Researchers Explore Nature-Based Flood Solutions in Washington

Community-centered strategies aim to prevent flooding and improve livability in flood-prone areas.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:55pm

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An abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric shapes and botanical patterns in shades of green, blue, and brown, visually representing the complex natural forces and community-centered solutions explored in a project to prevent flooding in Washington state.A conceptual illustration of nature-based flood adaptation strategies that aim to work in harmony with local ecosystems and community needs.Seattle Today

Researchers in Washington state are working with a local nonprofit to find nature-based and community-centered solutions to prevent flooding and improve livability in flood-prone areas across the state. After the South Park neighborhood in Seattle experienced severe flooding in 2022, scientists are exploring strategies like restoring floodplains and building wetlands that could be more cost-effective and preferred by the community compared to hard infrastructure like seawalls.

Why it matters

Climate change is increasing the risk of flooding across Washington, and floods cost the state more than any other natural disaster. Researchers believe centering local leadership and community values is key to ensuring effective flood adaptation solutions that also provide health, economic, and environmental benefits.

The details

The Living With Water Project is a collaboration between researchers at the University of Washington's Center for Disaster Resilient Communities and a local nonprofit. They are reviewing scientific literature and conducting community interviews to identify nature-based strategies that could work best for flood-prone areas like South Park. Researcher B.J. Cummings said the goal is to do a demonstration project to measure the real-world impacts of these solutions, which may include restoring floodplains and building wetlands.

  • The South Park neighborhood in Seattle experienced severe flooding in 2022.
  • Researchers began the Living With Water Project in early 2023 to explore nature-based flood solutions.

The players

B.J. Cummings

A special-projects advisor for the Center for Disaster Resilient Communities at the University of Washington, leading the Living With Water Project.

Washington Department of Ecology

The state agency that has said climate change is increasing the risk of flooding across Washington, with floods costing the state more than any other natural disaster.

Center for Disaster Resilient Communities

A research center at the University of Washington that is collaborating with a local nonprofit on the Living With Water Project.

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What they’re saying

“As devastating as that experience was, it's a really terrific opportunity to do a demonstration of what this could look like and then actually measure the health benefits, the economic benefits, the environmental benefits that we get out of that project.”

— B.J. Cummings, Special-projects advisor, Center for Disaster Resilient Communities

“If you simply move people out of the floodplain without them leading what that looks like, you might break that community cohesion, that is one of the key strengths of this community.”

— B.J. Cummings, Special-projects advisor, Center for Disaster Resilient Communities

What’s next

Researchers plan to launch a demonstration project in the South Park neighborhood to test the real-world impacts of nature-based flood solutions and measure the health, economic, and environmental benefits.

The takeaway

By centering community leadership and values, researchers in Washington are exploring innovative nature-based strategies to prevent flooding and improve livability in vulnerable neighborhoods, providing a model for other flood-prone areas to adapt to the growing risks of climate change.