Green Infrastructure and Innovative Approaches for Alternative Stormwater Management

Southeast Florida faces a unique convergence of conditions that are pushing traditional stormwater systems beyond their limits. In Southeast Florida, stormwater infrastructure must now do more than simply convey runoff—it must also provide expanded storage, reduce flood risk, and improve water quality while supporting environmental and public health outcomes. This growing demand is driven by the region’s low-lying topography, rapid urbanization, sea level rise, increasingly intense rainfall events, and high groundwater levels, all compounded by infrastructure that was not designed for current or future conditions. Together, these factors limit the effectiveness of conventional drainage approaches and constrain where and how water can be managed. Addressing these challenges requires a shift in approach: integrating and scaling green infrastructure, enhancing system flexibility, and advancing innovative, adaptive strategies for alternative stormwater management and storage. This workshop will explore how alternative solutions—both nature-based and engineered—can be deployed to build resilience across Southeast Florida’s landscape.