Date of Award
May 2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP)
Department
City and Regional Planning
Committee Member
Caitlin Dyckman
Committee Member
Daniel Hitchcock
Committee Member
John Gaber
Abstract
Cities in the Northeastern United States face threats of flooding due to precipitation increases and rising sea levels resulting from climatic changes. These threats are exacerbated by the reality that these cities are heavily developed, with large areas of impervious surface that lead to increased stormwater runoff loads and the potential for overflow. One way to alleviate these issues is to pursue a distributed green stormwater infrastructure approach, as both Philadelphia and New York have done. Through evaluating these plans and interviewing key stakeholders, this study aimed to understand what role both anticipated climate change impacts and urban planners had in the development and implementation of these plans. Results showed that the concept of climate change was not a main focus in plan development due to their focus on improving water quality issues associated with stormwater runoff, although plans promote resiliency through providing a range of environmental, social, and economic benefits. There was significant involvement from planners in both plan development and implementation through identifying opportunities to site green stormwater features and fostering communication and collaboration between relevant stakeholders.
Recommended Citation
Dool, Kyle M., "Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Lessons and Challenges for Urban Planners in the Northeast United States" (2021). All Theses. 3562.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/3562