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Effectiveness of a decentralized stormwater management program in the reduction of runoff volume
Citation:
SHUSTER, W. D., M. M. Morrison, AND H. THURSTON. Effectiveness of a decentralized stormwater management program in the reduction of runoff volume. Presented at Center for Watershed Protection webinar, , Ghent, NY, October 20, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
A decentralized, retrofit approach to storm water management was implemented in a small suburban drainage on the basis of a voluntary reverse auction. This effort led to the installation of 83 rain gardens and 176 rain barrels on approximately 20 percent of 350 residential properties in the watershed. One area of the drainage showed higher (~50%) adoption of the rain garden (one offered) and rain barrels (up to four offered). We discuss the incentive mechanism and how it was applied in this work, and use a model to illustrate how the resulting implementation of stormwater management may decrease stormwater volume for smaller rainfall events. Due to lower detention volume, rain barrels played a minro role compared to the rain garde, which can absorb larger volumes of water. However, rain barrels were a useful addition for outdoor watering, and may have helped familiarize citizens with stormwater management. Landowner engagement in plumbing together rain barrel overflow and rain gardens would likely disconnect larger extents of impervious surface than otherwise.
