Welcome to your City Habitats toolkit.
Here are some resources to help you bring nature into your habitat. Whether you’re a curious passerby, a stormwater expert or anything in between, we’ve got tools to help (de)pave the way!
The Nature Conservancy: Clean Water Under the Bridge
A video highlighting the opportunity to clean polluted stormwater flowing off of roads and bridges.
International Living Future Institute: Water Policy
Extensive policy prescriptions for water management policy in the Puget Sound.
EPA: Green Infrastructure In Parks
This guide is intended to encourage partnerships between park agencies and stormwater agencies aimed at promoting the use of green infrastructure on park lands.
EPA: Green Infrastructure
EPA dashboard with general information on green infrastructure and its benefits.
The Nature Conservancy: Green Stormwater Infrastructure Jurisdictional Retrofit Guide
A comprehensive alignment of plans and policies to support Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) retrofits.
City Habitats: Turn the Tide on Community Runoff
Educational piece for elementary school students about stormwater runoff and raingardens.
EPA: Green Infrastructure Technical Assistance Projects
This report summarizes practical, successful solutions to inspire city managers, community leaders and engaged citizens who want to implement green infrastructure.
The Nature Conservancy: Stormwater Heatmap
An animated video exploring the Stormwater Heatmap, a new tool that visualizes pollution across the landscape. View the Heatmap here.
The Nature Conservancy, Siting High-Impact Stormwater Infrastructure SOW Template w/Examples
This SOW Template walks a user through each task to efficiently site high-impact stormwater infrastructure while providing useful example deliverables.
Seattle Public Utilities: Right Place, Right Project
Guide to the importance of green stormwater infrastructure in Seattle.
EPA: Learn About Green Streets
EPA dashboard with information on streets with green infrastructure.
Rainwise Incentive Program
Main page to navigate the various resources and rebates provided by Rainwise.
12,000 Rain Gardens: How to Build a Rain Garden
Compiled list with resources on how to build rain gardens, rebate programs, and general education.
The Nature Conservancy: Retrofitting Our Legacy
This paper proposes strategies for cities and counties to ramp-up their use of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and other nature-based solutions to treat road runoff.
King County: Puget Sound Shoreline Stewardship
Guide to protecting waterbodies for homeowners located near shorelines.
Fuera de Nuestras Puertas
The Spanish version of our Outside Our Doors publication.
EPA: Green Infrastructure Financing Options
Financing Options and Resources for Local Decision-Makers.
12,000 Rain Gardens: Green Infrastructure Incentives in Puget Sound
List of incentive programs throughout Puget Sound for rain gardens and other green infrastructure.
WaterWorks Grant Program
Water grant program for organizations in King County.
EPA: Nonpoint Source Pollution
EPA dashboard with information on nonpoint source pollution like stormwater.
King County: Native Plant Guide
List of native plants to use for landscaping projects.
Habitat Network
Social science green infrastructure mapping program from The Nature Conservancy and Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Saving Water Partnership: Rebates
List of rebate programs for the Seattle/Puget Sound area.
The Nature Conservancy: Outside Our Doors Report
Report laying out the health benefits of having nearby nature in cities.
The Nature Conservancy, Case Studies in Siting High-Impact Stormwater Infrastructure
This report demonstrates how to use the Siting Stormwater Infrastructure SOW template to evaluate watersheds and identify ideal project sites.
Washington Environmental Council: Polluted Puddles Video
Educational video for all ages on stormwater runoff pollution.
Washington State University: Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington
Extensive how-to on building rain gardens specific to Western Washington.
The Nature Conservancy: Cascading Benefits Report
Report laying out the health benefits of green infrastructure in cities.
The Nature Conservancy, Modifiable Siting High-Impact Stormwater Infrastructure SOW Template
This template is intended for a user to download and modify with their project needs and constraints to efficiently site high-impact stormwater infrastructure.
Puget Sound Starts Here: Captain Coho & the Salmonmobile
Interactive and kid friendly worksheet talking about the effects of stormwater on salmon.
King County: Rainwater Harvesting for Outdoor Use
Information on how to harvest rainwater and use it for outdoor purposes.
The Nature Conservancy: Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Toolkit
Resources to support management of a healthy urban canopy in Central Puget Sound and a model for other regions.
King County: “Yard Talk” Episodes
King County TV show that talks about different ways of maintaining your garden and yard.
Willamette Partnerships: Working with the Market
Economic instruments and policy for financing green stormwater infrastructure projects.
Seattle Rainwise Program: Managing Stormwater at Home
Various resources on how to build a rain garden, educational material, and rebates.
The Nature Conservancy: Solving Stormwater Video
Video laying out how salmon are affected by stormwater runoff and the benefits of green infrastructure.
Stormwater Quality in Puget Sound
A report outlining stormwater impacts and solutions in reviewed literature.