Go with the Flow: Super-Charging Richmond’s Flood Mapping Efforts

by Sarah Wilkinson, Southside ReLeaf Communications Manager

Flooding is a serious problem in many parts of the city. In fact, 1 in 7 buildings in Richmond is at risk of flooding. Here’s the thing: we have data, but current data doesn’t zoom into flooding issues on a neighborhood level. That’s where the “Go with the Flow” flood survey, which we launched in partnership with students at the University of Richmond almost two months ago, comes into play. Through this community science effort, we invite members of the Richmond community to tell us where it’s flooding (and where it’s not flooding) in the city by taking our quick flood survey each time it rains.

Students from UR, who have already developed a baseline flood model using satellite data, are using the data collected through Go with the Flow as a form of “ground-truthing” that allows them to refine the model. It works by looking for patterns in what factors, such as paved surfaces without a nearby storm drain, make it more likely that an area will flood. Southside ReLeaf plans to use the flood model to let the City know areas where infrastructure improvements are needed the most, helping them prioritize investments.

University of Richmond’s “Water Team” in Action

Students from UR’s “Water Team” created a vlog to share more about the Go with the Flow project and their personal experiences of "ground-truthing.” Students Julie, Gabby, and Collin visited different areas of the city to see if the flood model they're refining accurately predicted the flooding they saw on the ground. Ride along with them!

Early Results from the Survey

Map of submitted flood surveys compared with Richmond tree coverage. The orange dots represent surveys that didn’t indicate flooding, while blue dots represent surveys that did. The darker the green shading in area, the more tree coverage it has.

Since launching the flood survey on the first day of spring (March 20), we’ve received over 150 submissions from around the city! Through that data, we’re learning where the drainage systems are working, and that areas with more trees and green spaces have less flooding (see the map created by UR student Collin, which includes survey data through April 16).

We’re also learning where we need solutions to reduce flooding. Some of the quotes we’ve received from community members include:

• “Depending on rainfall severity, standing water persists for days to over a week.”

• “This area constantly floods due to only having 1 small storm drain for the entire block and it's constantly getting blocked by debris, dirt, and mulch eroding from the area between the sidewalk and parking lots.”

• “Area floods consistently after a rainstorm and makes it difficult to use the crosswalk.”

• “This area always has significant standing water after it rains that covers almost the entire right lane and is deep enough to send a large wave of water onto any pedestrians at the corner when vehicles turn.”

We’re going to add more questions to the survey to capture how community members are interacting with the flooding when they take the survey (e.g., walking, biking, riding the bus, driving, etc.), which will help us understand how the flooding is disrupting people’s daily lives.

Help Fill the Gaps

It floods in a lot of places in South Richmond. But, we also know that it floods in many more places across the city than are currently included in the map. We invite community members to continue taking the flood survey each time it rains, whether it floods or not, through Labor Day (September 1). The survey is mobile-friendly and asks for the date, an approximate time it rained, and the location. Photos are great but not a requirement, it’s anonymous, and only takes seconds to complete.

You can sign up to receive text reminders to complete the survey (and helpful forecasts!) by texting FLOWRIDERS to (866) 719-9501.

Become a Super-Charged Flow-Rider!

We’re recruiting a dedicated cohort of Flow-Riders (our nickname for our community scientists) who can regularly fill out the survey in every district, especially the 8th and 9th districts. We’ll be in frequent contact with these volunteers to make sure that, together, we can address any major gaps in data that will impact the accuracy of the flood model. To join our crew of Super-Charged Flow-Riders, please email our outreach and engagement coordinator, Lisa, at lisa@southsidereleaf.org.