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Making cities 'spongy' could help fight flooding — by steering the water underground

John Ruwitch

October 03, 2023 |

NPR |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: China, Jinhua

The concept of “sponge cities” is taking off as a way to prevent flooding. This style of urban design focuses on creating environments that absorb more water with plants and open ground as opposed to pipes and concrete.

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Babcock Ranch: Florida's first hurricane-proof town

Lucy Sherriff

September 04, 2023 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Babcock Ranch, Florida

Florida’s Babcock Ranch survived Hurricane Ian relatively unscathed thanks to years of planning and development focused on resiliency. The community’s safety features include retaining ponds to prevent flooding, streets designed to absorb rain, a solar-powered gird with a backup-battery system, and buried power lines.

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In Pa., climate change stresses old infrastructure. Stormwater fees are seen as a way to help limit flooding, pollution

Shelby Bradford

August 21, 2023 |

StateImpact Pennsylvania |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Stormwater fees, which are based on property runoff, are funding infrastructure upgrades and green spaces to absorb rainwater, reduce damage from flooding and improve water quality. Several municipalities have seen reduced flood damage and increased water quality after implementing stormwater fees, and have even hosted community events to educate residents on how the fees are used to make improvements.

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Rapid Radicals says there's a faster way to treat wastewater, begins pilot program in Milwaukee

Chuck Quirmbach

August 11, 2023 |

WUWM |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Milwa, Wisconsin

The startup Rapid Radicals uses a chemical process to treat sewage much quicker than the typical biological process. It hopes to use the technology to reduce the sewage released into local lakes and rivers in Milwaukee when the system is overwhelmed by rain or snowmelt.

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A Community-Led Approach to Stopping Flooding Expands

Maia McDonald Katrina Pham

August 10, 2023 |

Borderless Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Illinois

The Center for Neighborhood Technology’s RainReady program is creating flood mitigation projects most suitable for Illinois communities in need by ensuring community members have input. The program designs nature-based solutions, like widening creeks and installing rain gardens, based on demographics and flood data. And community committees are involved throughout.

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Bengal banana farmers bask in sunshine

Diwash Gahatraj

July 24, 2023 |

Village Square |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: India, Birbhum, West Bengal

Farmers in West Bengal, India, are swapping rice for bananas to save on expenses and labor and adapt to increasingly erratic monsoons and rainfall impacting yields. The farmers use solar panels and drip irrigation setups funded by the state government to reduce emissions and minimize water loss, as bananas require a lot of water.

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The River Walk transformed San Antonio. Could Panther Island do the same for Fort Worth?

Haley Samsel

July 09, 2023 |

Fort Worth Report |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Antonio, Texas

A grassroots campaign to build out a river walk with walkable commercial and residential districts boosted economic development while improving flood control in San Antonio, Texas.

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Climate Change: How Nigerian Community is Adapting Farming Practices to Dry Season

Dare Akogun

June 06, 2023 |

DA News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Likpata, Kwara

Nigerian farmers are adapting their practices to the dry season to avoid disastrous flooding during the rainy months. They use techniques like drip irrigation to conserve water by delivering it directly to plant roots and are cultivating drought-resistant crops. The government helps supports farmers in this endeavor by providing seedlings and fertilizer, too.

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A tweak to help potatoes withstand late blight disease

Judd-Leonard Okafor

June 01, 2023 |

Daily Trust |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Nigeria

Researchers bioengineered potatoes to resist late blight, a disease that ruins harvests, so farmers in Nigeria can have reliable yields and incomes. The new potatoes were cultivated by combining the potatoes farmers like to grow with wild potatoes that naturally resist mold.

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Cities Are Becoming More Like Sponges

Peter Yeung

May 30, 2023 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: China, Haikou, Hainan

One of China’s many “sponge cities,” Haikou, experiences virtually no flooding after transitioning to primarily green, nature-based infrastructure instead of gray infrastructure like concrete and flood barriers. Prioritizing things like parks, wetlands, mangroves, and permeable pavement allows the city’s ground to soak up more rain.

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