Green Infrastructure Education Program

The Planning Department is coordinating a Green Infrastructure Education Program. The program will allow local professionals the opportunity to share their research and expertise about green infrastructure with citizens and professionals in Oklahoma City.

Upcoming Education Sessions

April 26, 2012: Become Bug-Wiser
Ray Ridlen, Horticulture Educator, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Oklahoma County
OSU-OKC, Agriculture Resource Center, 400 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, Room ARC 196, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

A review of how chemical application affects water quality and a tutorial on the role of biological control in landscapes (also known as Integrated Pest Management).

May 24, 2012: Oklahoma's Water Plan and Green Infrastructure
Mary Ellen Ternes, Esq., McAfee &Taft,
OSU-OKC, Agriculture Resource Center, 400 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, Room ARC 196, 12:00 pm (bring your own lunch)

This session will include a review of existing local ordinances in Oklahoma and their implications in the context of Oklahoma's Water Plan.

June 28, 2012: Advances in Sustainable Agriculture
Gregory F. Scott, State Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS
OSU-OKC, Agriculture Resource Center, 400 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, Room ARC 126, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Advances in Sustainable Agriculture, with a demonstration of the Web Soil Survey tool to highlight how to look up local soil information.

Official Soil Survey information is available through the Web Soil Survey, where a person can access soils information for virtually any parcel in the United States, and have a customized report delivered through the internet application. This session will consist of a guided tour of the web soil survey and the soil datamart, the website where persons can order and download spatial and attribute soil databases for the nation. 

July 26, 2012: Rainwater Harvesting
Jason R. Vogel, Ph.D., P.E. Assistant Professor and Stormwater Specialist Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Oklahoma State University
OSU-OKC, Agriculture Resource Center, 400 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, Room ARC 126, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Research and/or demonstration projects related to rainwater harvesting.

August 23, 2012:
Presenter: TBD
Time and Place: TBD

September 27, 2012:
Presenter: TBD
Time and Place: TBD

October 25, 2012: Retrofitting Stormwater Systems for Flood Hazard Mitigation with Low-Impact Development (LID) Techniques, Babcock Basin Case Study
Ellen W. Stevens, Ph.D., P.E., Civil Engineering Consultant
Cody Whittenburg, CFM, CSM, Stormwater Programs Manager and Floodplain Administrator, City of Stillwater
Time and Place: TBD

November 29, 2012: Natural Stream Restoration
Jason R. Vogel, Ph.D., P.E. Assistant Professor and Stormwater Specialist Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Oklahoma State University
OSU-OKC, Agriculture Resource Center, 400 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, Room ARC 126, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Research and/or demonstration projects related to natural stream restoration.

Past Education Sessions

February 2, 2012: Sustainable and Successful Landscapes
Brian Dougherty, FASLA
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation,
1000 N Broadway Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK

Residential homes and housing developments; commercial business and retail operations; schools, parks and other public properties all have a landscape of trees, shrubs and turf that requires an ongoing investment of money and labor.  Landscapes offer a positive curb appeal to many of these properties while other unkempt landscapes often portray a negative perception. 

The ‘Successful and Sustainable Landscape Applications for the Oklahoma City Area’ presentation will share many of the components for planning, implementing and maintaining the successful and sustainable landscape.  Proper design criteria, plant selection, soil preparation, irrigation options, installation techniques as well as short term and long term maintenance suggestions will be discussed.

PowerPoint slides will be used to illustrate the opportunities and applications and handouts will be provided to participants to provide reference and support for their own applications.

March 22, 2012: Storm Water Quality in Oklahoma City
Raymond L. Melton, CSI, CPESC, Environmental Protection Manager, City of Oklahoma City
City of Oklahoma City Public Works Training Facility, 3738 SW 15th Street (SW 15th & S Portland), 12:00 pm (bring your own lunch)

An overview of the Oklahoma City Storm Water Quality Public Outreach program including a number of different elements reflecting the wide variety of water quality-related programs that the City is responsible for. An option tour of the City's Household Hazardous Waste facility will begin at approximately 1:00 pm.

If you have questions concerning green infrastructure, contact Paul Ryckbost at 297-2110.