Applying a social-ecological systems approach to managing green stormwater infrastructure for
environmental health and human well-being
Workshop Outcome and Purpose: Our goal is to gather a diverse group of scientists, planners and
designers to pool their experience to identify the desired functions, metrics of success, and key impediments
and opportunities for urban stormwater systems. Workshop outcomes will be developed into a white paper
on priorities for future research. We will initiate the meeting by presenting the initial findings from our pilot
study on both stormwater plants and microbes, and social components of stormwater systems in Eugene and
Portland. We recognize that each individual’s time is extremely valuable and have organized the workshop to
maximize the exchange of critical experience and insights among participants. We intend the workshop to
stimulate new and innovative thinking about the science and practice of developing, managing and sustaining
stormwater infrastructure so as to optimize both water quality and flows, and social and ecological cobenefits.
We will use workshop findings to guide our development of a substantial grant application to study
Pacific Northwest stormwater systems, including Portland, Eugene, and one other large and one other midsized
city. That proposed project and others we may pursue will be guided by the needs identified in the
workshop so as to stimulate a long-term interface of stormwater science and practice. Our goal is to apply
the best science to support the best stormwater practices.
About Our Current Project: Our current project, involving researchers from the University of Oregon and
Portland State University, is using a novel, integrative approach to characterize and assess the interactions
among the biophysical and sociocultural processes that influence the efficacy of green stormwater
infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest (Fig. 1). We are simultaneously integrating and evaluating the
complexities of green infrastructure policy, management, and ecological processes across subsystems and
scales to understand the changes needed to fulfill desired functions. For example, if specific plants have
unique microbes associated with them that influence the rate of degradation of petroleum compounds, then
both plant selection and the design and management practices that determine which plants persist will
directly impact the biological functions of the bioswale. This interdisciplinary work has strong potential to
enhance urban resilience to climate change in the Pacific Northwest and to maximize the multifunctionality
of green infrastructure in urban environments in relation to the equitable distribution of ecosystem services to
urban residents.
Detailed Schedule
8:00 – 8:50 coffee hour & light breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 Introduction and overview of workshop goals and concepts
9:15 – 9:35 Presentation of social components of pilot work
9:35 – 9:55 Presentation of biological components of pilot work
9:55 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 11:00 Discussion/questions
11:00 – 12:00 Determine subgroups for afternoon discussions
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Subgroup discussions
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:30 Short presentations from groups; discussion about integration and priorities
4:30 – 5:30 Social hour
6:30 – 9 Dinner at restaurant in Portland (tbd)