April 2025: “Fighting Louisiana Floodwaters With Patches of Green,” New York Times (gift link)

Bioswales and other green stormwater infrastructure can provide multiple benefits, including flood mitigation, water-quality improvement, heat mitigation, and groundwater recharge (less relevant in Lousiana). The problem of scale is real, though: how do you get enough of this type of small, distributed infrastructure to make a difference, especially when they are on private lots? Water Wise Gulf South seems to be doing this effectively.

Another issue with bioswales is maintenance: they need to be periodically cleared of weeds and trash. The photo below shows what a poorly-maintained bioswale can look like in New Haven – overrun with invasive vines and probably not that effective at mitigating stormwater, especially since the entrance to the bioswale is clogged with sediment and debris.