The Stormwater Report

Part of the challenge of achieving financial and social buy-in for flood management projects is that their benefits often only become apparent when flooding does not occur. Without the ability to demonstrate, for example, how investment in flood control by public officials can minimize future disasters or how taking simple mitigation steps can help homeowners […]

A new resource from Stormwater Currency guides trading-minded municipalities Just as municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permittees and others subject to stormwater regulations seek out the cheapest and easiest ways to achieve compliance, regulatory agencies have a vested interest in making compliance simpler without sacrificing environmental benefits. In a growing number of U.S. cities, […]

In today’s urban development landscape, striking a balance between economic prosperity and environmental stewardship is increasingly difficult. If property developers fill wetlands and other natural landforms that accept stormwater runoff, provide habitat for wildlife, and control erosion, the result is often increased flooding and decreased biodiversity. On the other hand, development can stagnate if local […]

When Hurricane Katrina tore across Louisiana in 2005, decimating wide swaths of New Orleans, the region’s vulnerability to flooding from severe storms became a cautionary tale for municipalities around the world. In the years since, local, state, and federal governments have spent more than $20 billion surrounding the city with updated flood control measures, explored […]

It’s easy to make small, incremental changes. In the world of stormwater, that might mean installing a rain garden or green roof. And while the little changes can help, it’s the big plans that make the most significant differences. That’s what Hong Wu, assistant professor of landscape architecture at Pennsylvania State University (PSU; State College) […]

In June, the City of San Antonio awarded $2.6 million to researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to support three stormwater management projects over the next 3 years, according to a UTSA release. Each project protects the Edwards Aquifer by lowering risks of runoff contamination. Lying beneath south-central Texas, the massive, […]

The first-ever analysis of needs of the U.S. stormwater sector shows an estimated $7.5 billion annual funding gap and revealed top priorities and challenges across the country. The inaugural Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Needs Assessment Survey, led by the Water Environment Federation’s Stormwater Institute (WEF; Alexandria, Va.), reflects an effort to learn more about […]

The City of Vancouver, Wash., is in an important spot for water quality in the Pacific Northwest. The 21-km-long (13-mi-long) Burnt Bridge Creek meanders through the city center, flowing west into Vancouver Lake. The lake, in turn, drains into the Columbia River and, eventually, the Pacific Ocean. For this reason, the city takes great care […]

Stormwater financing can be complicated. Luckily, a team from the Great Lakes area has created a collection of animated videos to help explain three market-based financing options. Animations by the team, funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, cover community-based public–private partnerships, stormwater credit trading, and environmental impact bonds. The team works as part of […]

On Nov. 6, Los Angeles (LA) County, Calif., voters voiced support for Measure W, which establishes a parcel tax to fund the county’s Safe Clean Water Program. According to ballot language, the tax would provide approximately $300 million each year to build a retinue of stormwater management infrastructure aimed at bringing the county’s 88 municipalities […]