Green Infrastructure Defined
Green Infrastructure is an interconnected network of natural and social systems that provide a diverse range of environmental, cultural, recreational, psychological, public health, and economic benefits. An easy analogy is to compare green infrastructure to grey infrastructure - in the same way that our roads, sewers, and utilities convey and assist our built systems (grey infrastructure), green infrastructure is the support and conveyance network for our natural and social systems. These systems provide multiple goods and services just as grey infrastructure does, but often at a much reduced cost. The natural systems that make up green infrastructure include open space and natural areas such as greenways, wetlands, parks, forests, farms & ranches, vacant lands, creeks & streams, foothills, shorelines, trails, watersheds, and recreational or scenic areas.
The components of a Green Infrastructure Network encompass a variety of natural and restored ecosystems, man-made elements, and landscape features that make up a system of cores, hubs, and corridors, and is identified and designed to maximize the many benefits and existing assets inherent in a community or region. Connectivity is important in planning for and upgrading man-made infrastructure (grey infrastructure) such as roads, storm drains, sewers, utilities and levees. This connected approach is just as important in understanding and improving our green infrastructure.
An interconnected system of diverse landscape types alllows for greater vitality, value and function of our living environments, including their ecosystem services, or 'natural benefits'. A community's green infrastructure conserves environmental values and functions, sustains clean air and water, promotes a sustainable economic regional framework, and contributes to the health and quality of life for our residents.
(re)connect : The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Plan
- The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Plan Presentation (12mb)
- The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Plan Overview (3mb)
- The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Plan Goals (1mb)
ArcGIS Explorer Viewer Link : www.explorer.arcgis.com
Preliminary Study Maps
11x17 Land Ownership Map (42mb)
11x17 Natural Hazards Maps (74mb)
11x17 Land Cover Map - Regional (27mb)
11x17 Land Cover Map - Enlarged (27mb)
11x17 Green Infrastructure Asset Maps (6 maps - 45mb)
11x17 Green Infrastructure Asset Maps Legend Information (.5mb)
Regional Green Infrastructure Asset Network Maps
Hydrological Asset Network Map
Ecological Asset Network Map
Recreational Asset Network Map
Working Lands Asset Network Map
Community Asset Network Map
Regional Green Infrastructure Asset Criteria and Mapping Process
Hydrological Asset Criteria and Mapping Process
Ecological Asset Criteria and Mapping Process
Recreational Asset Criteria and Mapping Process
Working Lands Criteria and Mapping Process
Community Criteria and Mapping Process
Regional Green Infrastructure Asset Network Interactive Mapping
Interactive Mapping Instruction Sheet - The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Network Maps (Social and Natural)
- The Wasatch Front Natural Green Infrastructure Network Map
- The Wasatch Front Natural Green Infrastructure Network Map with Public Lands Overlay
- The Wasatch Front Natural Green Infrastructure Network Map with Public Agency Overlay
- The Wasatch Front Social Green Infrastructure Network Map
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Green Infrastructure and Sustainability in the Wasatch Front
Environmental Benefits of Green Infrastructure in the Wasatch Front
Social Benefits of Green Infrastructure in the Wasatch Front
Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructure in the Wasatch Front
The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Reciprocal Relationship Diagram
The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Asset Spectrum Diagram
The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Spectrum Diagram
The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Spectrum Diagram
(re)connect : The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Plan
(re)connect: The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Report Summary (46 pages, 17 mb)
Connect with Us
Student Internship
Recent News
The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Plan
April 2012
(re)connect: The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Plan - Brochure
(4 pages, 3 mb)
(re)connect: The Wasatch Front Green Infrastructure Plan - Report Summary
(46 pages, 17 mb)
Interactive Green Infrastructure
