Exploring the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydrological Extremes Mitigation in Small Mixed Urban-Forest Catchment

Many regions in Europe face increasing issues with flooding and droughts due to changing rainfall patterns caused by climate change. For example, higher rainfall intensities increase urban flooding. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are suggested as a key mitigation strategy for floods. This study aims t...

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Main Authors: Lina Pérez-Corredor, Samuel Edward Hume, Mark Bryan Alivio, Nejc Bezak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11813
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author Lina Pérez-Corredor
Samuel Edward Hume
Mark Bryan Alivio
Nejc Bezak
author_facet Lina Pérez-Corredor
Samuel Edward Hume
Mark Bryan Alivio
Nejc Bezak
author_sort Lina Pérez-Corredor
collection DOAJ
description Many regions in Europe face increasing issues with flooding and droughts due to changing rainfall patterns caused by climate change. For example, higher rainfall intensities increase urban flooding. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are suggested as a key mitigation strategy for floods. This study aims to address and mitigate the challenges faced in Tivoli natural park in Ljubljana regarding high peak discharges and low-flow issues in the creek entering the sewer system. The study involves setting up, calibrating and validating a Hydrologic Engineering Centre–Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) model using available data. This study analyses NbS, such as small ponds, green roofs and permeable paving, to reduce peak discharge. Runoff was reduced by an average of 32.4% with all NbS implemented and peak discharge by 20 L/s. Permeable parking performed best, with an average runoff reduction of 6.4%, compared to 4.8% for permeable streets and 5.9% for green roofs. The ponds reduced peak discharge, although their effectiveness varied between rainfall events. Rainfall events with higher volumes and durations tended to overwhelm the proposed solutions, reducing their effectiveness. The ability of HEC-HMS to model NbS is also discussed. The curve number (CN) parameter and impervious % alterations to simulate NbS provided quantitative data on changes in runoff and discharge.
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spelling doaj-art-35db1023cb184229bf03555af71626232025-08-20T02:53:34ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-0114241181310.3390/app142411813Exploring the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydrological Extremes Mitigation in Small Mixed Urban-Forest CatchmentLina Pérez-Corredor0Samuel Edward Hume1Mark Bryan Alivio2Nejc Bezak3Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Betzdorfer Straße 2, 50679 Köln, GermanyInstitute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Betzdorfer Straße 2, 50679 Köln, GermanyFaculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Jamova cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Jamova cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaMany regions in Europe face increasing issues with flooding and droughts due to changing rainfall patterns caused by climate change. For example, higher rainfall intensities increase urban flooding. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are suggested as a key mitigation strategy for floods. This study aims to address and mitigate the challenges faced in Tivoli natural park in Ljubljana regarding high peak discharges and low-flow issues in the creek entering the sewer system. The study involves setting up, calibrating and validating a Hydrologic Engineering Centre–Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) model using available data. This study analyses NbS, such as small ponds, green roofs and permeable paving, to reduce peak discharge. Runoff was reduced by an average of 32.4% with all NbS implemented and peak discharge by 20 L/s. Permeable parking performed best, with an average runoff reduction of 6.4%, compared to 4.8% for permeable streets and 5.9% for green roofs. The ponds reduced peak discharge, although their effectiveness varied between rainfall events. Rainfall events with higher volumes and durations tended to overwhelm the proposed solutions, reducing their effectiveness. The ability of HEC-HMS to model NbS is also discussed. The curve number (CN) parameter and impervious % alterations to simulate NbS provided quantitative data on changes in runoff and discharge.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11813hydrological modellingrunoffpeak dischargeurban water managementstormwater drainage
spellingShingle Lina Pérez-Corredor
Samuel Edward Hume
Mark Bryan Alivio
Nejc Bezak
Exploring the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydrological Extremes Mitigation in Small Mixed Urban-Forest Catchment
Applied Sciences
hydrological modelling
runoff
peak discharge
urban water management
stormwater drainage
title Exploring the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydrological Extremes Mitigation in Small Mixed Urban-Forest Catchment
title_full Exploring the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydrological Extremes Mitigation in Small Mixed Urban-Forest Catchment
title_fullStr Exploring the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydrological Extremes Mitigation in Small Mixed Urban-Forest Catchment
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydrological Extremes Mitigation in Small Mixed Urban-Forest Catchment
title_short Exploring the Impact of Nature-Based Solutions for Hydrological Extremes Mitigation in Small Mixed Urban-Forest Catchment
title_sort exploring the impact of nature based solutions for hydrological extremes mitigation in small mixed urban forest catchment
topic hydrological modelling
runoff
peak discharge
urban water management
stormwater drainage
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11813
work_keys_str_mv AT linaperezcorredor exploringtheimpactofnaturebasedsolutionsforhydrologicalextremesmitigationinsmallmixedurbanforestcatchment
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AT markbryanalivio exploringtheimpactofnaturebasedsolutionsforhydrologicalextremesmitigationinsmallmixedurbanforestcatchment
AT nejcbezak exploringtheimpactofnaturebasedsolutionsforhydrologicalextremesmitigationinsmallmixedurbanforestcatchment