Cities impact the environment and natural resources directly through their operations, services, and infrastructure (such as transportation, pathways, urban nature, and walkable neighborhoods), through development (such as land use patterns), and resident and business use of water, energy, and waste systems.

Many Salem activities protecting our environment, drinking water, flooding, stormwater, and wastewater treatment are the subject of state or federal laws to which the City must comply and may incorporate into local regulations.

Salem also prepares for and works to reduce flooding; supports an education program related to keeping streams clean; invests in parks, open spaces and the urban tree canopy; balances land use needs today and into the future; plans for infrastructure needs as the community grows and changes; incents Brownfield clean up and development; invests in energy efficient operations; and plans for resiliency of services to our community.