Soak Up the Rain New England Webinar Archive
- Soak up the Rain Presents: EPA’s Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST)
- Building Resilience Through Living Shorelines
- Rain Gardens for Residents on Aquidneck Island
- Working Together: Collaborative Stormwater Management in Central Massachusetts
- Reaching Public Consensus: Stormwater Funding in Ashland, MA
- Storm Hazard Mitigation through Designing with Nature
- Challenges and Practical Solutions to Managing Municipal Stormwater Systems
- The Guiteras Green Infrastructure Community School Project, Bristol, Rhode Island
Soak up the Rain Presents: EPA's Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST)
Original airdate: Thursday, February 27, 2020, 1:00PM – 2:30PM EST
EPA's Watershed Management Optimization Support Tool (WMOST) facilitates integrated and cost-effective water management among communities, utilities, watershed organizations, consultants, and others at the local or small watershed scale. In this webinar, Dr. Naomi Detenbeck from EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) demonstrates the updated WMOST Version 3.01 (https://www.epa.gov/ceam/wmost) and discusses the pending release of a module to estimate additional benefits and co-benefits associated with implementation of green infrastructure practices. The presentation provides background on the WMOST tool, demonstrates its capabilities, and illustrates successful implementation of the tool through case studies.
Presenters:
- Dr. Naomi Detenbeck, EPA Office of Research and Development
Building Resilience Through Living Shorelines
Original airdate: Thursday, January 16, 2020, 1:30PM-3:00 PM EST
Coastal stormwater management must build resilience, protect economically and environmentally important areas, and reduce erosion and flooding. Living shorelines - nature-based coastal infrastructure practices - can be a meaningful solution for coastal New England communities. In this webinar, project partners discuss the environmental benefits of living shorelines installations in Portsmouth and Durham, New Hampshire. The webinar provides lessons learned and recommendations for regulators, planners, practitioners, coastal property owners, and members of the public on nature-based coastal infrastructure projects.
Presenters:
- Eric Roberts, The Nature Conservancy
- Tom Ballestero, University of New Hampshire
- David Burdick, University of New Hampshire
- Kirsten Howard, NH Department of Environmental Services
Rain Gardens for Residents on Aquidneck Island
Original airdate: Tuesday, December 17, 2019, 1:00PM – 2:30PM EST
In this webinar, Sara Churgin and Lauren Carson of the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District discuss strategies to engage the public and amplify understanding about rain gardens and stormwater management on Aquidneck Island. The webinar covers the Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition’s effective community engagement process, including educational workshops, surveys, a rain barrel program, and rain garden installation assistance and maintenance training. The webinar includes lessons learned and provides recommendations for encouraging residents to take an active role in managing their stormwater and protecting their environment.
Presenters:
- Sara Churgin and Lauren Carson, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District
Working Together: Collaborative Stormwater Management in Central Massachusetts
Original Airdate: Thursday, December 5, 2019, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST
Stormwater challenges aren't limited by town boundaries. Many New England rivers, lakes, and watersheds stretch through more than one community, creating unique challenges and opportunities to address water quality. This Soak up the Rain New England webinar showcases how the Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition (CMRSWC) works with its 30 participating towns to address Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit requirements. Highlights include developing and sharing education templates, stormwater pollution plans, and standard operating procedures; exchanging equipment and resources; and building knowledge regarding stormwater management. The webinar covers lessons learned and provides recommendations for collaborative stormwater management across municipalities.
Presenters:
- Kerry Reed, City of Framingham, MA
- Thomas Gregory, Town of Spencer, MA
- John Woodsmall, Town of Holden, MA
Reaching Public Consensus: Stormwater Funding in Ashland, MA
Original Airdate: Tuesday, May 14, 2019, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM EST
One of the greatest challenges for New England municipalities with a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4s) is reaching consensus on stormwater program funding to support implementation of permit requirements. This Soak up the Rain webinar explores the town of Ashland, MA’s three-year effort to adopt and implement a municipal stormwater enterprise fund for their community. Presenters discuss the drivers and key steps taken to establish a stormwater enterprise fund, including strategies and recommendations for program implementation and operation. The webinar also explains the critical roles of stakeholder involvement, creative partnerships, and meaningful public outreach to generate support for funding solutions.
Presenters:
- Maeghan Dos Anjos, Conservation Agent/Director, Town of Ashland, MA
- Rob St. Germain, Chair, Stormwater Advisory Committee, Town of Ashland, MA
- Evan White, Project Engineer, Department of Public Works, Town of Ashland, MA
- Steve Mitchell, Select Board, Town of Ashland, MA
Storm Hazard Mitigation through Designing with Nature
Original Airdate: Tuesday, February 12, 2019, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST
This webinar explores the City of Northampton, Massachusetts' innovative approach to addressing storm hazards through Northampton Designs with Nature. Green infrastructure is a critical part of a broader comprehensive system to mitigate flooding. This webinar examines key elements of the city’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, which includes a combination of traditional stormwater management, green infrastructure, and regulatory approaches designed to produce local environmental results. The webinar explores how to advance and potentially replicate these tools and techniques for any community, including strategic and comprehensive plans, traditional flood control methods, and green infrastructure, while identifying and incorporating local and regional perspectives.
Presenters:
- Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Director of Planning & Sustainability, City of Northampton, MA
- Emily Slotnick, AICP, CFM, Senior Planner, Environment & Land Use, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, MA
- Rosalie Starvish, PE, CFM, CPMSM, Project Manager, GZA
Challenges and Practical Solutions to Managing Municipal Stormwater Systems
Original Airdate: Wednesday, May 23, 2018, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST
Municipalities may be hesitant to install green infrastructure (GI) when they're unfamiliar with its technical requirements and concerned about the costs of operation and maintenance. Dr. Houle has conducted research demonstrating that GI solutions can be more efficient and cost-effective than conventional infrastructure, and less costly to maintain if properly designed and managed. Dr. Houle discusses the results and lessons learned from a multi-year collaboration between the UNHSWC and the Dover, New Hampshire Department of Public Works & Utilities (DPW) to install GI in the Berry Brook Watershed. Through their strong partnership they adapted conventional GI to make it simpler, less costly to maintain, and user-friendly for daily DPW operations.
Presenters:
- Dr. James Houle, Program Director, University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center (UNHSWC)
The Guiteras Green Infrastructure Community School Project, Bristol, Rhode Island
Original Airdate: Wednesday, February 28, 2018, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EST
This webinar highlights an inspiring and successful green infrastructure project at the Guiteras School to save and protect nearby Silver Creek in Bristol, Rhode Island from polluted stormwater runoff. Two mothers of elementary school students designed and created an outdoor education facility to enhance environmental education and improve water and environmental quality in and around the creek. The project engaged 300 students at the school with hands-on projects to accomplish these tasks. The project was a partnership with the Town's Department of Community Development and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's 319 program. The project resulted in the treatment and infiltration of stormwater runoff flowing from the school to the creek, a reduction in the amount of impervious surface, and the control of a growing Canada goose population.
Presenters:
- Betsy Dake, Senior Environmental Scientist, Section 319 Grant Manager, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
- Brooke Merriam, Landscape Designer, Sunflower Designs, LLC
- Shannon Rozea, Executive Director/Landscape Architect, Thrive Outside
- Edward M. Tanner, Principal Planner, Department of Community Development, Town of Bristol, Rhode Island