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Green Infrastructure
When it rains, green infrastructure collects and manages the rain water or “stormwater” that falls on our city’s streets and sidewalks. Green Infrastructure prevents stormwater from entering the City’s sewer system, which helps to improve the health of local waterways.
We have successfully built thousands of Green Infrastructure installations, like Rain Gardens, across New York City.
Types of Green Infrastructure
Learn more about the Types of Green Infrastructure you might come across in New York City. You can also watch our Green Infrastructure Video, view our Green Infrastructure Infiltration Basin Design, and view our Green Infrastructure Photos.
Private Property Stormwater Incentives
We provide financial incentives for installing green infrastructure, or stormwater source controls, on private property in New York City. These programs help to cover up to 100% of the costs of designing and constructing green infrastructure practices.
Green Infrastructure Reports and Plans
Green Infrastructure Reports and Plans
- Download the 2019 Green Infrastructure Annual Report
- Download the 2019 Green Infrastructure Annual Report Presentation
- Watch the 2019 Green Infrastructure Annual Report Webinar
To view our Green Infrastructure reports from previous years, visit our Document Portal and search for “Green Infrastructure.”
CSO Consent Order Submittals
2016 Green Infrastructure Performance Metrics Report
- Download the 2016 Green Infrastructure Performance Metrics Report
- Download the Appendices
- Download the DEC Approval of the GI Metrics Report (7/5/2017)
Green Infrastructure Contingency Plan for the 1.5% Implementation Rate Milestone
- Download the Green Infrastructure Contingency Plan for the 1.5% Implementation Rate Milestone
- Download the DEC Approval of the Green Infrastructure Contingency Plan (7/5/2017)
- Download the DEC Comments on the GI Metrics Report and GI Contingency Plan (3/16/2017)
- Download the DEP Response to DEC Comments on the GI Metrics Report and GI Contingency Plan
Post-Construction Monitoring Report
Download the 2014 Post-Construction Green Infrastructure Monitoring Report
Green Infrastructure Standards and Specifications
DEP has developed design guidelines, standards and specifications for:
- green infrastructure built in city streets and sidewalks (right-of-way (ROW))
- green infrastructure built within the property line of a City-owned site such as parklands and schools (public on-site)
These design standards and procedures are used by engineers, architects, landscape architects, and other city agencies to streamline the development of contract plans and drawings, and reduce the timeline and costs associated with design and approval processes. For access to previous versions of the Standards for Green Infrastructure, please contact gioutreach@dep.nyc.gov.
Right-of-Way Design Standards
- Download the Standards for Green Infrastructure
- Download the Survey Procedure
- Download the Geotechnical Investigation Procedure
- Download the Green Infrastructure Siting Criteria
Public On-site Retrofit Design Standards
- Download the NYC Green Infrastructure On-site Design Manual—Version 1
- Download the Appendices (A–J) for the NYC Green Infrastructure On-site Design Manual
- Download Appendix D: Stormwater Caculation Table for On-site Green Infrastructure Practices (XLSX)
- Download Appendix I: Department of Parks and Recreation Tree Inventory Spreadsheet Template (XLSX)
Green Infrastructure Protections
Proper protection of Green Infrastructure is crucial as contractors shall be liable for any damage to assets due to construction activities. Please notify giutility@dep.nyc.gov at least 48 hours prior to commencing construction work near Green Infrastructure.
Impervious Area Map Layer
This DEP-developed Geographic Information System (GIS) land cover map layer displays citywide pervious areas (surfaces that allow water to pass through to the underlying soil, like permeable pavers or rain gardens) and impervious areas (surfaces that do not allow water to pass through, like asphalt or concrete) at the parcel level. It supports ongoing citywide planning efforts and programs related to stormwater, resiliency, and other initiatives.