The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winners of its 11th annual Campus RainWorks Challenge, a national competition that engages college students in designing green infrastructure solutions to address stormwater pollution at their schools and in their communities. This year's winning projects highlight the benefits of green infrastructure for environmental and public health protection, economic development, and climate change resiliency.
"Stormwater runoff is one of the biggest sources of pollution affecting our waterways, and EPA’s Campus RainWorks program inspires students to assess local challenges and develop creative and comprehensive solutions using green infrastructure," said Bruno Pigott, Acting EPA Assistant Administrator for Water. "Congratulations to this year’s winners and to all of the participants who developed innovative solutions to protect the environment and support stronger communities."
Green infrastructure practices for stormwater management include green roofs, permeable materials, alternative designs for streets and buildings, trees, habitat conservation, rain gardens, and rain harvesting systems. These practices treat rain where it falls and prevent polluted stormwater from entering sewer systems. Communities increasingly use innovative green infrastructure to supplement or replace traditional "gray" infrastructure such as pipes, tunnels, and concrete channels. Green infrastructure reduces water pollution while boosting economic activity, neighborhood revitalization, job creation, energy savings, and open space.
This year saw 13 teams from across 10 states and 12 academic institutions compete with designs addressing stormwater management along with flood protection and improved pedestrian connectivity.
The winners are:
- University of Oregon (First Place Winner), Eugene, Oregon— The team's entry titled “Rainy Days, Nature’s Way: Embracing Stormwater and Play at the Village School,” integrated stormwater management with nature play at a K-8 school through a co-design process involving students and state/local partners. The design included rain gardens, bioswales, a dry-creek infiltration trench with permeable materials in play areas, along with a schoolyard forest. The team effectively used stormwater modeling tools adhering to local codes.
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Second Place Winner), Geneva New York— Their project “Creating a Sustainable Walkable Community for Odell’s Village” focused on reducing stormwater flow into Odell’s Pond while preventing localized flooding around Odell's Village. The team utilized the campus master plan to meet goals such as efficient space use on campus; restoring native plants; providing more outdoor recreation/education opportunities; addressing stormwater permitting requirements; ADA compliance; maintenance funding.
EPA also recognized the University of California-Berkeley for honorable mention with their project “Green Gateways,” which offered innovative flood management strategies for Strawberry Creek.
First-place teams will receive $30,000 in student prizes split among team members plus $5,000 faculty prize supporting research/training in green infrastructure. Second-place teams will receive $12,000 student prize plus $3$000 faculty prize.
Since its inception in 2012 nearly 850 teams have participated in the Campus RainWorks Challenge fostering interdisciplinary collaboration increasing use of green infrastructure on college campuses nationwide.
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