Solving Environmental Problems through Engineering

Introduction

The state of Delaware is the lowest lying state in nation and much of my school district is mere feet above sea level.¹ A state as low lying as Delaware is vulnerable to frequent flooding during coastal storm events, extreme tides, and during heavy rainfall events. Much of coastal Delaware is also extremely at risk for flooding related to sea level rise. Additionally, the high percentage of developed land in the state (especially in New Castle County) contributes to a high degree of impervious surfaces which exacerbates issues of flooding. There is also a strong link between a warming climate and more frequent/intense flooding due to an increase in the intensity of rainfall events.² What makes this untenable situation even worse is that flood plain boundaries and flood maps have not been adjusted to reflect this new reality.³ In order to mitigate the risk of flooding in low lying areas and to deal with stormwater runoff, the state has implemented several stormwater management practices.

I would like to focus on two specific areas in New Castle County: the area just south of the town of New Castle, and the neighborhood of Southbridge in Wilmington. These are two areas chronically plagued by flooding, and they also represent different parts of my school district. My students live and work in these communities. They have a direct connection to a significant environmental problem that can be and is being addressed with engineering solutions. Of specific interest is Delaware State Route 9. Just south of New Castle, Route 9 is aptly named River Road, as it follows the Delaware River and quite literally can become a river after significant rainfall or at extreme high tides. North of New Castle, Route 9 leads to the neighborhood of Southbridge, one of the lowest lying areas in the city of Wilmington. This neighborhood is surrounded on three sides by the Christina River and was built on filled in marshland. Just like River Road to the south, this area floods during periods of significant rainfall and during extreme tides. In this unit I teach students about the science and engineering practices involved with designing and implementing effective storm water management systems.