Green infrastructure

At Downstream Strategies, we integrate natural processes into developed landscapes. Green infrastructure uses vegetation and soil to create stormwater management solutions. Our staff is experienced in all scales of green infrastructure projects, ranging from watershed-scale stream restoration projects to bio-retention rain gardens.

Our green infrastructure specialists work with a wide range of municipal, county, and private sector clients by listening to their priorities, examining them through an environmental lens, and securing funding for planning and implementation.

The community benefits of incorporating green infrastructure include:

Stormwater management: Green infrastructure helps absorb and filter rainwater, reducing the risk of flooding and improving water quality by removing pollutants before they reach waterbodies.
Biodiversity conservation: Natural habitats within green infrastructure provide refuge for diverse plant and animal species, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Climate change mitigation: Vegetation in green infrastructure sequesters carbon and mitigates urban heat island effects.
Improvement of air quality: Trees and vegetation in green infrastructure absorb pollutants and release oxygen, improving air quality and human health.
Enhancement of urban aesthetics: Greenspaces contribute to the visual appeal of urban areas, providing recreational opportunities and enhancing residents’ quality of life.
Economic benefits: Green infrastructure can increase property values, attract tourists, and support local businesses and contractors. It also reduces the costs associated with stormwater management and public health issues related to pollution.

Green infrastructure contact

Kendra Hatcher

No results found.

Submit the form below and we’ll respond as soon as possible to discuss your project.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*

Email*

How did you hear about us?*

Message*

Projects

Charles Street Clean and Green: A Reenvisioned Green Infrastructure Concept Plan for Charles Town Now

Charles Town Now sought to redevelop one block of North Charles Street to transform it into a flexible, user-oriented outdoor space to enhance the downtown experience, enhance economic opportunity, provide networks for connectivity, and preserve the cultural and environmental integrity of the area. Our concept plan for North Charles Street integrated the client’s vision and will serve as the basis for future implementation.

Green Infrastructure at Cool Spring Nature Preserve: Concept Plan

For the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, we facilitated executive focus group input meetings and community forums to identify and review problem areas and propose green infrastructure implementation at the Cool Spring Nature Preserve in Charles Town, West Virginia. The resulting concept plan showcases a variety of green infrastructure practices for educational purposes while addressing drainage, erosion, and other issues on the property.

4
1
2
5