Turning to nature to fight flooding: How cities are using bio-retention basins, rain gardens

Local officials say that green infrastructure projects are necessary as Metro Detroit sees more intense storms amid a warming climate.

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As storms continue to occur more frequently and with greater intensity, the Far West Detroit Stormwater Improvement Project, which is nearly complete, is one example of how local governments across Metro Detroit have turned to more natural solutions in recent years to address stormwater and alleviate flooding.

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Dearborn Heights — which has faced frequent flooding in some of its neighborhoods, causing headaches for homeowners and city officials alike — has purchased some flood-prone properties by Ecorse Creek and turned them into detention areas for stormwater. Royal Oak is installing rain gardens along some roads. And Macomb County replaced a major stormwater pipe with an open-air drain that soaks up rainwater.

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Rain gardens, swales and using properties as detention basins are examples of what's called green stormwater infrastructure, which are techniques that manage stormwater runoff by mimicking natural processes, according to Michigan State University Extension.

Officials with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments said nature-based solutions also have recreational and economic benefits.

"It creates more green spaces that people can get out and enjoy," said Tyler Klifman, a planner at SEMCOG. "It makes our communities just better places to live, higher quality of life, more desirable for people who may be looking to locate there or visit there."

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