A properly sized and functioning stormwater system is essential to the protection of public, property, and infrastructure in any metropolitan area. This is especially true in the City of New Orleans (City) where local topography presents a unique challenge for stormwater management. The approach to addressing localized flooding in the two city areas was to design a distributed green infrastructure system using public open space and City ROW to manage stormwater runoff volumes. The methodology employed to achieve optimal solutions was highly iterative and involved significant collaboration among engineering, landscape architecture, and public works professionals working as a team. Green Infrastructure locations and preliminary water detention capacities were input into SWMM models for each neighborhood area. Models were run for multiple storms, and resultant flood levels were mapped. The facilities with the greatest benefits and fewest potential conflicts were chosen, as well as other pilot projects that could change the paradigm on how the City develops in the future. It is within these pilot projects that challenges of integrating green infrastructure into the built-out urban environment were met, including issues with: vibration mitigation, design practices, specifications, and testing for compaction of open-graded aggregate, design at the intersection of sanitary sewer and green infrastructure, and long-term maintenance of green infrastructure system.

Proficiency Level

Applied

Learning Objectives
  1. Describe the potential of green infrastructure in New Orleans
  2. Identify applications where green infrastructure requires changes standard public works design
  3. Integrate lessons learned into their own municipality’s green infrastructure program

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Contributor(s)

Erika Boerr;Jessica Watts