Applied carrying capacity concept for integrating stormwater management and land use planning, a case study: The Kuantu plain of Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract

The carrying capacity of land resources in terms of hydrologic consequences of land development is the basis of a proposed method for integrating the land planning process with stormwater management. Concepts of natural drainage such as soil moisture storage capacity for rainwater infiltration, and vegetated depressed surface for collecting storm runoff are used as criteria of performance control for ensuring balance between land development and hydrologic processes. A stormwater management model is developed which includes a land program, hydrologic process, and stormwater management techniques to simulate the hydrologic effects of various land development programs, and to estimate their land use performance standards. The model uses the Soil Cover Complex Method developed by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service to compute the hydrologic effects. The land use performance standards incorporated in this research include: pervious areas required, swale area required, and average depth of retention pond. The land characteristics of Kuantu Plain, Taipei, Taiwan are used as a case study to estimate land use performance standards of natural drainage. The model outputs provide useful guidance to help land use planners utilize land resources more efficiently.