Flooding in the District: Ep. 3 – Blue-Green Infrastructure

Summary

This video explores the District of Columbia's innovative approach to flood risk management through Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI). Combining green and grey infrastructure, BGI aims to reduce flood risks, enhance public spaces, and improve community resilience during heavy rainstorms. The video discusses how BGI uses strategic designs like porous sidewalks, rain gardens, and green spaces to manage stormwater while providing additional benefits like water and energy savings, improved air quality, and reduced carbon footprints. It highlights ongoing efforts in areas like Watts Branch and global examples like Copenhagen, encouraging community involvement in climate-ready decisions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The District of Columbia is exploring an integrated approach to flood management that combines both traditional grey infrastructure and innovative blue-green infrastructure (BGI).
• 😀 Traditional flood management infrastructure, such as levees, dams, and tunnels, focuses on blocking or conveying large storms safely, ensuring safety during extreme weather events.
• 😀 Blue-green infrastructure (BGI) is a community-level approach that combines both green and grey technologies to reduce flood risk and promote stormwater management.
• 😀 The District has been a leader in adopting green infrastructure over the past 15 years, with programs like RiverSmart incentivizing rainwater-friendly technologies (e.g., rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavements).
• 😀 Green infrastructure has proven effective in reducing stormwater runoff and pollution, restoring the health of streams and rivers by naturally cleaning the water before it reaches waterways.
• 😀 BGI builds on the success of green infrastructure, using a planning approach that integrates green and grey solutions to manage both small and large storm events in urban green spaces.
• 😀 Examples of BGI in practice include sports fields doubling as flood storage during heavy rain and streets designed with permeable sidewalks and rain gardens for stormwater capture.
• 😀 BGI adds additional capacity to existing grey infrastructure, helping prevent overwhelming systems during cloudburst storms that can lead to interior flooding.
• 😀 In addition to flood protection, BGI provides co-benefits such as increased public green spaces, water and energy savings, improved air quality, and a reduced carbon footprint.
• 😀 The District has initiated the creation of a BGI master plan, starting with a focus on Watts Branch, a key area vulnerable to flooding, to explore community-wide flood functions and co-benefits.
• 😀 The concept of BGI has been successfully implemented in cities like Copenhagen, Denmark, which is pursuing a city-wide BGI plan involving over 300 interconnected projects.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the district's approach to flood risk management?

The district is exploring an integrated approach to flood risk management through public space construction projects, combining grey infrastructure with blue-green infrastructure (BGI) to manage large and small storms more effectively.

What is the difference between grey infrastructure and blue-green infrastructure (BGI)?

Grey infrastructure focuses on traditional methods like levees, tunnels, and culverts to manage flood risks. In contrast, blue-green infrastructure (BGI) integrates green solutions like rain gardens and permeable pavements with grey infrastructure to better manage flood risks and enhance urban spaces.

How does the district utilize green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff?

The district encourages the installation of green infrastructure technologies, such as rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavements, and rain barrels, through its RiverSmart programs. These technologies help reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality by naturally filtering out pollutants before they reach rivers.

What is the role of blue-green infrastructure (BGI) in managing stormwater and flood risks?

BGI enhances traditional green infrastructure by using a community-wide approach that integrates both green and grey technologies. It creates a master plan for strategically placing these technologies to improve stormwater management and reduce flood risks, including in urban green spaces.

What are the co-benefits of investing in blue-green infrastructure?

The co-benefits of blue-green infrastructure include increased access to public green spaces, water savings, energy savings (such as reduced AC usage), improved air quality, and a lower carbon footprint. These benefits go beyond just flood protection.

How does BGI help manage cloudburst storms?

BGI provides additional capacity to sewer systems, helping to reduce the impact of short, intense cloudburst storms that may overwhelm traditional grey infrastructure like pipes and manholes. By strategically connecting green infrastructure, BGI can store and convey stormwater, reducing the risk of flooding.

What is the Watts Branch Cloudburst Concept Plan?

The Watts Branch Cloudburst Concept Plan is a BGI initiative aimed at addressing flood risks in the Watts Branch watershed, which drains into the Anacostia River. It outlines a network of interconnected projects, including floodplain storage at Marvin Gaye Park and cloudburst road designs, to manage stormwater more effectively.

Which communities are vulnerable to flooding from Watts Branch?

Communities like Mayfair, Eastland Gardens, Central Northeast, Lincoln Heights, Capitol View, Deanwood, and Marshall Heights in Ward 7 are vulnerable to flooding from Watts Branch, with climate change expected to increase the risks.

How have other cities implemented blue-green infrastructure (BGI)?

Copenhagen, Denmark, is a leader in BGI implementation, working towards the development of 300 interconnected BGI projects as part of a comprehensive city-wide plan. This showcases the potential of BGI to manage flood risks on a large scale.

Why is it important for communities to invest in blue-green infrastructure?

Investing in blue-green infrastructure not only helps to reduce flood risks but also provides a range of environmental, social, and economic benefits, such as improving green spaces, saving water, reducing energy costs, and enhancing air quality, all of which contribute to a more sustainable and resilient urban environment.