Improving Policy for Stormwater Management: Implications for Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract

Lack of local information on climate change impacts is increasingly recognized as an important barrier to progress in adaptation. However, simply providing decision makers with higher-resolution climate information will not ensure successful adaptation. In order for there to be appropriate information uptake and use, it is essential to understand the political constraints and conditions under which decision makers operate. A detailed examination of the current regulatory context in relation to climate and weather impacts can provide insight into the barriers and obstacles affecting decision makers in adaptation endeavors. This study examines the experiences of the municipalities of Tompkins County, New York, as they attempt to manage stormwater in compliance with federally mandated regulations. The current policies fail to adequately address the fundamental problems affecting local government in New York: fragmented jurisdiction, interagency communication, inability to cope with unfunded mandates, enforcement, and the promotion of informed decision making. The way forward may be the adaptive governance approach for the management of complex environmental issues. This article is intended to serve as an initial model for other university-based researchers that are interested in serving their local communities with weather, climate, and policy research and are willing to engage in the complexities involved.