Shuster, W.D., A.S. Garmestani, O.O. Green, L.K. Rhea, A.H. Roy, and H.W. Thurston. 2013. Catchment-scale stormwater management via economic incentives-- an overview and lessons-learned. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference of Novatech.
Abstract
Long-term field studies of the effectiveness and sustainability of decentralized stormwater management are rare. From 2005-2011, we tested an incentive-based approach to citizen participation in stormwater management in the Shepherd Creek, Cincinnati OH USA. Hydrologic, biological, and water quality data were characterized in a baseline monitoring effort 2005-2007. Reverse auctions held successively in 2007 and 2008 engaged citizens to voluntarily bid on stormwater control measures (SCMs); and successful bids led to implementation of SCMs, which led to an enhancement of catchment detention capacity. We tested for attributes of sustainability (co-consideration of social, economic, and environmental (hydrologic, soils, aquatic biology) aspects), and summarize lessons-learned. Our results and outcomes provide a basis for planning future field studies that more fully determine the effectiveness of stormwater management in terms of sustainability.