Parts of the region are adequately protected from flood risk, but others have gray and green infrastructure systems that lack adequate capacity for even small storms. Green infrastructure has the potential to improve our flood control and stormwater system while achieving co-benefits unavailable with gray infrastructure solutions. Coordinating green and gray infrastructure solutions into public investments (e.g., streets, parks, schools, and public grounds and facilities) — as well as encouraging retrofits of private property — will be essential to improving the stormwater management capacity of our communities. This will allow the region to build a more distributed stormwater management system with greater resilience to disruptions or constraints.

Prioritizing investment in high need, high risk areas will be critical. Watershed plans, modeling efforts, and the Regional Urban Flood Susceptibility Index, combined with information about vulnerable populations, can help inform regional and local priorities. In some situations, the best long-term solution is to return flood-prone land to open space through acquisition and stewardship, removing people and property from harm’s way. Federal resources that historically funded infrastructure improvements may be insufficient as increased sea levels, storm surges, and flooding across the country strain disaster assistance resources. Dedicated revenue streams, such as stormwater utility fee( A user fee based on the demands property owners place on the drainage system, such as one based on ...
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s, can support maintenance and expansion of gray and green infrastructure based on a long-term vision.

Action 1

Use the Regional Urban Flood Susceptibility Index, along with other mapping, planning, and modeling efforts to prioritize flood mitigation investments.

Implementers

Local governments

Action 2

Enhance maintenance and monitoring of gray and green infrastructure.

Implementers

Counties, municipalities, and other infrastructure managers

Action 3

Develop stormwater utility fees to cover the full costs of stormwater management and improve flood control infrastructure.

Implementers

Local governments

Action 4

Protect and expand open spaces to enhance natural stormwater management while achieving resource management goals.

Implementers

Local governments and other land managers

Action 5

Pursue property acquisition and voluntary buyouts to help willing landowners vacate high flood risk areas.

Implementers

Local governments

Action 6

Reform the National Flood Insurance Program to develop long-term solutions for properties that suffer repetitive losses.

Implementers

Congress