Climate change will lead to increased rainfall frequency and intensity across South Carolina. At the same time, the South Carolina coastal plain faces increased flooding impacts from sea level rise. This additional flooding will stress existing stormwater infrastructure, which was designed to control historical flooding levels and is insufficient for projected future rainfall amounts. One way to mitigate the impacts of increased rainfall and sea level is the use of low impact development (LID) stormwater management technologies. These technologies retain rainfall onsite by allowing infiltration or evapotranspiration to occur, reducing runoff peak and total flow. Examples of LID technologies include porous pavements and green roofs. For LID technologies to be widely accepted, the hydraulic and hydrologic behavior of a technology needs to be well-quantified, models need to be developed for use in performance based designs of stormwater infrastructure, and economic and engineering benefits need to be identified and clearly communicated to all stakeholders.
The goal of this research is to provide stakeholders with increased engineering and economic research on the use of LID stormwater management techniques, particularly green roofs and pervious pavement, in coastal South Carolina. Researchers will conduct experiments to determine the hydraulic and hydrologic behavior of green roofs, enabling performance based design of LID systems. The research will also quantify the engineering and economic impacts of LID to municipalities, land owners and developers—both for current rainfall patterns and those predicted in the future due to climate change—through case studies, and conduct outreach activities to coastal communities, land developers, engineers, and regulatory agencies to communicate the role of LID technology and appropriate design methods in controlling stormwater.