Riverine Flood Mitigation Opportunity Indicators for 70 Latin American Cities

We identified opportunities to mitigate riverine flooding, estimating watershed response sensitivity and the potential scope of conservation intervention required for 70 cities in Latin America. Watershed sensitivity to flooding was based on physical watershed characteristics selected from a literature review and includes: watershed shape (roundness), slope, size, drainage density, and sensitivity of flooding due to standardized changes in discharge. Scope of intervention was based on six indicators that represent availability of restoration and preservation activities that mitigate flooding. Activities included: preserving or increasing infiltration, preserving effective pervious area, disconnecting effective impervious area, and preserving or increasing wetland and floodplain storage.