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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Introduction to DEP's Blue Belt program
0:12:58
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68 sec
Licata introduces the Blue Belt program, explaining its history, purpose, and how it works as a nature-based solution for stormwater management. She highlights how Blue Belts integrate with existing sewer infrastructure and provide additional ecological benefits.
- Blue Belts are ecologically rich stormwater management practices dating back to the early 1990s
- They incorporate natural or engineered water features like streams, ponds, and wetlands
- Blue Belts work in tandem with sewer infrastructure to convey, store, filter, and slow stormwater flow
- They provide additional benefits such as reducing runoff, pollution, and providing wildlife habitat
Angela Licata
0:12:58
DEP's Blue Belt program dates back to the early 1990s.
0:13:03
Blue Belts are ecologically rich stormwater management practices that work in tandem with our sewer infrastructure.
0:13:09
They incorporate natural or engineered water features such as streams, ponds, and wetlands to convey, store, filter, and slow the flow of storm water to manage and alleviate and prevent flooding.
0:13:24
As an added benefit, blue belts include open spaces with native vegetation that reduce runoff and pollution and provide wildlife habitat.
0:13:33
Blue belts are connected to storm sewer pipes, so they are part of the sewer system network.
0:13:38
They work with nature preserving or restoring natural drainage corridors, like the streams, the ponds, and the wetlands, using these natural systems to store and filter the storm water.
0:13:48
In addition to these storm water benefits, blue belt networks help improve the city's ecological health and in some cases provide community amenities.
0:13:57
As blue belts use wetlands and ponds to manage storm water, they are primarily sited at locations with existing water bodies and separate storm sewer networks.