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.
Moscone Elementary School Garden Beautification
Saturday, July 12, 9am-12pm
Moscone Elementary School, 2576 Harrison Street, San Francisco, 94110
Join us to help beautify the garden spaces at Moscone Elementary School! Tasks include planting in pots & garden beds, clearing space for a garden shed, and weeding & light landscaping. No experience needed—we'll provide tools and guidance. Bring water bottle, sun protection, and work gloves if you have them. Contact Dheyanira at 415-424-6782 with questions.
Webinar: San Francisco Watersheds 101
Thursday, July 17, 1pm
Online Webinar
Join us for an educational exploration of San Francisco's water systems and discover the hidden aquifer beneath the west side of our city. Featuring Doug Jacuzzi (Westside Water Resources) and Karen Curtiss (Red Dot Studio).
Concrete Jungle or Urban Paradise?: Green Density Walking Tour
Sunday, August 10, 3pm (date confirmed, time subject to change)
Mission District (meeting point TBD)
Co-hosted with D9 Neighbors for Housing. Explore how thoughtful housing policy advances environmental goals through compact, walkable neighborhoods. See green roofs, bioswales, and pocket parks that improve air quality and manage stormwater in high-density areas. Perfect for residents, planners, housing advocates, and environmentalists. Tour includes lunch or drinks afterward. Check back soon for a registration link.
Sewer Bike Tour - Ocean Beach
Saturday, August 23, 12pm
Ocean Beach
Join us for a bike tour exploring sewer infrastructure and green solutions in Ocean Beach, focusing on rising sea level impacts and nature-based approaches to protect our communities. Discover how innovative wastewater treatment systems and green infrastructure can help coastal areas adapt to climate change.
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.
