GIS- and ICPR-Based Approach to Sustainable Urban Drainage Practices: Case Study of a Development Site in Florida

Abstract

Stormwater control is an urgent concern in cities where the increased impervious surface has disrupted natural hydrology, particularly causing a reduction in groundwater recharge which is the source of potable water supply for many communities. Water managers are increasingly turning towards infiltration-based stormwater management options (ISMOs) to help minimize flooding and mitigate the impact of urbanization on the local hydrologic systems. This paper offers a unique hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling approach using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and Interconnected Pond and Channel Routing (ICPR) software to help quantify the associated flood stage and groundwater recharge benefits of using ISMOs. The proposed approach incorporated ICPR percolation links and utilization of the curve number and Green-Ampt infiltration methods into the case study design, as well as an analysis of the effectiveness of including low-impact development practices. This analysis shows a 13–36% reduction in stormwater volume leaving the proposed site when percolation links were utilized to account for percolation from the proposed ISMOs. These reduction provides an indirect estimate of groundwater recharge benefits. The conversion from impervious parking to a pervious one and inclusion of rainwater harvesting from the roof area resulted in a further reduction in peak stages ranging from 1.20 to 7.62 cm.

Keywords

• stormwater modeling
• interconnected channel and pond routing model
• infiltration-based best management practices
• flood mitigation