The rain hasn’t stopped falling for hours, quickly transforming yards into small swamps and nearby roads and sidewalks into temporary rivers. The constant bursts have become an exasperating mess, but they give a possible glimpse into the future.

Torrential downpours have been increasing in Richmond, overwhelming local landscapes and infrastructure. It’s an intensifying problem that recent storms, like Helene, have brought back into the spotlight; but is Richmond prepared to tackle it?

Resting along the James River fall line, the city’s location makes it naturally susceptible to flooding after heavy rains, notably low-lying areas like Shockoe Bottom, Manchester, Rocketts Landing and Pump House Park.

While not unheard of, the issue’s growth over the past few years has become worrisome. FEMA recently updated Richmond’s Flood Insurance Rate Map because of its severity.

Several factors play a role as to why the city sees so much water apart from regular precipitation. One of the biggest is hurricanes and their aftermath.

Tropical system dangers

“Richmond is vulnerable to riverine flooding caused by heavy rainfall in the western portion of the James River watershed,” says Justin Doyle, the James River Association’s director of community conservation. “Historically, tropical systems that have yielded a significant amount of rainfall west of Richmond have been catalysts for historic crests on the James River in Richmond. In fact, the top three crests in Richmond were the result of tropical systems.”

When category five storm Hurricane Camille hit in August 1969, its remnants devastated Nelson County with 27 inches of rain falling in five hours. Despite the worst effects being almost two hours away, the monster overpowered the James and its tributaries causing the river to peak at 28.6 feet in Richmond.

Hurricane Agnes’ remains in June 1972 raised the river’s crest to 36.5 feet flooding Shockoe Bottom and Manchester and even submerging Mayo Bridge. Three decades later, Gaston’s aftermath struck Richmond. The storm dropped over a foot of water in a few hours, generating fatal flash floods and over $130 million in damage.

Tidal influence also plays a small role. Eastern Richmond’s topography causes it to sometimes see this, particularly around the Downtown and 14th Street area. While minuscule compared to what coastal Virginia experiences, it’s still a concern. “As sea level rises, we will see this much more dramatically,” says Sarah Stewart, Plan RVA’s REME (Resilience, Emergency Management, Environment) planning director. “I would say it’s worthy of note.”

Clogged stormwater drains and man-made barriers, like dams in some small private city neighborhoods, can also contribute to localized flooding.

“We are seeing changing precipitation pattern data that’s associated with climate change,” says Stewart. “As we see these more intense storms, we’re seeing washouts and stormwater flood risk.”

Overburdened infrastructure

Richmond’s current average annual precipitation is 44 inches although that can fluctuate. The city’s yearly rainfall is estimated to grow around two inches more by 2050.

The city’s infrastructure has been noticeably overburdened, especially its aging sewage system. Despite repairs and the 50-million gallon Shockoe Retention Basin, the system (some pieces are over 150 years old) still tends to leak into the James during heavy rains, although there are ongoing plans to update it by 2035 to prevent such leakage.

Over the decades numerous efforts have attempted to reduce the problem. In the 1920s, the city filled Shockoe Creek (which once twisted through what is now 16th Street) with cement. The waterway, notorious for flooding, eventually became a health hazard and was repurposed into part of the sewage system.

The city’s floodwall was installed after Hurricane Juan remnants flooded Downtown Richmond in early November 1985. The $143 million concrete and steel structure was part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 and designed to help protect 750 acres of vulnerable areas around Shockoe Bottom and Manchester.

Last year, the Department of Public Works, alongside the Department of Public Utilities, installed high-water detection systems on flood-prone Magnolia Avenue and Bainbridge Street. A sensor monitors rising water activity, and when necessary, flashes warning signals/messages and releases road barrier gates.

But while altering weather patterns is a major source, continuous development is as well. Urban areas often lack green infrastructure (like street trees) which can aid in thwarting erosion and slowing heavy water flow.

Impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and cement, are also widespread resulting in the ground losing its natural ability to absorb water.

Precipitation collects on these surfaces becoming stormwater runoff. This water often rushes to the nearest waterbody, usually a stream or creek, causing the watershed to fill up more quickly than it was naturally intended, causing severe localized flooding.  “It’s [about] trying to solve that energy imbalance in the system,” says Stewart.

Nature-based approaches

Flooding will always be a risk in Richmond, but its spread and effects can be somewhat controlled. The James River Association is installing living shorelines to protect highly vulnerable river sections, primarily in the tidal James River watershed east of Richmond. These nature-based approaches use natural infrastructure like native plants and oyster castles to minimize erosion and improve water quality.

This summer, nearby Berkeley Plantation had a 1,500 linear foot living shoreline put in featuring 17,000 native plants. The shoreline will prevent over 100 pounds of nitrogen, 16 pounds of phosphorus and 58,000 pounds of sediment from entering the James annually.

Greening Richmond Public Libraries is another initiative striving to bring awareness to stormwater runoff. A collaboration between Richmond Public Library, Richmond Department of Public Utilities/RVAH20, the James River Association and Four Winds Design, the project plans, designs and installs green infrastructure to help manage stormwater at city library branches. Over the past five years, projects have been completed at the Broad Rock, East End, North Avenue, West End and Westover Hills branches.

“Green infrastructure contributes to healthier communities by intercepting and filtering stormwater, improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect,” says Doyle. “It also provides habitat for wildlife living among us.”

Locals can do their part as well to protect themselves and the city’s landscape. Planting trees, grass (even artificial turf) or installing a rain garden in one’s yard can be beneficial. Rain barrels are also useful and the water collected can be used in gardens or for home projects.

“All of the residents within Richmond benefit from infrastructure and public facilities and those are also at risk from flooding both now and in the future,” says Stewart. “The better we can mitigate against that risk, the better off we are.”