Rep. Carnahan Delivers for ASLA

Congressman Russ Carnahan, Honorary ASLA, has again shown his support for landscape architects in Missouri by introducing the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2011. This legislation has been directly influenced by advocacy efforts undertaken by ASLA members across the country. St Louis ASLA is proud that our Congressman is one of the first strong supporters.

Congressman Carnahan joins with Congresswoman Donna Edwards (MD) in this endeavor, and he is in excellent company. Congresswoman Edwards spoke to ASLA advocates at the recent DC meeting and demonstrated her great passion for and knowledge of green infrastructure as a permanent solution to problems around the nation.

Congressman Carnahan was quoted speaking of this legislation in light of the historic flooding along the Mississippi:

"Water quality is an issue facing states across the country, but it is particularly urgent in the arid southwest and my home state of New Mexico, where extreme droughts are becoming the norm. By promoting greener design of stormwater infrastructure, we can create jobs, save on construction costs and increase groundwater re-charge that will enhance our water resources."

To learn more about ASLA’s efforts regarding this bill and its Senate companion, simply click!

From American Rivers, ASLA’s partner in the promotion of this legislation:

Recent and devastating flooding along the Mississippi has emphasized the need to strengthen our natural defenses.  While the floods we’ve just seen result from many causes, including the destruction of small streams and wetlands upstream, overdevelopment of our cities is another cause. In urbanized areas with hard surfaces like roads and parking lots, rainwater has nowhere to go. It can’t soak naturally into the soil, so instead it washes into storm drains and overwhelms the system - increasing and magnifying floods. FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) reports that about one quarter of economic losses caused by flooding don’t actually happen in the “floodplain,” but instead occur as a consequence of urban drainage.  Green infrastructure practices like restored wetlands and green roofs can help mitigate localized flooding by capturing and infiltrating rainwater where it falls and keeping it from causing local flooding, which contribute to bigger floods. Read More