After the IDA, researchers are calling for infrastructure changes along the Brandywine – Whyy

Among the recommendations outlined in the report are a number of infrastructure improvements, such as repairing or removing some dams, upgrading stormwater infrastructure and elevating homes along the Brandywine.

“We’re not going to solve flooding,” said Seung Ah Byun, executive director of the Chester County Water Resources Authority. “It’s going to happen and it’s a matter of preparation and making sure people are out of harm’s way as much as we can.”

Rain events in the region have become more intense as a result of climate change. Climate scientists expect the trend to continue, putting an increasing number of residences and businesses at risk of flooding. Currently, 5,000 residents live along the Brandywine floodplain.

Flooding in the upper reaches of the Brandywine watershed is exacerbated by the sloping topography of the area, creating a funnel shape in the watershed closer to the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line and generating more stormwater runoff in the area.

Although the region’s flood control facilities can store more than 5 billion gallons of floodwater, the study authors say it’s not enough to protect communities from major storms. So, they evaluated some of the factors that make the Brandywine vulnerable to flooding and collected 1,500 comments from the public and stakeholders to help draft recommendations to reduce storm impacts.

The authors found 60 percent of the dams, culverts and bridges along the Brandywine exacerbating flooding because they are underdeveloped or damaged. The report recommends further studies to determine if some of these structures can be repaired, removed, or in some cases, modified to store larger flood volumes.

Other infrastructure improvements outlined in the study include upgrading failing stormwater basins and replacing impervious areas with vegetation to prevent stormwater runoff.

The study recommends several other changes to protect people and property, including implementing additional restrictions on development in sloping areas, elevating homes and businesses to flood-proof them.