Funded in part by an EPA grant, the Next Generation Urban Greening project will study, design and implement multi-objective urban greening projects in San Francisco

San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is partnering with local City departments, the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a new initiative to design, plan and implement multi-beneficial green infrastructure projects in southeast San Francisco.
A $3.6 million undertaking funded in part by a $1.8 million grant from the EPA and a $1.3 million matching contribution from the SFPUC, the Next Generation Urban Greening project is a multi-agency effort to optimize green infrastructure projects that improve San Francisco Bay water quality, reduce flood risk, improve urban habitat and increase climate resilience.

“As we enter into Earth Month, we are once again taking steps to sustainably manage our environment in San Francisco and making progress on our efforts in restoring our earth,” said SFPUC Acting General Manager Michael Carlin. “Green infrastructure projects help capture stormwater, promote biodiversity and protect our environment while providing a shared sense of community for our residents and business owners. This grant will help us more effectively design and implement these essential projects into the future.”

Through the funds, the Next Generation Urban Greening Project will support monitoring efforts of existing green infrastructure sites in San Francisco, with an emphasis on studying the potential water quality benefits of removing microplastics and other contaminants. There will also be an analysis component of the project to identify the highest value opportunities to improve green infrastructure for biodiversity and climate resilience. 

Once completed, these efforts will provide insights and resources that will be used as a toolkit to support planning and prioritization efforts for implementing green infrastructure projects throughout the Bay Area.

Additionally, the project entails five green infrastructure projects led by the SFPUC and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (SFRPD) that will be implemented in the Yosemite and Sunnydale watersheds, which are the drainage areas in San Francisco’s southeastern neighborhoods. The last facet of the project will engage regional green infrastructure leaders to promote the multiple benefits of green infrastructure projects and incorporate feedback into the tools designed. The Next Generation Urban Greening Project is a multiyear effort projected to last through 2024.

SFEI, a regional science institute with a focus on aquatic and ecosystem sciences, will help coordinate the undertaking, which will also include contributions from the San Francisco Department of the Environment, SFRPD and San Francisco Public Works.

“As one of the first to apply for a WIFIA loan, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is a trailblazer in the water sector, dedicated to finding innovative financing solutions that deliver value to rate payers,” said Acting Division Director for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WIFIA Management Division Jorianne Jernberg. “WIFIA is thrilled that the Commission has continued to utilize the program to great success, leveraging WIFIA’s low rates to save hundreds of millions of dollars while investing in upgrades that promote equity, protect the environment, and increase community benefits.”

"Through this work, we aim to bring the best available science into city planning for multi-benefit urban greening," said SFEI Senior Scientist Robin Grossinger. "New research on microplastics will push the boundaries of our current knowledge about how well green infrastructure can address growing concerns around plastics in the environment. By convening leaders in the region to help shape the project outcomes, we plan to create a toolkit that will increase adoption of green infrastructure for the benefit of people and nature."

“Our landscape architecture team is excited to participate in this innovative partnership,” said acting San Francisco Public Works Director Alaric Degrafinried. “Grounded in scientific research, the Next Generation Urban Greening tools will amplify the biodiversity of our stormwater and open space projects throughout San Francisco in coming years. These types of interagency and nonprofit collaborations are exactly what we need to overcome climate challenges with success.”

“We are already seeing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on San Francisco’s vulnerable, low-income, and BIPOC communities, but cities alone can only do so much,” said Debbie Raphael, Director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment. “This regional collaboration and funding is precisely the support our neighborhoods need to enhance biodiversity and create tangible environmental benefits where they are needed most."

Environmental justice means focusing on projects that ensure a sustainable future for our parks and open spaces, particularly in the southeastern neighborhoods,” said San Francisco Recreation and Park Department General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “We look forward to collaborating with our City partners and the San Francisco Estuary Institute to plan and monitor new, green initiatives.”

SFEI led the effort to secure a $1.8 million grant through the EPA’s San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund, an initiative that has provided nearly $64 million in funding for projects since it launched in 2008.
Green infrastructure projects are a crucial element of the SFPUC’s Sewer System Improvement Program, a multiyear citywide investment to upgrade and modernize the City’s sewer system. SFPUC’s green infrastructure projects, along with innovative private projects developed through the Stormwater Management Ordinance, bring the City one step closer to its goal of capturing 1 billion gallons of stormwater annually using green infrastructure by 2050.

In 2019, the SFPUC launched the Green Infrastructure Grant Program, a funding initiative available for both public and private properties in San Francisco for projects that manage stormwater runoff from a minimum impermeable area of 0.5 acres. Property owners can learn more about the program and download the grant application here.

About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and generates clean power for municipal buildings, residential customers, and businesses. Our mission is to provide our customers with high quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care. Learn more at www.sfpuc.org. 

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