Assessing the value of green infrastructure networks to manage peak flows and support community resilience to climate change
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Issue Date
2014-05-14
Editor
Authors
Metherall, Christina
License
Subject
adaptation
ArcHydro
climate change
green infrastructure
hydrologic
planning
ArcHydro
climate change
green infrastructure
hydrologic
planning
Abstract
As population increases and global climate changes, policy makers are challenged with protecting human and environmental health in the face of extreme precipitation events. Ecosystem based adaptation strategies are increasingly recommended. If ecosystems are relied upon for adaptation, it will be critical to maintain ecosystem health through landscape-level management and planning. To support ecosystem management, Surrey recently mapped its `Green Infrastructure Network' (GIN). This study assessed the value of the GIN for climate change adaptation by quantifying its flood mitigation services under 11 different land management scenarios. ArcGIS was used to show the effect of land management policies on land cover. A hydrologic modelling tool, Win TR-55, was used to simulate the effect of land cover change on peak flows. The study found that different management strategies in the GIN can substantially increase or decrease peak flows. This provides government with information needed to support community resilience to climate change.