Less gray,
more green.
Let's transform San Francisco now with sustainable green infrastructure solutions for cleaner water, recharged aquifers, better biodiversity, and safer streets.
What is Green Infrastructure?
Light Green Infrastructure
Surface-level improvements create more ways for plantings to hold and divert water, cleaning the air, filtering water, and reducing toxic runoff during storms. These solutions are less costly to install while providing multiple environmental benefits, including reduced flooding, increased humidity to mitigate fire risk, and enhanced local biodiversity.
Deep Green Infrastructure
Sub-surface infrastructure represents more comprehensive, collective efforts that update waste treatment systems with nature-based solutions and long-term vision. While more complex to implement, these improvements address interconnected environmental challenges, including sea level rise, and collaborate with connected water systems to ensure maximum protection of fragile ecosystems.
Why It Matters
💧 Clean Water
Reducing combined sewer overflows by diverting stormwater before it enters treatment facilities helps prevent untreated sewage from reaching the bay and ocean. San Francisco can become a leader in voluntary green infrastructure implementation even without EPA mandates.
🌊 Aquifer Resilience
Capturing rainfall where it falls recharges local aquifers, providing critical backup water supplies during emergencies while reducing pressure on the Tuolumne River watershed, supporting endangered salmon populations and ecosystem restoration.
🌱 Biodiversity & Wellbeing
Green infrastructure restores native ecosystems, expands our inequitably distributed urban tree canopy, and mitigates urban heat islands, creating healthier, more comfortable neighborhoods where people and wildlife can thrive.
🚶♀️ Safe Streets
Green features like bulb-outs improve visibility and shorten crossing distances, while planted medians and bioswales create protected spaces for active transportation and naturally calm traffic, making streets safer for everyone.
Upcoming Events
Join us at these upcoming events to learn more about green infrastructure and get involved in making San Francisco greener.
(Partner Event) Cole Valley Night Market - Pop-up Town Square
Thursday, June 12, 4-9pm
Carl & Cole Streets
The Civic Joy Fund and Green Street Fund transform a block of Carl Street into a pop-up town square with over 500 plants, seating, and places for kids to play. Read about the past activation of this amazing event on our blog.
(Partner Event) Sunset Dunes Walking Tour and Social
Saturday, June 21, TBD
Sunset Dunes
Join us with Westside Family Dem. Club for a walking tour and social. Registration details coming soon - check back for updates!
West-Side Aquifer and Green Infrastructure Webinar
Thursday, June 26, 10am
Online Webinar
Educational webinar exploring SF's west-side aquifer, green infrastructure connections, and sustainable water management. Featuring Doug Jacuzzi (Westside Water Resources) and Karen Curtiss (Red Dot Studio). Registration details coming soon and we might push the date back a few weeks!
Sewer Bike Tour - Ocean Beach
Saturday, August 23, 12pm
Ocean Beach
Join us for a bike tour exploring sewer infrastructure and green solutions, focusing on rising sea level impacts and nature-based approaches to protect our communities.
Sewer Bike Tour - Mission Creek
Saturday, September 20, 12pm
Mission Creek
Explore Mission Creek's green infrastructure solutions and community conservation efforts. Tour includes stops at Treat Plaza, outfall sites, and discussions with local volunteers maintaining natural systems.
Sewer Bike Tour - Islais Creek to Yosemite Slew
Saturday, October 4, 12pm
Islais Creek to Yosemite Slew
Extended tour comparing creek restoration efforts, examining treatment facilities, and exploring potential treatment wetlands. Includes discussion of impacts on neighborhoods and Bay ecosystems.
Past Events
Green SF Now Kickoff with Evolved SF!
Saturday, March 29, 12pm-3pm
Treat Plaza (16th and Harrison @Treat) in the Mission
Partnership with Evolved SF, Treat Past Present Future Artists, and taking place on site of controversial city sewer project.
Green SF Now at Ocean Beach Park Opening Celebration
Saturday, April 12, between 12pm and 4pm
Upper Great Highway between Noriega and Pacheco
Visit the SF Sierra Club Group for Green SF Now and Bay Alive campaign tabling at the Opening Ceremony of the Ocean Beach Park!
Green SF Now at Treat Plaza with Evolved SF
Saturday, April 19, 12pm-3pm
Treat Plaza (16th and Harrison @Treat)
Join us for an interactive activation of Green SF Now! at Treat Plaza in San Francisco's Mission District in partnership with local Community Based Organization Evolved SF.
Green SF Now at USF Earth Day
Tuesday, April 22, 11am-1pm
USF Lone Mountain Campus
Come meet the Sierra Club SF Group and Green SF Now team at USF's Earth Day event.
Green SF Now at Treat Plaza with Evolved SF
Saturday, May 17, 12pm-3pm
Treat Plaza (16th and Harrison @Treat)
Join us for an interactive activation of Green SF Now! at Treat Plaza in San Francisco's Mission District in partnership with local Community Based Organization Evolved SF.
Green SF Now is a Sierra Club campaign working to implement the city's environmental goals through practical, community-supported green infrastructure projects.
