Atlanta based nonprofits, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Trees Atlanta have partnered to launch an initiative that simultaneously addresses the pressing needs of enhancing Atlanta’s tree canopy while improving urban stormwater management. The new “Green Streets and Clean Streams” project will implement street-side tree planters designed to infiltrate and clean stormwater runoff, the largest contributor of pollution to rivers and streams.
Funded through the support of Georgia Center for Nonprofits and The Home Depot Foundation’s Building Community Network initiative, this project will provide multiple environmental and quality of life benefits for Atlanta residents and serve as a case study to replicate throughout the region.
The Green Streets and Clean Streams project will utilize street tree installation as equal parts intervention, research and education. Water sensors installed in the tree planters will provide valuable data about the benefits of green infrastructure for reducing runoff and improving water quality. The planters themselves will serve as a learning tool for the public and other practitioners about green infrastructure and its potential applications.
Green infrastructure interventions like the Green Streets and Clean Streams project have significant potential to help make our cities greener, healthier places to live. Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Trees Atlanta are excited to launch this collaborative partnership that combines the missions of our two organizations to help steer Atlanta towards a more sustainable future.
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