Challenges to Green Infrastructure in Cities with High Water Tables: Appropriate Solutions and Suitable Locations in Richmond, BC
Lihao Wang, MLWS 2024
Green infrastructure can help mitigate urban flooding caused by climate change and urbanization by reducing surface runoff. However, cities like Richmond, with high water tables and poorly drained soils, face challenges in implementing infiltration-based systems. In these areas, stormwater storage infrastructure, such as detention ponds, artificial wetlands, and rainwater harvesting systems, has proven more effective. Richmond's agricultural lands, particularly in East Richmond, also require specialized green infrastructure, such as dry detention ponds, to manage stormwater and prevent land subsidence. Additionally, Richmond needs to upgrade its flood protection system, develop an urban flood model, and monitor groundwater conditions to enhance flood resilience and sustainable stormwater management.
