Giving Compass' Take:

• The authors at RAND Corporation discuss new frameworks for green infrastructure in Los Angeles and the benefits that come along with it. 

• How can green infrastructure help your local community?

• Read about this community restoration project.

Along with its beautiful coastline and mild climate, California faces shortages in water supply amidst droughts, wildfires, and other natural disasters worsened by climate change. Policymakers interested in the sustainable management of water resources must consider a multitude of complex factors that change over time, including physical characteristics of the water system, constraints of the built environment, and social and political contexts. Such multi-dimensional needs demand a multidisciplinary approach that considers geographical, economic, sociocultural, and other factors. Should a project fail to account for all factors in the system, adverse effects may result, such as poor adoption, subpar performance, inadequate support, and even failure to launch. Therefore, taking a systems thinking approach (PDF), in particular applying a systems framework, is essential to address complex problems for the sustainability of water resources that affect individuals, communities, and broader populations

In underserved areas of Los Angeles, stormwater treatment programs can simultaneously reduce pollution, prevent flooding, and replenish groundwater while building green infrastructure (PDF) that uplifts communities in need. By mapping the interconnected needs, influences, and consequences associated with policy decisions, a systems framework can be a powerful mapping tool for informing multi-benefit projects. Here, we consider a potential systems framework to guide the design of a stormwater management program in the city of Compton, based on social, natural, and economic considerations at the individual, community, and regional levels, as shown in the figure below. Given its high pollution burden as an overall disadvantaged city, Compton may stand to realize numerous gains from a systems approach and is a prime example of a systems framework in action.

Read the full article about green infrastructure in Los Angeles by Joan Chang, Kristin Warren, Jonathan Lamb and Pau Alonso García-Bode at RAND Corporation.