Which practices are examples of green infrastructure for flood risk reduction?

Which practices are examples of green infrastructure for flood risk reduction?

• A. Bioswales, permeable pavements, rain gardens.
• B. Dams and levees.
• C. Paving all surfaces to prevent infiltration.
• D. Increasing irrigation to groundwater.

Answer: (A)

Green infrastructure aims to manage rainwater by using natural processes to store, infiltrate, and slow runoff, which lowers flood peaks and protects downstream areas. Bioswales are vegetated channels that capture runoff, allowing water to slow down and infiltrate through the soil while filtering pollutants. Permeable pavements let water pass through the surface and into the subsoil, reducing the amount of water that becomes surface runoff. Rain gardens are shallow, planted depressions that collect runoff from roofs or pavements, promoting infiltration, evapotranspiration, and pollutant removal, thereby providing temporary storage and reducing downstream flow. Together, these practices mimic natural water movement and help keep urban rainfall from overwhelming drainage systems. In contrast, dams and levees are example of traditional gray infrastructure that rely on barriers to control water, paving all surfaces prevents infiltration and can worsen flooding, and increasing irrigation to groundwater addresses water supply rather than flood risk.

Green infrastructure aims to manage rainwater by using natural processes to store, infiltrate, and slow runoff, which lowers flood peaks and protects downstream areas. Bioswales are vegetated channels that capture runoff, allowing water to slow down and infiltrate through the soil while filtering pollutants. Permeable pavements let water pass through the surface and into the subsoil, reducing the amount of water that becomes surface runoff. Rain gardens are shallow, planted depressions that collect runoff from roofs or pavements, promoting infiltration, evapotranspiration, and pollutant removal, thereby providing temporary storage and reducing downstream flow. Together, these practices mimic natural water movement and help keep urban rainfall from overwhelming drainage systems. In contrast, dams and levees are example of traditional gray infrastructure that rely on barriers to control water, paving all surfaces prevents infiltration and can worsen flooding, and increasing irrigation to groundwater addresses water supply rather than flood risk.