Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek and its Resident Fellows are excited to launch the Chollas Blue Green Vision Campaign. This initiative aims to promote Blue Green Infrastructure (BGI) and stormwater investments in the Chollas Creek Watershed, responding to the devastating storm event on January 22, 2024 and decades of under-investment.
The campaign seeks to engage 5,000 watershed residents to advocate for public and private investments that address flooding and water quality challenges, while also enhancing parks, trails, green spaces, and public facilities.
What Does “Blue Green” Mean?
Blue Green Infrastructure (BGI) refers to the integration of natural water management systems (blue) and vegetative, ecological systems (green) in urban planning. Unlike traditional gray infrastructure, which relies on concrete and pipes to manage stormwater, BGI incorporates natural landscapes and green spaces to absorb, filter, and manage water. This approach not only addresses water management issues but also provides additional benefits such as lowered temperatures, improved air quality, enhanced biodiversity, and more attractive public spaces. Video: Example of a BGI approach.
Collaborative Efforts
In partnership with San Diego Canyonlands, we have also established the Chollas Blue Green Collaborative. Composed of residents, landowners, City planning agencies, regulators, developers, and industry leaders, this group will develop a comprehensive BGI Plan for the watershed. The first step toward creating a BGI Plan will be to establish a BGI Vision, which will seek to enshrine the community’s preferred constellation of benefits in a set of guiding documents that will both empower the community and guide public decision-makers in capital project development.
Why a BGI Framework?
Our Chollas Creek communities deserve the best forward-thinking solutions. A multi-benefit BGI Vision will guide public decision-making to prioritize BGI projects, which offer multiple advantages such as flood management, improved water quality, and enhanced green spaces. This holistic approach addresses immediate challenges while creating beautiful community resources and supporting long-term resilience.
Campaign Goals
Raise awareness and support for a blue-green infrastructure approach to climate and community resilience.
Ensure resident priorities are reflected in the Chollas Blue Green Vision.
The Chollas Blue Green Collaborative launched on April 24, 2024. With over 40 of the listed stakeholders present, the meeting included presentations, breakout discussions, and a survey to guide future efforts. Key takeaways emphasized the need for coordinated approaches, guiding principles for future projects, and direct community participation.
Resident Empowerment
The campaign has been–and will be–driven by our Resident Fellows. Thanks to support from the Mayor’s Office, Groundwork received national funding to launch its first Resident Leader Empowerment Training.
Residents completed a four-month training program, and these community leaders have created a portfolio of resident-driven BGI project concepts that can be implemented with existing resources. They are now developing community organizing plans to ensure effective participatory design and planning. All of this is bolstered by Groundwork’s innovative “community science” initiative that empowers residents to gather their own, on-the-ground environmental data to inform project priorities.
Next Steps
Three more Chollas Blue Green Collaborative meetings are planned through March 2025, aligned with the Chollas Blue Green Vision Campaign. These initiatives will culminate in a comprehensive proposal for a multi-benefit BGI Vision, outlining strategic directions and project typologies for water quality, water management improvements, and community resilience initiatives.
Join the Groundwork email list for more updates on our progress and how you can get involved in making Chollas Creek a resilient and vibrant community.