Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Green Infrastructure

Flood Loss Avoidance Benefits of Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management

This modeling study estimates the flood loss avoidance benefits from application of small storm retention practices for new development and redevelopment nationwide. Twenty HUC8 watersheds were modeled in areas where significant growth is expected between 2020 and 2040, using the FEMA Hazus model and national-scale datasets. The area of the watersheds ranges between 500 and 3,000 square miles. The study was conducted in consultation with other federal agencies including the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The approach was vetted by a panel of experts from government, academia, and industry. The results show that, over time, the use of green stormwater infrastructure can save hundreds of millions of dollars in flood losses, while just applying the practices to new development and redevelopment only. If retrofitting were to occur, the avoided losses would be even more significant.

  • Flood Loss Avoidance Benefits of Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management (pdf) (12.71 MB)

Green Infrastructure

  • About Green Infrastructure
    • Types of Green Infrastructure
    • Benefits of Green Infrastructure
      • Environmental Benefits
      • Social Benefits
      • Economic Benefits
  • Green Infrastructure Planning, Design, & Implementation
    • Community Planning & Green Infrastructure
    • Green Infrastructure Design Strategies
    • Green Infrastructure Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunities
    • Green Infrastructure Installation, Operation, & Maintenance 
    • Green Infrastructure Community Engagement
    • Resources & Lessons Learned from Past Green Infrastructure Technical Assistance
  • Using Green Infrastructure to Address Clean Water Act Requirements
    • Green Infrastructure & Integrated Planning
    • Using Green Infrastructure to Support Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program Compliance
    • Addressing Combined Sewer Overflows Using Green Infrastructure
      • Getting Realistic by Using Gray & Green Infrastructure in D.C.
      • Clean Water Atlanta: Energizing Green Infrastructure Through City Programming
      • Leading with Green Infrastructure in Louisville
      • Using Green Infrastructure to Address Clean Water Act Enforcement
    • Green Infrastructure & Clean Water Act Requirements Resources
  • EPA Green Infrastructure Resources
    • Green Infrastructure Soak Up the Rain Webinars
  • Green Infrastructure & Extreme Weather
    • Mitigate Flooding
    • Prepare for Drought
    • Reduce Heat Islands
    • Protect Coasts
    • Lower Building Energy Demands
    • Spend Less Energy Managing Water
  • Collaborate for Green Infrastructure
    • Campus RainWorks
      • How to Enter Campus RainWorks
      • Past Campus RainWorks Winners
      • Campus RainWorks Resources
    • Green Infrastructure Federal Collaborative
Contact Us About Green Infrastructure
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 27, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.