Proposed Virginia Stadium Could Be at Risk of Flooding Related to Climate Change

A new stadium slated for Potomac Yard, Va., could be sited in an area at risk of coastal flooding due to the impacts of climate change. 

According to Axios, which cited First Street Foundation and Climate Central, the proposed new home for the Wizards and Capitals wouldn't immediately be vulnerable to flooding, but the location of the new stadium complex is surrounded by low-lying transportation arteries and buildings that will be at increasing flood risk in the future. 

According to a Climate Central analysis, the annual flood risk by 2050 would encompass the Potomac Yard Metro Station, a major asset for the sports project, along with roadways along the Potomac River that fans may take to get to the stadium.

While the project may still go ahead, Axios notes that planners will need to decide who i s responsible for providing the funding needed to prevent the subway station, parking lots and nearby roadways in Potamac Yard from flooding. 

According to Jeremy Porter, head of climate change implications for First Street, the stadium's surrounding area "has tremendous risk," noting that construction of the stadium could actually make the area more prone to flooding. 

While Porter said the area has "major" flood risk, those living in surrounding areas would also be in danger, with 28 percent of residential properties at risk of flooding, 48 percent of road surface miles, 63 percent of commercial properties, and 63 percent of social infrastructure, such as schools and museums.

"Moving it from D.C. which has relatively low flood risk to the Virginia side of the river, which has a ton of flood risk (and growing flood risk), is questionable from a climate sustainability perspective," Porter said.