The Stormwater Report

A 2015 stormwater year in review through the lens of resilience

Parklakes II, a master-planned residential community within Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia, will soon be home to a unique floating wetland installation. The first of the 230 pontoons that support the vegetation were launched Nov. 25. Eventually the pontoons will cover 2100 m2 of a 2.5 ha lake and will be […]

This winter, some California farmers will be flooding their fields to replenish groundwater. El Niño is expected to deliver a warmer, wetter winter season to California, and farmers are hoping to capitalize on the extra water by directing floodwater and stormwater to their fields. The water will percolate through the soil and into the aquifer […]

On Dec. 9, the City of London announced the establishment of a Green Infrastructure Task Force with the release of the report Natural Capital: Investing in a Green Infrastructure for a Future City. The report and task force will build on the London Infrastructure Plan 2050. The plan sets out the infrastructure needs for London […]

A recent study by Scottish Natural Heritage and The Highland Council has found that sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) ponds between Inverness and Nairn in Scotland are supporting a wide variety of wildlife. Marcia Rae, the council’s graduate research assistant, identified 71 water bodies in the area as part of the investigation. Of these water […]

In Norman, Okla., the Trailwoods community is demonstrating the benefits of green infrastructure when compared side-by-side with traditional stormwater management techniques. The neighborhood, developed by Ideal Homes, includes 17 lots constructed with curb and gutter and downspout-to-driveway conveyance as well as two stormwater basins. Another 17 lots are designed with rain gardens, rain barrels, and […]

In early December, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IV recognized the City of Ocala for significantly improving its stormwater infrastructure and protecting the community from flooding. The City of Ocala participates in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary incentive program recognizing community floodplain management that exceeds minimum requirements. In July, […]

Flooding in urban areas from stormwater runoff may be mitigated when state and local governments plan a coordinated effort to reduce risk. The Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) offered their support to communities by developing a model ordinance that city and county officials can use when revising […]

On Dec. 8, the Conservation Leadership Council (CLC) released a new study examining the role of green infrastructure. The CLC report, titled The Role of Green Infrastructure — Nature, Economics, and Resilience, asserts that green approaches promote ecosystem services and greater resiliency while providing water quality and quantity treatment at a lower cost than traditional […]

On Nov. 19, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) celebrated the opening of the new Scioto Greenways. The project is a 13-ha (33-ac) parkland with 2.4 km (1.5 mi) of multi-use trails. The project cost $36 million and involved removing the Main Street dam, planting 800 trees, and creating up to 350 jobs. MORPC provided […]