Experience the Rain in New England through Webinar Series
In the realm of sustainable water resources, a series of webinars and seminars are shedding light on innovative stormwater management approaches in New England. Collectively, these initiatives, including the EPA's "Green Infrastructure Webcast Series" and related programs, are focused on promoting effective, sustainable, and innovative solutions for managing stormwater in New England communities.
The Green Infrastructure Webcast Series highlights innovative green infrastructure projects in New England, providing insights into successes, challenges, and lessons learned in stormwater public outreach and implementation. It also shares the latest tools and resources from EPA and partners to encourage rainwater infiltration and reduce runoff impacts.
Another significant initiative is the Watershed Academy, which offers education and training on watershed and stormwater management. It primarily addresses watershed planning, best practices, and community-level water quality protection strategies, contributing to building knowledge for managing stormwater through integrated watershed approaches.
The Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Research Program focuses on the research and development of safe, sustainable water management practices, including innovative techniques and technologies for stormwater treatment and reuse. This initiative aims to enhance environmental protection in New England.
Heat Island Webcasts address the urban heat island effects by exploring how green infrastructure and stormwater management practices can mitigate heat impacts, thereby improving urban resilience.
Leading-Edge Stormwater Financing Webinars discuss contemporary financial strategies and funding opportunities for stormwater projects, including leveraging public-private partnerships and state/federal funding streams, such as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Webinar Series specifically addresses how municipalities and regional entities can use CWSRF funding for stormwater infrastructure projects, offering technical assistance and guidance on grants and financing related to stormwater management.
NPDES Stormwater Webcasts focus on compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for stormwater, covering regulatory aspects, best management practices, monitoring, and reporting required to control stormwater discharges.
Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Webinars target regional collaboration efforts in Southeast New England for stormwater and watershed protection, sharing technical information, regional strategies, and innovative solutions tailored to challenges unique to the coastal New England environment.
Additional relevant initiatives include workshops and webinars on practical stormwater management strategies, bylaw updates, stormwater asset management, and regional cooperation efforts scheduled in Massachusetts. These also cover financing mechanisms through state grants and CWSRF.
A technical innovation example is the MassDOT Innovation Webinar discussing the use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) with multi-spectral sensors to assist with wetland construction compliance and stormwater control monitoring, demonstrating technological advances supporting stormwater management.
In summary, these programs collectively cover green infrastructure design, implementation, and outreach, watershed-level planning and best practices, regulatory compliance and stormwater permits, financing and funding mechanisms, technological innovations like drone-based monitoring, and regional coordination and adaptation to local challenges such as urban heat islands and coastal impacts. They serve as comprehensive platforms to promote effective, sustainable, and innovative stormwater management solutions in New England communities.
Please note that an upcoming webinar series has not been announced at this time. For more information and updates on these webinars and seminars, visit their respective websites or follow their social media channels.
- The "Green Infrastructure Webcast Series" and "Heat Island Webcasts" highlight innovative projects and strategies involving land and water in New England, with a focus on reducing negative impacts of stormwater and improving urban resilience.
- The Watershed Academy provides education and training on environmental-science topics, emphasizing health-and-wellness aspects, particularly strategies for community-level water quality protection, and watershed planning that integrates stormwater management.
- The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Webinar Series focuses on the financing of water-related projects, specifically stormwater infrastructure projects, ensuring the provision of safe and sustainable water resources as well as environmental protection in New England.
