Links/Resources

Links and Resources

For more information, take some time to review the websites listed below:

 

Workshops:

Our March 6, 2008 workshop was a great success. Check out our review from the Land Policy Institute:

Tri-County Region Working to Develop Green Infrastructure Plan

"An effort to develop a green infrastructure plan for the Tri-County Region, called “Greening Mid-Michigan” is underway. On March 6, 2008, a workshop was held at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing, Michigan, to provide educational an opportunity for area residents and community leaders about the benefits of green infrastructure, other planning efforts that are taking place in the Saginaw Bay Region and West Michigan, and what resources are available in Mid-Michigan to get started. The workshop was funded in part through a 2007 Prosperity Team grant from the Land Policy Institute.

Jonathan Jarosz from University of Michigan-Flint provided an introduction to green infrastructure, which is an interconnected system of natural areas that provide benefits to people and wildlife.  Dr. Alan Steinman gave a presentation on a recent study conducted jointly by the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Annis Water Resources Institute and the West Michigan Strategic Alliance that was funded through the People and Land program. Researchers at GVSU and MSU analyzed information on the value of a variety of different land use types and a number of environmental amenities (e.g., recreation, erosion control, food production, etc.) and then aggregated all of those values for the region.  The study estimates that West Michigan’s green infrastructure has a minimum annual value of $1.6 billion. Read more about the workshop and next steps toward a greener Mid-Michigan."

The Workshop power point presentations are available here: Green Infrastructure Page

Local Resources:

Meridian Township Greenspace Plan: www.twp.meridian.mi.us/framegreenspace.htm When implemented, the Greenspace Plan will provide a network of green spaces and non-motorized linkages that will protect and connect valued natural and cultural resources, provide linkages to adjacent communities, and improve the quality of life for township residents. View the website or click below for more information.

Meridian Township’s Plan, Appendix, Poster Front, and Poster Back.

 

Great Basic Information: www.greeninfrastructurewiki.com The term "green infrastructure" is being applied at a wide range of landscape scales, from statewide conservation networks to streetside rain gardens. Fundamentally, green infrastructure is just a framework for recognizing the valuable services that nature provides for the human environment. At a bioregional scale, green infrastructure supports essential ecosystem functions. At a metropolitan scale, green infrastructure forms a tapestry of open space that serves and guides smarth growth. At a site scale, green infrastructure integrates functions and makes life-giving processes visible and meaningful. Large protected and connected natural habitats are the foundation for any regional green infrastructure network. Parks, trails, greenways, and other open spaces should link communities to each other and a regional landscape matrix. Holistically conceived, a green infrastructure network is also a regenerative solution to urban challenges associated with stormwater and waste management, mobility and public health, local food and energy security, and even protection from natural and man-made hazards.

Growing Greener in Southwest Michiganwww.swmpc.org/growgreen.asp A multi-jurisdictional regional initiative encompassing Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties which seeks to create a vision of green infrastructure based on science and public input.

West Michigan Strategic Alliancewww.wm-alliance.org A regional coalition of business and community leaders from Holland, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon who have embarked upon a collaborative vision known as The Common Framework, which includes green infrastructure planning.

GLS Greenlinkswww.flintriver.org/greenlinks A green network for the Genesee, Lapeer & Shiawassee region.

Saginaw/Bay Greenways Collaborative – www.saginawbaywin.org/uploads/green_infra_study.pdf A case study of a group of local, state, and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and concerned citizens united around the goal of developing a green infrastructure system in Saginaw, Bay, and Midland Counties.

CAC Voiceswww.cacvoices.org Find local resources related to publications and presentations, land use and health resource team, moving the community towards health, health impact assessments, and community forums, views and prespectives.

Greater Lansing Regional Committee for Stormwater Management – www.mywatersheds.org Twenty-one local municpalities and schools districts are members of the GLRC, your local watershed group. Visit the website for more information.

Capital Area Groundwater Alliancewww.capitalgroundwater.org Review this website for more information about local groundwater protection efforts and ways that you can help protect your drinking water.

Go Green! Go Lansing! Initiativewww.gogreengolansing.com The Go Green! Go Lansing! Initiative is working to promote environmental and economic health for all those who live, work, and play in Greater Lansing. The Initiative represents a comprehensive effort to establish and promote a "green" ethic and raise awareness about environmental issues throughout the region’s communities, businesses, and schools.

