It Is Not Easy Being Green: Recognizing Unintended Consequences of Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Jacques Finlay,Mira Klein,John Nieber,Vinicius Taguchi,Raymond Hozalski,Bonnie Keeler,Peter Weiss,John Gulliver,Lawrence Baker

doi:10.3390/w12020522

Jacques Finlay, Mira Klein + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020522

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Abstract

Green infrastructure designed to address urban drainage and water quality issues is often deployed without full knowledge of potential unintended social, ecological, and human health consequences. Though understood in their respective fields of study, these diverse impacts are seldom discussed together in a format understood by a broader audience. This paper takes a first step in addressing that gap by exploring tradeoffs associated with green infrastructure practices that manage urban stormwater including urban trees, stormwater ponds, filtration, infiltration, rain gardens, and green roofs. Each green infrastructure practice type performs best under specific conditions and when targeting specific goals, but regular inspections, maintenance, and monitoring are necessary for any green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) practice to succeed. We review how each of the above practices is intended to function and how they could malfunction in order to improve how green stormwater infrastructure is designed, constructed, monitored, and maintained. Our proposed decision-making framework, using both biophysical (biological and physical) science and social science, could lead to GSI projects that are effective, cost efficient, and just.

Highlights

Stormwater management is a relatively new field of study
We introduce a new framework for planners implementing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) that integrates both biophysical We introduce a new framework for planners implementing GSI that integrates both biophysical science and social science (Figure 2) to increase the probability of outcomes science and social science (Figure 2) to increase the probability of outcomes that are effective, cost efficient, and just
GSI exists on a spectrum between natural ecosystems providing services and “gray” stormwater control measures that rely on conventional strategies of drainage, retention, and detention without relying on living organisms (Figure 4)

Summary

Introduction

Stormwater management is a relatively new field of study. Over the years, the stormwater management paradigm has shifted multiple times [1], and different stormwater practices have come into and out of favor. Environmental justice necessitates a consideration of green gentrification, wherein GSI implementation can lead4to rising of 33 property values and rents, displacement of historical communities in the name of flood protection, and a loss of a sense of community belonging or identity [38,41]. The benefits of GSI are mediated by of historical in the and name of floodfactors, protection, andcan a loss of a sense of community complexcommunities social, ecological, technical which determine where and whenbelonging nature-based or identity [38,41]. GSI planning which can determine whereconsider and when nature-basedjustice solutions deliver net benefits or costs to different design decisions must environmental issues.

A Framework for GSI Decision Making

Urban Stormwater

Overview

Gray Green Infrastructure Spectrum

Future

Intended Purpose

Potential Negative Consequences

Recommendations

Discussion

Identify Goals

Prioritize Goals

Characterize Loading