Island ecosystems unleashed: rain gardens transforming flood management in Galápagos

This article delineates a sustainable stormwater drainage system designed to prevent floods in Santa Cruz Island, specifically in Puerto Ayora. The proposal prioritizes minimizing human intervention impact on infrastructure, considering the local context. A comprehensive environmental analysis covering topography, climate, hydrology, urban, and landscape aspects informs the design, ensuring adaptability to the island’s future needs. The core features a channel drainage system incorporating gutters, sinks, and filter gardens. Filter gardens retain stormwater, allowing controlled discharge, interconnected from house downspouts to channels. Three strategically proposed drainage systems connect to different discharge points: a lake, an aquifer, and the sea. This diverse approach avoids large excavations, reducing costs and preserving local flora and fauna. The result is a sustainable drainage solution aligned with a nature-based paradigm, effectively reducing runoff flow.