REGULATING AND REDUCING POLLUTION - Marine Pollution: What Everyone Needs to Know - page 225

for the Advancement of Science and other esteemed scientific
organizations. While President Obama has put forth a climate
plan, the opposing party in US politics stands firmly against
any policies to deal with this urgent issue.
While there has not been significant progress in mitigation,
there are many efforts toward adaptation or resilience, espe-
cially after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Huge numbers
of buildings and other infrastructure have been damaged or
destroyed by powerful hurricanes and floods. Programs are
being designed to reduce the vulnerability of coastal struc-
tures and water-resource infrastructure.
What steps can local and state governments take to
reduce pollution?
Runoff
The federal government should, but has not led the fight
against the massive pollution from runoff and other diffuse
sources. Much of the degradation is from chemical fertilizers
and animal feed lots. In the absence of federal leadership, state
and local governments can take steps to reduce the amount of
runoff. They can purchase property in vulnerable areas and
turn it into open space (natural areas). They can develop pro-
grams to use nature's defenses (green infrastructure) to buffer
and restore marshes and barrier islands that can absorb pollu-
tion and protect inland property. They can plant forest buffers,
and plant street trees in urban settings to absorb stormwater
and reduce the heat island effect. They can develop rain gar-
dens and green roofs, and replace impervious paved areas
with permeable surfaces that absorb rainfall. Stormwater
management should include bioretention systems that capture
stormwater and treat urban runoff. For effective stormwater
management, they should use landscape vegetation and spe-
cially designed filters that remove bacteria, metals, nutrients
and suspended solids naturally. They should eliminate illegal