New Pacific Institute Report Finds Significant Potential to Advance Green Schoolyards through Stormwater Capture in LA County
2024年8月16日 - 1:21AM
The Pacific Institute, a US-based global water think tank, today
released new research revealing the significant potential for
stormwater capture on public school campuses in Los Angeles (LA)
County, California. This innovative study utilizes 2NDNATURE's
Rainsteward™ tool to analyze the multi-benefits of greening
schools. While focused on LA County, the report’s recommendations
are broadly applicable to urban school campuses nationwide,
offering a blueprint for creating greener, more resilient school
environments.
The study, “Advancing Stormwater Capture for Greener Schools in
Los Angeles,” estimates that the total stormwater runoff generated
from LA County public school campuses is approximately 3.15 billion
gallons (9,510 acre-feet) per year. Of this amount, about 2.04
billion gallons (6,190 acre-feet) per year could potentially be
captured to augment water supplies and green school campuses. The
study highlights a local adaptation of the Pacific Institute’s
national assessment launched earlier this year that estimates US
Urban Areas have the potential to generate an average of 59.5
million acre-feet of stormwater runoff per year.
Urban schools across the US, particularly those in
under-resourced areas, are often blanketed in asphalt, creating
urban heat islands with dangerously hot conditions for students and
the nearby community. During heavy rains, runoff from these
impervious surfaces pollutes waterways and exacerbates flooding
issues in surrounding neighborhoods. Climate change is magnifying
these challenges, contributing to hotter temperatures, extreme
drought, and more intense flooding.
“This report provides crucial technical information and
actionable recommendations that can help schools in LA County
leverage stormwater management to create greener, cooler, and more
resilient campuses,” said Dr. Sonali Abraham, Pacific Institute
Senior Researcher and author of the report. “By harnessing this
resource, schools can not only improve the learning environment for
students but also enhance community resilience to climate
change.”
Key findings from the report include:
- Watershed Analysis: Of the 10 major watersheds
in LA County, the Upper Los Angeles River Watershed tops the list
with a stormwater capture potential on public school campuses of
557 million gallons (1,710 acre-feet) per year, accounting for
27.4% of the total capture potential from public school campuses.
Other notable watersheds include Upper San Gabriel River (369
million gallons/1,130 acre-feet), Lower San Gabriel River (233
million gallons/715 acre-feet), and Central Santa Monica Bay (216
million gallons/663 acre-feet).
- Multi-Benefit Prioritization: Using the
Rainsteward tool, the study demonstrates how the multi-benefits of
water supply, water quality, flood reduction, and urban heat
mitigation can be used to prioritize school campuses for stormwater
capture projects. When considered, these additional criteria show
opportunities for students and neighboring communities to build
resilience to multiple extremes through greening schools and better
managing stormwater.
- Pollutant Reduction: Managing stormwater
capture on LA County school campuses could prevent approximately
1,220 tons of pollutants from entering local waterways and the
ocean each year, significantly improving water quality.
- Stakeholder Engagement: The project involved
extensive stakeholder engagement, incorporating insights from the
Council for Watershed Health and the Los Angeles office of the
Trust for Public Land. These organizations have valuable expertise
and experience implementing and advocating for school greening
projects in LA County.
“The findings in this study will result in giant steps forward
in our understanding of where the more serious stormwater problems
lie and more importantly, where there is the most opportunity,”
said Drew Ready, Senior Project Manager at the Council for
Watershed Health.
The report offers strategic recommendations to advance the
uptake of stormwater capture on school campuses:
- State and local programs and policies should broaden the types
of benefits and costs considered in planning decisions, requiring
the assessment of multiple benefits for all stormwater
projects.
- Strengthen partnerships between school districts and
community-based organizations to maximize the impact of stormwater
management efforts.
- Ensure programs, policies, and funding opportunities prioritize
benefits to students.
- Provide school districts with the necessary resources and tools
to proactively manage stormwater, transforming it into an
asset.
These findings and recommendations can inform ongoing
discussions and decisions about the role of stormwater capture in
supporting school greening, regional water supply reliability,
water quality improvements, flood risk reduction, heat island
mitigation, and resilience in LA County.
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About the Pacific Institute: Founded in 1987,
the Pacific Institute is a global water think tank that combines
science-based thought leadership with active outreach to influence
local, national, and international efforts in developing
sustainable water policies. From working with Fortune 500 companies
to frontline communities, our mission is to create and advance
solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. Since
2009, the Pacific Institute has also acted as co-secretariat for
the CEO Water Mandate, a global commitment platform that mobilizes
a critical mass of business leaders to address global water
challenges through corporate water stewardship. For more
information, visit pacinst.org.
Pacific Institute
media@pacinst.org