Jump to main content.

Regional Workshop: Introduction to Phytotechnologies and
Water Balance (Evapotranspiration) Covers

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

December 14 & 15, 2011
San Francisco, CA

On December 14 & 15, 2011, Region 9 teamed up with ORD to present two days of training on Phytotechnologies and Water Balance Covers, with each taking a day. This two-day workshop, offered at the Region 9 offices in San Francisco, was intended to teach regulators, owners and operators, consultants, and engineers the basic principles for growing plant systems for environmental remediation, enhancement, and waste containment. Topics covered included alternative cover design, soil selection, construction, and monitoring, along with discussions of regulatory issues. Regional case studies were emphasized. The days' offerings were mutually exclusive, so the attendees were not the same each day, as their interests and needs varied.

On day 1, a number of speakers provided background and practical engineering application information on phytotechnologies, including an overview, use for site remediation and wastewater management, current research and a global perspective on the topic. We heard from ORD's Steve Rock to kick things off. Then Amanda Ludlow, Wai Kwan, Scott Knoepke and Walt Eifert, all from Roux Associates, along with Norman Terry from University of California at Berkeley, provided presentations covering the topics mentioned above.

Day 2 was dedicated to discussions on water balance covers or what are sometimes called evapotranspiration caps. They can be considered a specific application of phytotechnologies. Among the speakers for day 2 were Drs. Craig Benson and Bill Albright. Dr. Benson is the Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Albright is Research Hydrogeologist at the Desert Research Institute of the Nevada System of Higher Education. ORD's Steve Rock and Jim Kelsey from Daniel B. Stephens and Associates rounded out the speakers for day 2.

Below are the agenda from the two days and the associated presentation materials. Also posted is some modeling information from day 2. The presentation files are named according to the speaker and can be matched to the posted agenda for the two days. A list of attendees is here as well.

For more information, please contact Mike Gill (415-972-3054, gill.michael@epa.gov) or Steve Rock (513-569-7149, rock.steven@epa.gov).

Documents
Presentations

Phytotechnology

Water Balance Covers

Modeling Information

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.