WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released phase II of the National Stormwater Calculator and Climate Assessment Tool package, which includes future climate vulnerability scenarios, according to a press release.
The calculator is a desktop application that estimates the annual amount of stormwater runoff from a specific location, the release noted, and it now includes changes in seasonal precipitation levels, the effects of more frequent high-intensity storms and changes in evaporation rates based on validated Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change climate change scenarios.
Read more articles related to the EPA here.
“Climate change threatens our health, our economy and our environment,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA administrator. “As part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, this tool will help us better prepare for climate impacts by helping build safer, sustainable and more resilient water infrastructure.”
The phase I release included local soil conditions, slope, land cover and historical rainfall records, the release reported, while the updated version includes climate models that can be incorporated into the calculation of stormwater runoff.
According to the release, users can enter any U.S. location and select different scenarios to learn how specific green infrastructure changes can reduce stormwater runoff.
Read the full release here.
