Kino Environmental Restoration Project: Stormwater Use for Habitat in an Urban Environment

The Ed Pastor Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP) aimed to restore natural areas by redeveloping an unlined stormwater detention basin in Tucson, Arizona. KERP covers 125 acres and includes constructed stream courses, five vegetation-lined ponds, restored native vegetation communities, flood control structures, and a recreational path. It sustains wildlife habitat in the basin by utilizing captured stormwater for irrigation, landscaping, and residential uses, resulting in an annual cost savings of $390,000. Constructed wetland parks offer recreational opportunities in the urban environment, including a 2.2-mile paved path that encircles the basin for walking, jogging, bicycling, and wildlife viewing.