Ultrahazardous flooding (UHF) occurs on low-relief topography near mountain catchments. It is characterized by rapid-onset, high-velocity flood flows, large fluxes of sediment and debris, and unpredictable flow paths.
20th-century stormwater infrastructure seeks to contain UHF, up to a design level, using combinations of basins, reservoirs, and flood control channels. However, these flood control elements may increase the risk of disasters due to:
(a) Increasingly frequent and intense wildfires that amplify streamflow and debris fluxes beyond infrastructure design capacity
(b) Aging and underfunded infrastructure which is susceptible to clogging and failure during extreme events
(c) Expansive urban development where communities are relatively unaware and underprepared for flooding as a consequence of the “levee effect” — the false sense of safety that develops in the presence of flood defenses. 20th-century stormwater infrastructure for UHF has also left communities with a legacy of social and environmental challenges including poor water quality, degraded habitats, high maintenance costs, unrealized urban amenities, and altered sediment fluxes.
Environmental Impacts on Sustainability Development:
20th-century stormwater infrastructure for UHF has also left communities with a legacy of social and environmental challenges including poor water quality, degraded habitats, high maintenance costs, unrealized urban amenities, and altered sediment fluxes.
Adopting the Metropolitan Region as a type-locality for UHF, we propose a new paradigm for stormwater infrastructure based on the concept of erodible flood corridors. Our vision aims for greater sustainability and resilience to extreme events based on congruency with natural processes, 1: Conservation of resources
2: Associated ecosystem services
3: Minimization of flood exposure
4: Vulnerability
5: Avoidance of legacy risk
6: Energy intensive practices.
Concluding Remarks:
Globally, as the fringes of urban cores move out to the base of mountains, or as new cities are planned, there will be opportunities for more sustainable design approaches to address UHF.
We argue that hybrid erodible corridors are an intriguing alternative to conventional designs that deliver the complementary benefits of green and gray elements and can be outfitted with advanced sensing, simulation, and control systems to manage flood risks and regulate flood peaks, sediment fluxes, and water quality.
More research is needed to examine the feasibility of this approach and to develop design guidelines.
Al-Khidmat Plantation Drive for the Betterment of the Environment:
Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan had embarked on a monumental plantation drive as part of its campaign, aiming to tackle the pressing issue in the city.
In collaboration with the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), the organization orchestrated a grand program, where an astounding 3,000 volunteers came together to plant a staggering 15,000 saplings on a sprawling 7-acre plot of land, effectively establishing a magnificent “Urban Forest.”
The collaboration between the Alkhidmat Foundation and the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) underscores the power of collective action in combating environmental challenges.