The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced an online video—Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In—that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs, and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. The film showcases green techniques that are being used in urban areas to reduce the effects of stormwater runoff on the quality of downstream receiving waters. The goal is to mimic the natural way water moves through an area before development by using design techniques that infiltrate, evaporate, and reuse runoff close to its source.

The techniques are innovative stormwater management practices that manage urban stormwater runoff at its source, and are effective at reducing the volume of stormwater runoff and capturing harmful pollutants. Using vegetated areas that capture runoff also improves air quality, mitigates the effects of urban heat islands, and reduces a community’s overall carbon footprint.

The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s "One Planet—Ours!" exhibit and at the EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns.

Watch the video online. More information on stormwater management is available at www.epa.gov/greeninfrastructure.