National links: California could experience a megaflood in the next 40 years, experts warn

Megaflood could come to California. Urban density is globally beneficial, despite challenges. Colorado changes transportation course.

Megaflood could come to California: In the journal Science Advances, researchers make the case that climate change will usher in a higher probability that California will experience a megaflood in its central valley that will wipe out agricultural resources and cities. Atmospheric rivers from the Pacific Ocean could drop rain for weeks and the resulting flood could cost $1T in damages. An 1862 flood did something similar, leaving Sacramento under 10 feet of water for months. (Payton Major, Judson Jones, Brandon Miller | CNN)

Urban density is globally beneficial, despite challenges: For centuries people have been drawn to the hustle and bustle of cities teeming with people. But at the start of the pandemic, many started questioning their acceptance of crowds of people. Over time opinions of cities in the popular imagination have gone from awe to disdain but this urban density is still a powerful force and should be harnessed to help solve many of the problems we see in the world. (Max Holleran | Aeon Magazine)

Colorado changes transportation course: The Denver Regional Council of Governments is set to vote on a transportation plan that would take $900M away from highway expansions and put them towards active transportation projects. The program would cut two expansions and other road widenings for this purpose. The move follows the state’s mandate to reduce transportation emissions which has led to larger discussions about the role of highway expansions in the region. (Nathanial Minor | Colorado Public Radio)

Bathhouses making a comeback: Bathhouses have been in operation for over 2,500 years and have been more recently making a comeback in cities around the country. And while the pandemic knocked them out for a period of time, business is again picking up. While some research has shown health benefits, many tout the social connections that come from the bathhouse experience. (Jonathan Smith | Mic)

Stuttgart’s green corridors bring the city fresh air: In 1938 Stuttgart Germany hired a city climatologist to design a way to pull fresh air into the notoriously air polluted valley the city sits inside. Since then the city has been nurturing corridors of trees and water to bring fresh air into the valley and cool down the city which runs hotter than surrounding areas. The result is 79 square miles of green space, nearly half of which is an urban forest. (Michaela Haas | Reasons to be Cheerful)

Quote of the Week

“Delightfully, a neighborhood structure and layout that’s head and shoulders better on all the important things – for local businesses, for healthier and happier kids and old people, for long-term relationships, for biodiversity, for resilience, so on and so on – also happens to be exactly the structure that’s low-emissions.”

Isabella Cawthorn in Stuff NZ discussing a new regional emissions cap in Wellington that will cut out sprawl.

This week on the podcast, David Andersson of the Art and Culture team at Bloomberg Associates chats about the implementation and safety characteristics of asphalt art, how communities work on these projects, and the character of public art.