What’s the Issue?

As the climate crisis intensifies, storms and flooding have grown increasingly difficult to handle and much of the stormwater and flood infrastructure in the United States is in dire need of update. In fact, in 2021 the American Society of Civil Engineers evaluated stormwater infrastructure in the United States and gave the US a grade of D. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average floodplain (area that floods) is projected to increase 45% by 2100, while annual damages from flooding are predicted to jump by $750 million. Across the board, these impacts will be felt the hardest in disadvantaged communities that have faced historic under investment and neglect from their legislators decision makers. In cultivating solutions to this issue, it’s more important now than ever that communities invest equitably in sustainable infrastructure solutions to handle flooding and build climate resilience. 

While updating infrastructure is increasingly important, it’s also critical that communities are strategic about the kinds of infrastructure they’re investing in as well. Traditionally, stormwater management has been the task of ‘gray’ infrastructure, describing hard structures meant to control the flow of water, such as pipes or drains that transport rainwater to filtration facilities or carry the rainwater to larger bodies of water. Green Stormwater Infrastructure is innovative infrastructure that manages stormwater movement, filtration, and collection by leaning into nature’s ability to handle water. It can include rehabilitated wetlands, permeable pavement, green roofs, and other innovations. With the growing intensity of storms and flooding, the cultivation of green stormwater infrastructure balanced with gray infrastructure when necessary, is a cornerstone to our collective future. However, finding the money, manpower, and political will to implement green, sustainable, or new stormwater infrastructure can be a massive challenge. 

In the environmental and political moment that the U.S. is facing, there is opportunity to drive our governments to take sustainable stormwater infrastructure innovation seriously and invest equitably in a more sustainable future for our communities.  

In 2021 President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan Act, followed by the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. These three pieces of federal legislation give critical funding for climate resilience projects, much of it encouraging the creation and construction of green stormwater infrastructure. The Biden administration’s focus on directing funding towards environmental justice communities through the Justice40 Initiative created a framework to channel a significant portion of these funds to disadvantaged communities across the country. The National Institute of Building Sciences reports that for riverine flood mitigation, federal investment provides $7 benefit for every $1 invested. The influx of these federal funds has created a unique opportunity to advocate for the implementation of updated and sustainable stormwater infrastructure. The future landscape of federal funding is unknown, which makes it particularly crucial that investments are made on the state level to ensure longevity for updated and sustainable stormwater infrastructure implementation. 

Many policymakers at the state and local levels are making vital investments in nature-based solutions and green stormwater infrastructure. Advocates in different states have found unique ways to navigate their own political and environmental landscapes to get their legislators to invest in flood resilience and green stormwater infrastructure.

Examples of State Policy

• Oregon: House Bill 3016/3409 The Trees Act (2023) This act established the Community Green Infrastructure Fund and Grant Program with an initial $6.5 million allocation. The grant program funds green infrastructure including green stormwater infrastructure.

• Texas: Senate Bills 7 and 8 (2019) This legislation created the Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) and required the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to create a statewide flood plan.

• California: Senate Bill 5 California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act (2018) In 2018 Californians voted to approve the issuance of $4 billion of bonds to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. The law creates a myriad of funding streams that encourage green stormwater infrastructure.

• South Carolina: Disaster Relief and Resilience Act (2018) This act mandated the creation of a Strategic Statewide Resilience and Risk Reduction Plan. It also created two funds: the Disaster Relief and Resilience Reserve Fund and the South Carolina Resilience Revolving Fund. It has specific language prioritizing nature-based solutions.

Lessons from the Network