Roughly 2 billion gallons of combined stormwater and sewer overflow are released into the District’s rivers and tributaries every year, along with trash and pollutants. The Stormwater Retention Credit (SRC) trading program incentivizes private landowners to remove impermeable surfaces and install green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) to reduce stormwater runoff.
Groups like Green Compass play an important role in the SRC program, scoping, planning, and financing projects at zero cost to landowners. By generating stormwater retention credits, landowners benefit from reduced utility bills, while improving drainage on their properties to reduce flood risks.
Earth Economics worked with Green Compass to value project co-benefits at seven sites—three completed and four planned. Green Compass will retrofit 14.2 acres of dense urban environment with 0.55 acres of GSI (e.g. rain gardens, tree pits), with local volunteers planting over 300 native trees. In total, these sites have the capacity to capture 10.65 million gallons of water every year. When fully established, these sites will create $1.3 million in benefits to local communities every year.
Over the next twelve years, the seven sites will create $17 million in benefits to DC residents, delivering a return of $7.80 for every dollar spent on their development.
Investment by CDFIs and Green Banks in groups such as Green Compass will accelerate the pace of GSI deployment, with strong social and environmental benefits for residents.
