Assessing the Effectiveness of Urban Trees with Skeletal Soils in Flood Risk Mitigation

Abstract: With increased urbanization and climate change, heavy rainfall events and urban floods are becoming more frequent. To meet the demands for effective climate adaptation strategies and mitigation measures, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have received increased attention. The city of Stockholm has a long history of implementing such solutions for local stormwater management, to capture surface runoff by infiltration and retention at its source. Implementing urban trees with skeletal soil is a well-established approach with the potential as an effective mitigation measure. Nevertheless, the literature review found few studies with evidence of their effectiveness in terms of flood risk mitigation. To contribute to this knowledge gap, the aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of urban trees with skeletal soils. By investigating their effectiveness in reducing flood extent, runoff volumes, and peak flows during different rainfall events, the results are thought to provide new insights and support decision-makers. In fulfilling the study objectives, the hydrological functions of plant beds with skeletal soils were investigated, and an urban flood model was developed within the MIKE+ 2D Overland Module. Three scenarios, including a baseline scenario and two full-scale implementations of skeletal soils, were evaluated under different design storms. The results revealed that urban trees with skeletal soils have low effectiveness in flood risk reduction under heavy rainfall events, but are an effective measure for rainfalls with low return periods. For flood risk mitigation, this study emphasizes a hybrid approach, combining multiple NBS with traditional grey infrastructure. Uncertainties related to model performance and hydrological parameters raised concerns about the reliability of the results. Therefore, plant beds with skeletal soils should not be disregarded, but require further investigations. This study recommends alternative modelling approaches, such as coupling the 2D overland flow model with a 1D network model, and emphasizes the need for comprehensive analyses, empirical data, and field measurements. Future research should explore the collective impact of various NBS, and incorporate economic valuation through cost-benefit analysis (CBA).