Second Nature unveils Rain Steward tool for LA County stormwater management

A groundbreaking tool aimed at enhancing stormwater management in Los Angeles schools was unveiled during a recent meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board. The innovative platform, known as "Rain Steward," promises to transform how stormwater projects are evaluated and implemented across the LA County Unified School District, which oversees nearly 2,000 properties.

Catherine, a key speaker at the meeting, emphasized the importance of leveraging digital tools to make stormwater science actionable. "We want to see stormwater projects come to fruition," she stated, highlighting the need for a structured approach to quantify and compare the benefits of stormwater management across various school campuses.

The Rain Steward tool focuses on four critical benefit areas: water security, water quality, flood risk, and excessive heat. Each area is assessed using multiple datasets, resulting in a score from 0 to 100 that indicates the potential benefits of improved stormwater management at specific sites. This scoring system allows users to prioritize projects based on their unique needs and the feasibility of implementation.

Catherine pointed out that the traditional method of analyzing one property at a time is not practical for large organizations like the LA school district. By using Rain Steward, stakeholders can unlock significant opportunities for stormwater mitigation that have previously been overlooked.

The meeting underscored the urgency of advancing stormwater capture initiatives, as effective management can lead to substantial environmental and public health benefits. As the LA County Unified School District moves forward with this tool, it is poised to set a precedent for other regions looking to enhance their stormwater management strategies.