Shifting paradigms in stormwater management – hydrosocial relations and stormwater hydrocitizenship

ABSTRACT

Stormwater management has recently begun a paradigm shift away from traditional top-down approaches in response to climatic changes, urbanization, and regulatory pressures. This paradigm shift is characterized by two key developments: the implementation of additional decentralized green infrastructure, and the practice of individuals managing stormwater from their privately-owned property. This transition involves redefining who is responsible for managing stormwater and the infrastructure used within stormwater management. Using insights from two urban watersheds, Watershed 263, Baltimore, MD and Watts Branch, Prince George’s County, MD and Washington, DC, where this shift is underway, we assess changes in the hydrosocial relationships underpinning this paradigm shift including the emergence of stormwater hydrocitizenship. We investigate stormwater hydrocitizenship as the role and responsibilities of individuals within stormwater management. We focus on the role of government at several levels, drawing insights from the concept of biopower. Our findings suggest that this paradigm shift and the emergence of a stormwater hydrocitizenship remains embedded in top-down governance, which in turn creates significant tension among different stakeholders. Arising from this critical analysis, we seek to promote a reimagining of how, where, and who manages stormwater towards more sustainable, resilient, and equitable outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Stormwater
• hydrosocial
• hydrocitizenship
• governance
• biopower

Acknowledgements

We thank Brandon Wilfong for editorial support, our Community Advisory Board and community partners: Parks and People Foundation, Blue Water Baltimore, and Anacostia Watershed Society for help conducting fieldwork, interview respondents for their participation, Emma Lipsky for help transcribing interviews, and Zeshu Zhang for providing SES data and watershed maps.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Science Foundation: [Grant Number DEB 1824807] U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research.

Notes on contributors

Matthew Wilfong

Matthew Wilfong is a postdoctoral scholar in the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University.

Michael Paolisso

Michael Paolisso is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Debasmita Patra

Debasmita Patra is Program Director of Evaluation and Assessment at the University of Maryland Extension.

Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman

Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Paul T. Leisnham

Paul T. Leisnham is a Professor in th Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland, College Park.