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St. Louis Green Infrastructure Plan & River Des Peres Restoration Feasibility Study

St. Louis, MO
The City of St. Louis has partnered with CIS to develop a citywide Green Infrastructure (GI) Plan and River Des Peres Restoration Feasibility and Design Study to reduce flood risk, improve water quality, and restore natural ecosystems.

Project Scope

  • Citywide GI planning
  • River Des Peres feasibility and restoration strategies
  • Watershed modeling and hydrologic/hydraulic analysis
  • Land use and infrastructure assessment
  • Community and stakeholder engagement
  • Long-term implementation and funding strategies
The St. Louis GI Plan and River Des Peres Feasibility and Design Study project aims to transform stormwater management and restore critical waterways through a coordinated, community-driven planning process. The initiative will evaluate opportunities for GI across the city, prioritizing neighborhoods most vulnerable to flooding. At the same time, the River Des Peres Feasibility and Design Study will assess options to restore natural hydrology, improve habitat, and enhance public access along this historic waterway. Supported by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds after the 2022 flood, the effort will guide long-term stormwater management and community resilience. Key tasks include watershed modeling, infrastructure and land use assessments, evaluation of nature-based solutions, and integration of stormwater and ecological goals into a unified strategy. CIS will assist the City of St. Louis and project partners in aligning agencies, institutions, and community stakeholders to build long-term capacity for implementation.

Anticipated Results

The project will provide St. Louis with a clear, actionable roadmap for implementing GI citywide to manage stormwater and advance river restoration projects. It will reduce flood damages, improve water quality, and create healthier ecosystems while increasing public access to green space. By engaging community members and aligning public and private partners, the plan will ensure investments deliver broad benefits, support neighborhood revitalization, and strengthen resilience to future climate impacts.

Partners

City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA)
Geosyntec Consultants
SWT Design
St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce



Timeline

2025 – 2027
CATEGORIES Climate Resilience / Engineering Design / Equity and Environmental Justice / Federal Funding / Nature-Based Solutions / Policy Analysis and Planning / Pollution Reduction and Decarbonization / Stakeholder Engagement