Rainwater Rewards
What is RainWater Rewards?
Rainwater Rewards is an online and mobile-friendly stormwater calculator that shows the value of green infrastructure investments. Green infrastructure includes stormwater management practices that allow rainwater to soak into the ground close to where it falls. The calculator was developed to help municipalities, planners, developers, and homeowners understand the investment value of green infrastructure beyond dollars and cents by looking at the value of reducing flood risk, water, and air pollution reduction, increasing property value, CO2 storage, and energy savings. This value-based approach will help make investment decisions with a complete picture of the costs and benefits associated with that investment.
The calculator was designed for small- to medium-sized cities in the Great Lakes basin, and it is versatile enough to be used by professionals and basic users alike. A property owner can enter three pieces of information describing the site and the proposed green infrastructure practice(s), to calculate an annual baseline stormwater runoff, as well as the costs and benefits of implementing that practice(s) at the block level. An advanced user, such as a municipal environmental services manager, can enter more specific information to the site and proposed green infrastructure practice(s).
Rainwater Rewards White Paper
*The peer-reviewed version of this paper was published in the Journal of Cleaner Production 200 (2018) 501-510.
AN URBAN FORESTRY SUCCESS STORY
This project was originally funded by the U.S. Forest Service Northeastern Area. It was highlighted as a success story.
Rainwater Rewards Request Forms
We are currently working to develop a small number of workshops around the Midwest. Please let us know if you would like to host a workshop.
Upcoming Stormwater Calculator Workshops
Past Stormwater Calculator Workshops
West Michigan Community Sustainability Partnership;
Allendale, MI; September 3, 2019.
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, 14th Annual Great Lake Restoration Conference;
Detroit, MI; May 9, 2019.
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG);
Detroit, MI; October 15, 2018.
Michigan City Sanitary District, 5th Annual Conference on the Environment;
Michigan City, IN; June 8, 2018.
Southwest Michigan Clean Water Summit;
Bridgman, MI; May 9, 2018.
Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, Annual Meeting;
Grand Rapids, MI; May 3, 2018.
National Association of Conservation Districts;
Urban & Community Webinar, March 15, 2018;
https://nacdnet.adobeconnect.com/ponezqas5qpy/
National Council for Science and the Environment;
The Science, Business, and Education of Sustainable Infrastructure Conference;
Washington, DC; January 24, 2018;
Urban Land Institute of Michigan;
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI; January 19, 2018.
Michigan Association of Conservation Districts Fall Convention;
Shanty Creek Resort, Bellaire, MI; November 3, 2017
Mequon Nature Preserve;
Mequon, WI; June 9, 2017
Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway Green Infrastructure Conference;
Detroit, MI; June 1, 2017
60th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research (IAGLR);
Detroit, MI; May 18, 2017
Grand Valley State University, Seidman College of Business;
Grand Rapids, MI; May 2, 2017
11th Annual Ottawa County Water Quality Forum;
West Olive, MI; November 30, 2016
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, 12th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference;
Sandusky, OH; September 21, 2016
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Stormwater Calculator quote
The calculator currently host geographic information for a small number of communities. We can contract with communities to add their data to the calculator. Please contact us if you would like to request a quote:
