Assessment of possible impacts of climate change in an urban catchment

Possible impacts of climate change in an urban catchment were assessed. The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was used to analyze the effects of increased rainfall intensity on design peak flows and future drainage infrastructure capacity according to the derived scenarios was assessed. Potential future impacts on stream health were assessed using methods based on equivalent total impervious area. In terms of impacts on the drainage infrastructure, the results indicated that increase in short duration rainfall intensity might be expected in the future but they would not create severe impacts in the Mission/Wagg Creek system. The equivalent levels of imperviousness suggested that the impacts on stream health could be far more damaging.