City of Lansing Parks Department – http://parks.cityoflansingmi.com

www.re-news.net/gogreen/gi.htm

www.re-news.net/map/

http://grassroots.wide.msu.edu/

Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliancewww.michigantrails.org Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance is a statewide 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster and facilitate the creation of an interconnected statewide system of trails and greenways for recreation, health, transportation, economic development, and environmental/cultural preservation purposes.

The Tri-County Regional Planning Commissionwww.mitcrpc.org The Tri-County Regional Planning commission (TCRPC) established in 1956 provides planning and technical solutions for local governments, especially multi-jurisdictional issues.

Clinton County Green Spaces Commission - www.clinton-county.org/greenspace/greenspace.htm The Green Spaces Commission’s mission is to identify, acquire, develop and maintain a vibrant county park system that improves the quality of life in Clinton County and which includes non-motorized trails and natural resource based parks of countywide significance that complement existing public and private parks, recreation and open space opportunities, anticipate future growth and development in the County, help maintain the rural character and welcome visitors and tourism.

Clinton County Dept. of Community Developmentwww.clinton-county.org/P&Z/community_dev.htm The Department of Community Development (Office of Planning and Zoning) is charged with the responsibility of implementing land-use and development policies for the unincorporated portions of Clinton County. The Department staffs the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals and participates with other committees (AOS, Green Space, etc.) involved in land-use planning and related activities. The Department is involved in economic development issues and assists the Clinton County Economic Alliance. The Department is also actively involved with County and Township Officials and citizenry in the development and implementation of sound land use and economic development policy that will encourage business activity, industrial development and job formation within the County.

Mid-Michigan District Health Dept. - www.mmdhd.org The Mid-Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD) is mission is to take action to assure the health and well-being of our community and the environment by responding to public health needs and providing a spectrum of prevention and educational services.

 

National Resources:

Conservation Fundwww.conservationfund.org A national environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s most important landscapes.

EPA Green Infrastructure General Information –   http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/greeninfrastructure/information.cfm#greenpolicy

EPA Green Infrastructure Approaches –   http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298

EPA Source Book on Natural Landscaping: – http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres/toolkit/index.html

International City/County Management Association - www.icma.org International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers a wide range of services to its members and the local government community.  The organization is an internationally recognized publisher of information resources ranging from textbooks and survey data to topical newsletters and e-publications. ICMA provides technical assistance to local governments in emerging democracies, helping them to develop professional practices and ethical, transparent governments.  The organization performs a wide range of mission-driven grant and contract-funded work both in the U.S. and internationally, which is supported by Federal Government Agencies, Foundations and Corporations.

The National Association of Counties - www.naco.org The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public’s understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.

Planning for Healthy Placeswww.healthyplanning.org Planning for Healthy Places is pioneering a new approach to public health advocacy. Historically, there has been little interaction between public health officials (especially those dedicated to chronic disease prevention) and city and regional planning officials. We are working to change that. Building basic knowledge and skills on land use among public health advocates, we work to engage advocates in the land-use and economic development decision-making process throughout California. Our hands-on training and consultation, coupled with entry-level training materials, walk users through the planning process and teach them–in very practical and real-politic ways–to engage in the process. We also organize and facilitate roundtable discussions with local health officers and local planning directors. 

 

Other Resources (regional, state, mapping, etc.)

Green Mapping in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana – www.greenmapping.org/maps

The Michigan Township Association – www.michigantownships.org

The Land Policy Institute - www.landpolicy.msu.edu The Land Policy Institute’s (LPI) mission is to resource policy makers at the federal, state, and local level with science-based tools and solutions that help build a better quality of life, strengthen the economy, and protect the environment in ways that are fair to all.

The Michigan Association of Counties - www.micounties.org The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) was formed in 1898 to advocate for the interests of Michigan’s county governments. Over the past 100 years, MAC has evolved into a highly respected organization that offers the full spectrum of association services that distribute important public information to its members. MAC offers members educational programs, legislative representation, local workshops, a legislative and summer conference, and produces a MAC newspaper, commissioner directory, and legislative communications to keep members up to date on the latest events that affect county governments.