Community + Water Early cities developed along waterways, which served as major transportation routes before the advent of railroads and automobiles. Although useful in bringing resources and people to and from communities, rivers also bring floodwaters capable of devastating those same communities. Traditionally, the United States relied on structural approaches, such as levees, dams, and floodwalls to manage riverine flooding. These types of structural flood controls cost billions of dollars and often take decades to fund and construct. Structural projects also tend to disrupt ecosystems, reduce the floodplain’s capacity to store excess runoff, and can encourage development in flood-prone and other high-risk or vulnerable areas by providing a false sense of security. If these systems fail, due to age, human error, or a weather-related event, catastrophic damage is possible. While communities in this region have always faced riverine and coastal storm surge flooding, communities are now flooding more often due to frequent and more intense storms overwhelming drainage systems. To bolster their ability to withstand and respond to future storm events, many communities−such as Denham Springs−are adopting new ways of managing stormwater, such as green stormwater infrastructure. Where prior approaches sought to drain water as quickly as possible, green stormwater infrastructure emphasizes restoring natural systems and creating space in the landscape to hold stormwater until it can absorb or evaporate. These strategies increase a community’s overall capacity to store and manage excess stormwater. Many green infrastructure strategies provide multiple benefits, such as improving water quality and offering aesthetically pleasing outdoor environments that facilitate and encourage active, healthy lifestyles. COMMUNITY + WATER recognizes the growing importance of planning for water by creating space to store stormwater in the landscape. In some neighborhoods, no amount of engineering, landscaping, or infrastructure improvements will protect people and their property. In these situations, local governments can use federal funds to buy flooded properties. Once purchased, all buildings are demolished, and the land is maintained as green space in perpetuity. This strategy, known as a buyout, helps households move out of flood-prone areas while increasing space for water in the landscape, which can reduce excess stormwater in other areas within the community. This strategy may be particularly impactful
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Denham Springs Resilience
