Planting Stormwater Solutions: A methodology for siting nature-based solutions for pollution capture, habitat enhancement, and multiple health benefits

The authors developed a spatially explicit analytical methodology, Planting Stormwater Solutions, to prioritize the siting of vegetated NbS (such as bioretention facilities, constructed stormwater wetlands, and outfall retrofits) to benefit biological diversity, social and public health, and water quality. Using Los Angeles as a case study, the authors demonstrate where benefits spatially converge or diverge. They found that while some of the greatest opportunities to benefit biodiversity occur along waterways, the greatest social and public health benefits may be realized for NbS installed in and around heavily developed areas. NbS sited in areas with a high density of commercial and industrial land uses may provide the greatest water quality benefits.