Engaging the Private Homeowner: Linking Climate Change and Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Abstract

Current and projected climate change in the Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Area indicates an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall. One key outcome of this change is a subsequent potential increase in stormwater runoff, a concern exacerbated by the region’s shallow, often clay soils and exposed bedrock, along with highly impervious urban surfaces. This situation, coupled with public perception of climate change that is increasingly inclusive of severe weather, highlights an opportunity to apply green infrastructure to the challenge of stormwater management, referred to as green stormwater infrastructure. In addition to coordinated public action at local, state, and national levels, there is a role for the private landowner to participate in this form of climate adaptation. Private citizens have an opportunity to both protect their home and property while contributing to overall stormwater management for the community in which they live. Focus group research was conducted to better understand outreach and involve local residents in the creation of a tool to assist private green stormwater infrastructure efforts. Results of the focus group sessions were analyzed, and key themes emerged from the data to guide this process and support private home/landowner action. It is recommended that a fifth domain be added to the typology for public and private roles in climate adaptation, i.e. private adaptation for public and private benefit.

Exploring the Role of Outdoor Recreation to Contribute to Urban Climate Resilience

“…This concern includes impacts of stormwater run-off on recreation infrastructure, for example, severe erosion on Duluth trails and in parks. Stormwater management is a challenge in Duluth based on the local topography (steep hillsides down to Lake Superior), clay soils, exposed bedrock, and urbanization [49]. In addition, the loss of Black Ash will harm regional cultural traditions [47].…”

“…Another example of this growing climate concern was the growth of the Twin Ports Climate Conversations (TPCC), a Duluth area monthly presentation and discussion on a wide variety of climate change-oriented topics [69]. Given the growing importance of outdoor recreation to the area economy [70] in sync with the growth in climate change awareness [49], a specific focus on climate resilience relative to outdoor recreational resources was deemed as an important focus by Sea Grant Extension Educators in collaboration with numerous actors in the community, not least University of Minnesota professionals, Minnesota state climatology professionals, and outdoor recreation leaders. It was hoped that climate resilience emphasizing outdoor recreation could serve as a positive, unifying direction for the community [71].…”

Residents’ Willingness to Participate in Green Infrastructure: Spatial Differences and Influence Factors in Shanghai, China

“…In addition, Byrne et al [35] took tree plant activities in public space as a case study, developed a model combining residents' social variables (e.g., gender, age, and education level) and tree benefit perception, and found that older people with higher tree benefit perception are more willing to plant trees in public space to promote climate adaptation change in Hangzhou, China. Beery et al [36] suggested that improving residents' cognition of GI and perception of pluvial flood risk play an important role in promoting residents' active participation in the implementation of GI. In general, many studies suggested that public involvement is needed, and the barriers to implementation are policy, technology, perception, funding, residents' living experiences, etc.…”

Towards Resilient Vital Infrastructure Systems: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Research Agenda

“…As another method of increasing infrastructure resilience, risk assessment has been commonly used in the studies conducted by Ruijters and Stoelinga (2016); Hall et al (2016); Do and Jung (2018); Mao et al (2018); Wang et al (2019); and Tsavdaroglou et al (2018). The selected studies also highlight that within the water sector, combining green and grey infrastructures (nature-based solutions) is the most frequently used approach to increase system's resilience (e.g., Hulscher et al, 2014;Augustijn et al, 2014;Demuzere et al, 2014;Borsje et al, 2017;Augustijn et al, 2018;Beery, 2018;Vuik et al, 2019).…”