Stormwater

Climate Change and Flooding

Sea-Level Rise Would Be Worse for Coastal Cities Than Previously Thought

A new model for expected sea-level rise raises alarms about the need to adapt to sea-level rise in coastal cities all over the world.

November 5, 2019 - The New York Times

Cedar Rapids Floods

The Great Flood of 2019, Visualized

The New York Times has published a spectacular mapping and data project to show the extent of flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries in the winter, spring, and summer of 2019.

September 16, 2019 - The New York Times

Echo Park

L.A. Unveils Plans for Historic Water Infrastructure Tax

Katy Young Yaroslavsky discusses the the Measure W Implementation Ordinance and the committee appointees tasked with determining how this new funding will flow into community water projects.

September 15, 2019 - The Planning Report

Extreme Weather

Funding Research of Atmospheric Rivers to Better Prepare for Heavy Rains

Atmospheric river seems like a phrase that has only recently entered the parlance of the times, but the state of California has seen enough of the idea in action want to know more, and prepare for more.

July 12, 2019 - Water News Network

Charles River

Urban Rivers Everywhere Follow the Cuyahoga's Lead

On the 50th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River catching fire in Cleveland, it's a good time for urban river keepers everywhere to reevaluate their work and redouble their efforts to make safe and healthy rivers for everyone.

July 10, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Rail Trail rendering

Wanted: A More Proactive Approach to Stormwater Investment

As hurricane seasons get more destructive, a less reactionary approach to stormwater infrastructure investment may be needed.

January 12, 2019 - Brookings

Bonner Bridge

Climate Change Won't Be Kind to the Carolinas

The 4th National Climate Assessment brought the reality of climate change to the regional and local level. The Carolinas provide a particularly poignant case study.

December 4, 2018 - The Charlotte Observer

Flooding in Howard Beach

New Report Assesses Threat From Urban Flooding

Researchers from the University of Maryland and Texas A&M surveyed stormwater officials and synthesized the results. Their conclusion: "Rainwater is taking its toll on metropolitan America"

November 30, 2018 - Slate

Adapting Combined Sewer-Stormwater Systems to Climate Change

Only one coastal city has a sewer system that must handle stormwater as well as wastewater. San Francisco's efforts to adapt its combined sewer-stormwater system has put it on the vanguard of the city's climate adaptation efforts.

October 31, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Stormwater Infrastructure

The Changing Paradigm of Stormwater Management

In the past, stormwater management has been about flood control. The future of stormwater, however, is in capturing, treating, and recharging water supply, according to this article.

September 6, 2017 - Maven's Notebook

Boulder, Colorado

Planning for Water Scarcity in Colorado

The state of Colorado is growing quickly, and that means planners and developers will have to actively implement more efficient water infrastructure.

July 20, 2017 - The Journal

No Dumping

NACTO Releases New 'Urban Stormwater Guide'

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) adds a logical supplement to their library of street design guides: a guide to stormwater infrastructure that is often built alongside or as part of road infrastructure.

June 19, 2017 - Next City

Cedar Rapids Flooding

A Toolbox of Green Infrastructure Solutions to Flooding Risks

A new one-stop shop for green infrastructure solutions is available to planners and engineers challenged by flooding.

April 11, 2017 - CityLab

Permeable Pavement

Atlanta Installs Permeable Pavement in Flood-Prone Neighborhoods

These Atlanta neighborhoods stand to gain in the long term from the city's new permeable pavement system and water retention park. But the project has displaced some residents.

December 4, 2016 - Next City

Stormwater

More Study Needed: How to Make Green Streets Work

A review of the current research into the effectiveness of green streets and green infrastructure finds gaps in our understanding of what works, and where.

September 3, 2016 - Green Infrastructure

Louisiana Flooding

This Is Climate Change: Eight 500-Year Storms Since May *2015

The extreme weather events predicted for decades by climate scientists have been on parade in the Southern United States all year. Are we ready to say, "this is climate change"?

August 17, 2016 - The New York Times

Stormwater Permits Create Funding Problems for SoCal Cities

The MS4 Permit was designed as a way to clean up urban stormwater runoff in Southern California. Many of the smaller cities in the region, however, are struggling to pay the bill to cover the permits costs.

March 27, 2016 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

As El Niño Arrives, Los Angeles Needs to Update its Stormwater System

"The hard lesson here is that infrastructure systems built to make cities resilient in one era may not serve them well at all in another era," writes Jon Christensen.

January 6, 2016 - LA Observed

Urban Explorers

The Great Debate: Which Infrastructure System Most Needs Repair?

The New York Times created a "Room for Debate" feature offering four points of view on the subject of infrastructure repair.

December 3, 2015 - The New York Times

Water Dripping

How the Internet of Things Can Help Solve Water Woes

New tools and technologies of the so-called Internet of Things are helping cities get a better handle on water scarcity and overabundance.

September 28, 2015 - Data-Smart City Solutions

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.