Abstract

This paper presents a practical framework for the design and evaluation of local, nature-based water retention measures for small and medium-sized municipalities. The framework consists of two components: first, a site-selection score operationalisessocial, economic, and environmental–geographical sustainability pillarsusing transparent binary criteria aggregated through a multiplicative rule; and second, a lean monitoring design defines key hydrological, ecological and socio-economic indicators including the use of control sites. The framework is demonstrated on municipal climate-adaptation pilot interventions in Hungary, illustrating how the multiplicative aggregation highlights weak sustainability dimensions that may be concealed by additive indices. A three-dimensional visual representation supports communication of trade-offs to non-expert stakeholders. Overall, the framework improves measurability, comparability, and replicability of local climate adaptation and is suitable for municipalities with limited technical capacity.