ORS 197.468 Purpose

The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that:

The purpose of community green infrastructure projects and green infrastructure economic development projects is to provide direct social, environmental and economic benefits to communities across this state through green infrastructure.

The social, environmental and economic benefits of green infrastructure to communities include, but are not limited to:

Climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience;

Stormwater management;

Air temperature regulation;

Air quality benefits;

Noise abatement;

Energy savings;

Economic development opportunities;

Public or community health benefits;

Support for community food pathways through regenerative agriculture;

Water quality improvements, including temperature regulation;

Water conservation;

Erosion control;

Park and open space benefits;

Urban forest benefits;

Restoration of floodplain functions;

Restored or expanded wetlands and riparian areas;

Habitat improvements;

Aquifer recharge that does not include an extractive or consumptive use of the aquifer;

Stream flow augmentation;

Carbon sequestration;

Community livability;

Local jobs; and

The use of plants and food in maintaining social and environmental identity and lifeways.