Communities across New York are experiencing an ever-increasing variability of weather conditions that adversely affect local flooding and water quality. Old assessment models, design standards, and community policies may not be capable of providing the desired results in the changing climate. This class examines how climate change is impacting precipitation, runoff and the criteria that is used to establish the design standards for stormwater management and floodplain regulations. Recent precipitation trends are examined, and the class explores alternative design criteria that can be used to assess and adopt projects and communities to these trends. One of the key elements for adopting landscapes to climate change is resilience. Numerous retrofitting techniques and designs for “softening” hard-scapes are examined, as well as fresh approaches to floodplain assessment and development.
Recorded on 4/30/2025