Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Benefits to Small Coastal Cities of Texas

This report, developed under a grant from the Texas General Land Office Coastal Management Program shows how stormwater ordinances can support green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) in small coastal Texas cities without discouraging development. Small coastal communities face stormwater challenges from heavy rainfall, sea-level rise, and reduced green space contribute to flooding and carry pollutants into coastal waters. Although GSI – such as rain gardens, permeable pavement, bioswales, and natural drainage areas – can reduce these impacts, many communities are concerned that GSI requirements are costly and discourage private development. The report reviews stormwater ordinances from selected cities in Texas’s Coastal Bend to identify how communities incorporate GSI practices into local regulations. The report provides adaptable model language for small coastal states and communities to use when creating or updating stormwater regulations to promote resilient development