of permeable
pavement
2,770 ft2 of impervious
pavement removed

,-JH
die simple to the more complex:
bioretention cells, living Wall
SmartSlope technology, green roof,
rain barrel and cistern rain water
reuse, conservation landscaping,
and various pervious surfaces. The
latest phase was the installation
of a PaveDrain System, a
permeable pavement product that
treats stonnwater through natural
filtration.
MDE "'181
_____ —
The Forest Heights Stonnwater
Retrofit and BMP Demonstration
Site is part of a comprehensive
community greening initiative to
reduce the impact of stonnwater
runoff pollution to the Oxon Run -
a tributary of the Potomac River.
The project is one of many
proactive initiatives the Town has
implemented to achieve its
resolution to become a zero runoff
municipality, the first of its kind in
the state.
The goals of the initiative were to
establish the municipal grounds as
an example of effective stonnwater
management; build the knowledge
of elected officials and citizens of
Forest Heights on the values and
benefits of environmentally
friendly behaviors; change local
policies influencing stonnwater;
and provide a working
demonstration site that can be used
by educators.
The project incorporated a number
of best management practices from
Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns Initiative // Stories of Green Infrastructure

Allentown* 1
Philadeiphi;
iltimore«
5orest>H eights
Richmond*

-------
PROJECT ELEMENTS
Bioretention cells - These features filter and reduce stormwater runoff
allowing it to infiltrate into the ground before it enters into the storm drain
system.
•	Green roof - Plants and appropriate media added to the roof capture rain falling
onto the roof, reducing the amount of water that falls off the roof
•	Rainwater cisterns and rain barrels- Water that does emerge from the roof
system is captured in cisterns during rain events, released after the rain is over
when the ground can absorb it.
•	Conservation landscaping - Native plants, which require less maintenance,
capture rainwater and hold soils in place.
•	Permeable pavement - Permeable pavement allows stormwater to soak into the
ground. Several different kinds of permeable pavement are used at this site,
allowing visitors to compare and contrast options for their own use.
•	Green Jobs and Engagement of local businesses - Local management firms,
construction firms, and suppliers were used to complete the project, supporting
local jobs. In addition the site lias been used to tram young people seeking jobs
in the stormwater realm.
•	Educational signage - Signage educates visitors throughout the site about the
various stormwater practices and features on the grounds
G3 Grant Awarded: $55,000
Match Contribution: $295,000
Status: Completed 05/17/2012
t wwr
-------