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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Mar 22.
Published in final edited form as: J Water Clim Chang. 2022 Mar 22;13:1684–1705. doi: 10.2166/wcc.2022.363

Table 1 |.

Summary of factors affecting resilience of selected urban BMPs

BMP Class Climate Change Sensitivity Adaptation Strategies
Biofiltration • Performance of biofiltration practices is decreased by short runoff contact time, channelization, large storm events, frozen ground, short grass heights/sparse vegetative cover, and high runoff velocities and discharge rates
• Changes in precipitation intensity could lead to concentration of sheet flow and increased transport of sediment and other contaminants
• Use flow diversion structures to bypass intense events, and/or increase size of pretreatment/energy dissipation structures
• Alter vegetation species for drought and/or moisture tolerances
• Provide supplemental irrigation during extreme drought periods
• Modify maintenance and media replacement frequencies based on changes in decay rates, humidity distribution
Bioretention • Changes in precipitation may affect retention time reducing effectiveness
• Changes in soil moisture could affect infiltration capacity and plant uptake, while higher temperatures may amplify microbial activity in the soil media
• Expansion potential may be limited in dense urban areas
• Alter vegetation species for drought and/or moisture tolerances
• Provide supplemental irrigation during extreme drought periods
• Adjust organic matter content of soil media
• Modify maintenance and media replacement frequencies based on changes in decay rates, humidity distribution
Infiltration systems • Changes in seasonal water table could affect infiltration capacity and increase risk of groundwater contamination
• Rainfall fluctuations could affect design standards and make some existing facilities obsolete
• Incorporate flow diversion structures to bypass intense events, and/or increase size of pretreatment/energy dissipation structures
• Where feasible, excavate to increase treatment volumes
• Provide flow equalization storage at inlet
• For vegetated systems, replant with species better adapted to climate
Green roofs • Changes in temperature and precipitation may alter the species composition best suited for green roofs in a particular ecoregion
• Greater precipitation volume and intensity may increase export of sediment/growth media and limit flow attenuation benefits
• Replant and adjust species composition to changing climate conditions
• Incorporate downstream storage practices (e.g., cisterns) that help mitigate extreme event overflows and provide supplemental irrigation of green roof
• Increase media organic matter content to improve moisture retention
Wet detention ponds • Redesign of wet pond treatment volume and live storage in response to increased precipitation volume and intensity is likely to be difficult • Retrofit outlet control structures and increase storage for new design storms
• Supplement water during drought periods to maintain permanent pools
Dry detention ponds • Redesign of pond treatment volume and live storage in response to increased precipitation volume and intensity is likely to be difficult • Retrofit outlet control structures and increase storage for new design storms
Permeable pavement • Treatment is controlled by infiltration rate; higher intensity storms may limit effectiveness • If solids load increases, use pretreatment or divert flows from high load areas
• Increase frequency of maintenance to reduce clogging
Grassed waterways • More intense rainfall could increase concentrated flow erosion
• Extended growing seasons could benefit functional processes, while significantly warmer temperatures could reduce soil cover and thus the overall effectiveness of the practice
• Retrofit to increase flow width and freeboard heights.
• Modify outlet design to accommodate larger storms
• Alter vegetation species composition to adapt to changing climate
• Adjust mowing/grazing management as needed
Riparian buffers • Extended growing seasons could improve filtration, while significantly higher temperatures could alter species composition and/or reduce soil cover/OM
• More intense rainfall may promote concentrated flow through the buffer
• Increase up-gradient erosion control practices
• Extend buffer widths, where feasible
• Adjust species composition to adapt to altered climate
Constructed wetland • Climate change may change suitability of native wetland plants and promote invasive or non-native species affect treatment capacity
• Extended growing seasons could increase performance of constructed wetlands, but higher evaporation rates could alter desired water balance
• Incorporate flow diversion structures to bypass intense events, and/or increase size of pretreatment/energy dissipation structures
• Provide flow equalization storage at inlet
• Adjust plant species to match water balance changes
• During extreme droughts, provide supplemental water to maintain pool

Note: See Supplementary material for references.