Portland is well-known for many things in the urban planning community. Now, it's being recognized as a leader in stormwater management.
"[T]he conservation group American Rivers announced that Portland was one of its top eight "water wise" communities, thanks to city programs that encourage green streets, eco-roofs and downspout disconnection.
Portland's programs, still in their early stages, capture about 15 percent of the city's annual storm-water runoff and have the potential to absorb 80 percent. Expanding the city's green infrastructure could reduce sewage overflows by 96 percent by 2011."
A number of municipal and private projects within the city are revising how infrastructure handles stormwater. Many see the city as a model for the rest of the country.
FULL STORY: Tour of Portland's storm-water system goes by bike, of course
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