What is a key role of stormwater management in urban landscape architecture?

The key role of stormwater management in urban landscape architecture is to prevent flooding and support sustainable water management. This involves designing landscapes that effectively capture, manage, and utilize precipitation in a way that mitigates the risks associated with urban flooding. Effective stormwater management systems can include features such as permeable pavements, bioswales, rain gardens, and retention basins.

These practices not only help control the flow of stormwater but also improve water quality by filtering pollutants before they enter waterways. In urban areas, where impermeable surfaces like roads and buildings dominate, managing stormwater is crucial for protecting infrastructure, maintaining public safety, and ensuring environmental health.

While aesthetic unity, property values, and recreational enhancement are important aspects of urban landscape architecture, they are secondary to the fundamental necessity of functional stormwater management in an urban context, especially given the challenges posed by climate change and increasing development pressures.