The risks and impacts of flash flooding have become much worse with land use change: increased urbanization and development. Basically, the more paved surfaces we have, the more water flows rapidly into waterways. This increased volume and velocity of rushing waters during storms leads to greater risks and damage.

To slow down the water and allow for safer conditions we must allow stormwater to flow into the soil (this also replenishes aquifers, clean water underground that wells tap into- by filtering through the plants and soils the water is cleaner than surface water). This protects our water ways by reducing erosion and sedimentation- the biggest problem affecting the Chesapeake Bay.

UMBC has begun improving our stormwater management with new green, bay-friendly feature such as:

• Rain gardens
• Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems at the PAHB
• Living green roofs at our LEED buildings at Patapsco Hall and the Community Center
  
• Pervious pavers at the Breezeway, new parking lot and other locations
  
• Stormwater retention ponds such as the Library Pond and Pig Pen Pond
  
• Protected forests and 'No Mow Zones' on campus also help, by increasing the amount of water that gets filtered and absorbed into the ground.

Learn more at the green campus tour this afternoon or at http://sustainability.umbc.edu/green-campus-design/

Do you have ideas on how we can better manage our landscape? Leading researchers at UMBC do.

At the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE), Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Geography and Environmental Systems Department better methods and evidence reveal how we can live in harmony with nature and design more sustainable development.