Porous in Provincetown: How Green Infrastructure Revitalized Commercial Street
Tuesday, July 28th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM EST
Coastal cities face unique challenges balancing water quality and ecosystem health with economic development and tourism. Dense development and large amounts of impervious areas in Provincetown Harbor historically resulted in significant stormwater runoff reaching the harbor waters, adversely impacting shell fishing and water quality. Like many Cape Cod communities, Provincetown, Massachusetts creatively transformed these water quality concerns into an opportunity for downtown revitalization, supporting both community and ecosystem health.
This webinar will showcase an innovative green infrastructure project that addressed local water quality issues by installing porous pavement on Provincetown’s Commercial Street, a popular tourist destination and cultural hub. Between 2012 and 2019, Provincetown installed over 2 miles of porous pavement and other green infrastructure best practices. This effort has resulted in a cleaner and healthier Provincetown Harbor, allowing tourism and the shellfish industry to thrive. The Harbor has reduced beach closings by nearly 90%, and is expected to meet all its designated uses by 2020. The webinar will highlight the city’s planning and implementation process as well as measurable results and lessons learned for effective stormwater management through green infrastructure.
Presenters:
- Russ Kleekamp, GHD
- Rob Roseen, Waterstone Engineering
For more information, please see EPA’s Nonpoint Source Success Story: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-12/documents/ma_provincetown_508.pdf