Summary: Developing strategic Approaches to stormwater management in a changing climate, climate action, green house gas emission reductions, climate change resources, upgrading infrastructure, asset management, capacity management,
It’s Raining, It’s Pouring….Harder
Developing Strategic Approaches to
Stormwater Management in a Changing
Climate
Lara Whitely Binder
King County Climate Preparedness Specialist
OCTOBER 2, 2019
• Significant changes in climate are projected. Changes in the
next few decades are virtually unavoidable.
• Decisions with long-term impacts are being made every day.
Today’s choices will shape tomorrow’s vulnerabilities.
• Significant time is required to motivate and develop adaptive
capacity, and to implement changes.
• Proactive planning is often more effective and less costly than
reactive planning, and can provide benefits today.
Why Prepare Now?
Adopted by Council Nov 2015
5-year strategy for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and preparing for the
impacts of climate change
70+ priority actions
Accountability framework: Performance
measures and targets, biennial reporting
requirement to Council
2020 SCAP due to Council June 2020
We need to incorporate climate change into policies, plans, processes, and
practices that influence day-to-day decision making and outcomes at King
County.
We need to develop a funding toolbox for financing climate preparedness
needs.
We need to develop and maintain a common set of climate change resources to
inform how we plan for and communicate climate change as an organization.
We need to reduce the impacts of climate change on communities most
impacted by climate change.
We need to work with other jurisdictions and partner organizations to address
climate change impacts.
Key Themes from the Deep Dives (partial list…)
Preliminary Draft
Goals and Actions
Stormwater –
Existing Assets
Maximize the efficiency and capacity of existing stormwater
infrastructure.
….Use smart systems and related technology to increase
understanding of stormwater asset conditions and system
performance.
Preliminary Draft
Goals and Actions
Stormwater –
Existing Assets
Maximize the efficiency and capacity of existing stormwater
infrastructure.
….Use smart systems and related technology to increase
understanding of stormwater asset conditions and system
performance.
Increase our understanding of climate change impacts on stormwater
runoff and asset performance at a range of scales.
… Expand the current analysis of climate change impacts on
stormwater facility design to include additional climate change
scenarios and locations.
….Update the Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Surface Water
Design Manuals in accordance with best available science regarding
climate change impacts on stormwater.
Preliminary Draft
Goals and Actions
Maximize the efficiency and capacity of existing stormwater
infrastructure.
….Use smart systems and related technology to increase
understanding of stormwater asset conditions and system
performance.
Increase our understanding of climate change impacts on stormwater
runoff and asset performance at a range of scales.
… Expand the current analysis of climate change impacts on
stormwater facility design to include additional climate change
scenarios and locations.
….Update the Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Surface Water
Design Manuals in accordance with best available science regarding
climate change impacts on stormwater.
Develop more climate-resilient stormwater infrastructure and
stormwater management practices.
… Develop a climate resiliency methodology and standard for
stormwater facilities.
Stormwater –
Existing Assets
How do we maximize existing asset performance given the
uncertainties around resizing for climate change?
How do we build more capacity and support for addressing climate
change impacts on stormwater management?
What are the technical assessment and science needs that we
should be prioritizing?
How much do you plan for now – versus later – given the tradeoffs
between costs and uncertainty (and what actions would you
pursue?)?
DISCUSSION – Station Rotations (2 rotations)
Developing Strategic Approaches to
Stormwater Management in a Changing
Climate
Lara Whitely Binder
King County Climate Preparedness Specialist
OCTOBER 2, 2019
• Significant changes in climate are projected. Changes in the
next few decades are virtually unavoidable.
• Decisions with long-term impacts are being made every day.
Today’s choices will shape tomorrow’s vulnerabilities.
• Significant time is required to motivate and develop adaptive
capacity, and to implement changes.
• Proactive planning is often more effective and less costly than
reactive planning, and can provide benefits today.
Why Prepare Now?
Adopted by Council Nov 2015
5-year strategy for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and preparing for the
impacts of climate change
70+ priority actions
Accountability framework: Performance
measures and targets, biennial reporting
requirement to Council
2020 SCAP due to Council June 2020
We need to incorporate climate change into policies, plans, processes, and
practices that influence day-to-day decision making and outcomes at King
County.
We need to develop a funding toolbox for financing climate preparedness
needs.
We need to develop and maintain a common set of climate change resources to
inform how we plan for and communicate climate change as an organization.
We need to reduce the impacts of climate change on communities most
impacted by climate change.
We need to work with other jurisdictions and partner organizations to address
climate change impacts.
Key Themes from the Deep Dives (partial list…)
Preliminary Draft
Goals and Actions
Stormwater –
Existing Assets
Maximize the efficiency and capacity of existing stormwater
infrastructure.
….Use smart systems and related technology to increase
understanding of stormwater asset conditions and system
performance.
Preliminary Draft
Goals and Actions
Stormwater –
Existing Assets
Maximize the efficiency and capacity of existing stormwater
infrastructure.
….Use smart systems and related technology to increase
understanding of stormwater asset conditions and system
performance.
Increase our understanding of climate change impacts on stormwater
runoff and asset performance at a range of scales.
… Expand the current analysis of climate change impacts on
stormwater facility design to include additional climate change
scenarios and locations.
….Update the Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Surface Water
Design Manuals in accordance with best available science regarding
climate change impacts on stormwater.
Preliminary Draft
Goals and Actions
Maximize the efficiency and capacity of existing stormwater
infrastructure.
….Use smart systems and related technology to increase
understanding of stormwater asset conditions and system
performance.
Increase our understanding of climate change impacts on stormwater
runoff and asset performance at a range of scales.
… Expand the current analysis of climate change impacts on
stormwater facility design to include additional climate change
scenarios and locations.
….Update the Stormwater Pollution Prevention and Surface Water
Design Manuals in accordance with best available science regarding
climate change impacts on stormwater.
Develop more climate-resilient stormwater infrastructure and
stormwater management practices.
… Develop a climate resiliency methodology and standard for
stormwater facilities.
Stormwater –
Existing Assets
How do we maximize existing asset performance given the
uncertainties around resizing for climate change?
How do we build more capacity and support for addressing climate
change impacts on stormwater management?
What are the technical assessment and science needs that we
should be prioritizing?
How much do you plan for now – versus later – given the tradeoffs
between costs and uncertainty (and what actions would you
pursue?)?
DISCUSSION – Station Rotations (2 rotations)
