DAYLIGHTING: NEW LIFE FOR BURIED STREAMS

The report examines daylighting projects that uncover buried waterways to restore ecological function and urban amenities. It details 18 completed projects in the US, including those in California, Washington, and Illinois, and discusses international examples from Europe and Canada. Key findings highlight that while daylighting can improve water quality, reduce flooding, and increase property values, it faces social fears, institutional hurdles, and technical complexities. The document provides recommendations for project proponents, emphasizing community involvement, expert technical assistance, and a phased approach to implementation.

• Daylighting provides diverse functional and environmental benefits, including the relief of flooding caused by under-capacity culverts, improved water quality through exposure to sunlight and vegetation, and the recreation of aquatic and riparian habitats.
• Beyond ecological gains, daylighting can offer economic and social advantages, such as increasing local property values, attracting people to business areas, and providing educational 'outdoor laboratories' for schools.
• Implementation is often hindered by social and psychological barriers, specifically fear regarding safety (e.g., children drowning), maintenance, and the potential for attracting vermin or crime.
• Institutional challenges include complex permitting processes involving federal, state, and local agencies, as well as disputes over long-term ownership, maintenance responsibility, and liability.
• Technical complexities vary by site but often include the need to manage contaminated soils, avoid buried utilities, and establish 'urban equilibrium' for channel geometry in constrained spaces.
• Funding for daylighting is diverse, ranging from city parks budgets and state environmental programs to federal grants like the Clean Water Act Section 319 and private donations.
• Successful projects typically employ specific strategies: starting with small-scale projects to build support, engaging the community early and inclusively, and utilizing technical consultants experienced in stream restoration.
• Daylighting is an international phenomenon; for example, Zürich, Switzerland, has brought over nine miles of brooks and storm drains to the surface since 1988 to reduce burdens on wastewater treatment plants.

APA

Pinkham, R. (2000). DAYLIGHTING: NEW LIFE FOR BURIED STREAMS. RMI. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_W00-32_Daylighting.pdf

Chicago

Pinkham, Richard. DAYLIGHTING: NEW LIFE FOR BURIED STREAMS. RMI, 2000. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_W00-32_Daylighting.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pinkham |first1=Richard |title=DAYLIGHTING: NEW LIFE FOR BURIED STREAMS |publisher=RMI |date=2000 |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_W00-32_Daylighting.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pinkham2000daylighting, author = {Pinkham, Richard}, title = {{DAYLIGHTING: NEW LIFE FOR BURIED STREAMS}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2000}, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_W00-32_Daylighting.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }