Approach
Locating infrastructure involves an interactive process that considers the advantages, disadvantages, costs, benefits and constraints of numerous location or route alternatives. While climate change projections and impacts were likely not considered in infrastructure design processes historically or in recent times, such considerations are vital now, particularly for infrastructure located in areas prone to flooding or with highly erodible soils, and for high-traffic areas such as roads, bridges and trails. While initially costly, the relocation or rerouting of vulnerable infrastructure to less vulnerable areas may reduce long-term maintenance costs overall and limit structural losses.
Tactics
- Relocate field roads to improve degraded quality of wetland and riparian areas (Daigle 2010).
- Reroute infrastructure to less vulnerable sites, particularly infrastructure that may affect adjacent wetland hydrology such as heavily trafficked, high-risk trails or roads or those with past issues related to saturated soils, particularly those that lie
- Adjust site access (e.g., for inspection, maintenance, emergency vehicles, recreational use) to accommodate frequent extreme events and the possibility of long-term wetter conditions (Kilgore et al. 2016).
- Consider adjusting setback standards, such as separation between infrastructure elements and wetland boundaries, floodplain boundaries, steep slope limits, to account for possible changes in hazard areas and hydrologic influence areas from climate change.
- Avoid construction of infrastructure that completely surrounds wetlands, and/or include appropriate setback distances for infrastructure or developments that will alter or impede the flow of groundwater or surface water into or out of the wetland.
- Use temporary structures for wetland or stream crossings, particularly where vehicle access is needed only seasonally or for a short period of time, e.g., for timber management, powerline installation, etc. (WDNR 2010b).
Strategy
Strategy Text
This strategy addresses adapting infrastructure designs and maintenance to support wetland ecosystems under changing environmental conditions, including infrastructure found within or near wetland watersheds such as bridges, culverts, stream crossings, roads, trails, parking lots, utilities, coastal structures, docks, and piers. Roads, stream crossings, recreational trails, facilities, and other infrastructure are known to affect local landforms and hydrology, particularly where impervious surfaces concentrate water into flow pathways, generating high-velocity runoff and erosion. For this reason, critical evaluation of past design concepts and criteria with additional consideration for a changing climate and altered hydrology may be necessary to minimize risks and safety concerns over the designed lifespan of the unit. A changing climate challenges traditional perceptions of “low maintenance” infrastructure that can be built and left unattended, and heightens the necessity of increased infrastructure monitoring, inspection and routine maintenance. Contemporary philosophies for wetland management, enhancement and restoration have shifted toward the minimization of traditional infrastructure in the watershed, and incorporating natural or low impact development to dissipate excess water can both reduce negative downstream impacts and reduce the need for hard infrastructure. However, changing environmental conditions also merit renewed consideration of infrastructure designs that recognize changing conditions to support wetland function and watershed management.