Developing Climate Resilience in Aridlands Using Rock Detention Structures as Green Infrastructure

Laura M. Norman, Benjamin L. Ruddell, Deborah J. Tosline, Michael K. Fell, Blair P. Greimann and Jay R. Cederberg
Additional contact information
Laura M. Norman: Western Geographic Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ 85745, USA
Benjamin L. Ruddell: School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
Deborah J. Tosline: Phoenix Area Office Bureau of Reclamation, Glendale, AZ 85306, USA
Michael K. Fell: School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
Blair P. Greimann: Denver Federal Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO 80225, USA
Jay R. Cederberg: Arizona Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ 85745, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: The potential of ecological restoration and green infrastructure has been long suggested in the literature as adaptation strategies for a changing climate, with an emphasis on revegetation and, more recently, carbon sequestration and stormwater management. Tree planting and “natural” stormwater detention structures such as bioswales, stormwater detention basins, and sediment traps are popular approaches. However, the experimental verification of performance for these investments is scarce and does not address rock detention structures specifically. This 3-year study investigates the infiltration, peak flow mitigation, and microclimate performance of a natural wash stormwater retention installation using one-rock dams in an urban park in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Field data collected during the study do not depict change in the hydrogeomorphology. However, hydrologic modeling, using data collected from the field, portrays decreases in peak flows and increases in infiltration at the treated sites. Additionally, we observe a lengthening of microclimate cooling effects following rainfall events, as compared with the untreated sites. In this urban arid land setting, the prospect that rock detention structures themselves could reduce warming or heat effects is promising.

Keywords: adaptation; climate change; ecological restoration; ecosystem services; green infrastructure; mitigation; conservation; restoration ecology; stormwater management; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11268/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11268/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:20:p:11268-:d:654854

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().