The Benefits

Learn more about the individual benefits of the Resilience Toolkits:

FIRE RESILIENCE
Landscapes irrigated with greywater & rainwater increase fire resilience by helping keep the landscape hydrated. Many native & drought tolerant plants (part of climate appropriate planting strategies) are well-adapted to fire.

FOOD SECURITY
Greywater reuse is a strategy used to irrigate fruit & nut trees & food-producing shrubs like blackberries, contributing to food security & localizing food supplies. Rainwater harvesting can support irrigation of all food crops, adding diversity to local food production.

EXTREME HEAT REDUCTION
Strategies like green roofs, & walls, permeable paving, & vegetation & trees all contribute to heat island reduction, helping to cool the local landscape by shading the ground & through evapotranspiration.

CARBON REDUCTION
Strategies like rainwater & stormwater harvesting, & greywater reuse that localize our water supplies help to reduce the energy we use to pump & treat water, which in turn reduces the carbon footprint of water. Trees irrigated with reused greywater & rainwater reduce cooling energy needs. Finally, trees, shrubs & crops irrigated with rainwater support healthy soil high in organic matter. Healthy soil, trees & shrubs all absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
When we slow water in stormwater gardens & through rainwater harvesting, it has a chance to sink into the ground & recharge groundwater supplies rather than rushing down storm drains & rivers to the ocean.

HABITAT CREATION
Stormwater gardens, greywater & rainwater irrigated trees, shrubs & climate appropriate plantings provide significant patches of habitat for birds, insects & other wildlife .These same tools recharge groundwater, which increases instream flows, supporting robust habitat for aquatic species, fish, birds & others.

IMPROVED AIR QUALITY
Vegetation, shrubs & trees help create barriers to urban pollution caused by vehicles, equipment, industrial & residential activities. Trees help clean air by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reducing the greenhouse gas effect, while releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.

IMPROVED WATER QUALITY
Rainwater harvesting & stormwater best management practices reduce the volume of runoff entering creeks & rivers. Stormwater BMPs & Climate Appropriate Plantings clean & cool water. All of these impacts are building blocks for healthy waterways & improve both wildlife habitat & drinking water quality.

IMPROVED WATER SECURITY
Sustainable water management practices, monitoring ground & surface water improve water security. Stormwater BMPs and local at-home approaches like installing rainwater tanks & greywater systems help reduce consumptive use & recharge groundwater supplies.

INCREASED STREAM FLOWS
Sufficient water in streams & rivers is critical to protect & preserve instream resources like fish & wildlife, keeping waterways accessible for recreation & navigation. Maintain flow levels contribute to healthy & diverse ecosystems, sustaining life functions throughout the watershed.

Learn more about the Ventura River Instream Flow Toolkit & local approaches to enhancing streamflow throughout the Ventura River Watershed.

POLLINATOR BENEFITS
Pollinators like bees, butterflies & other insects, birds & bats help pollinate plants & crops, increasing crop yields. Flowering plants contribute to clean air by producing breathable oxygen, & purify water & prevent erosion through roots that holds the soil in place, & foliage that buffers the impact of rain as it falls to the earth.

SOIL HEALTH
Rainwater harvesting, mulch, carbon farming & greywater reuse are treatments that build soil by adding humidity, carbon, & nutrients. Healthy soils contribute to healthier plants & landscapes, & can help prevent or slow wildfire. Healthier soils are more absorbent & can hold more moisture which helps reduce runoff as well. Erosion reduction prevents extreme flooding.

ENERGY RESILIENCE
In California, a minimum of 20% of the state’s energy is used to move water & treat wastewater. Hyper-localized alternative water supplies from rainwater, greywater, & stormwater, combined with reduced consumptive use BMPs, decrease energy consumption from transporting & treating water throughout the state.

EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES
When we take action to become climate resilient, we contribute to higher water quality throughout the watershed through stormwater BMPs, we recharge our aquifers by infiltrating water back into the ground, and we create shade & habitat for pollinators & our neighborhoods. Communities that thrive have access to resources, tools & the opportunity to experience & participate in the benefits of a healthy, resilient watershed.

FLOOD MITIGATION
Vegetation & trees help reduce the risk of flooding. Stormwater BMPs & local at-home approaches like incorporating rain gardens & bioswales into the landscape help slow the flow of water & spread it before infiltrating it back into the ground.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Healthy, resilient communities include healthy ecosystems, watersheds, people & economies. Tools that localize water & land resources contribute to food security, groundwater recharge, carbon reduction & help protect against extreme effects of climate change. The integration of multiple tools supports holistic, healthy communities.