Workshops & Events
Urbanization and associated changes in the movement of stormwater over and through the landscape are some of the greatest and most complex threats to water quality, water supplies, and aquatic habitat in the Puget Sound region. Research, development, effeciency studies, and more reserach are what drive new methods and technologies for managing stormwater, and treating it naturally, prior to return to our waterways.
Read through the articles and links below to learn about recent changes in LID regulations, new research, and guidance materials for use of LID in new and re-construction.
WSU LID Technical Workshop Series
Current trends in research and application suggest that low impact development (LID) can play an important role as one of the tools necessary to better manage stormwater and protect our receiving waters. In response to this growing awareness, the Puget Sound Action Agenda and new regulatory requirements, local jurisdictions are increasingly applying LID in the Puget Sound region. With release of the 2012 NPDES Municpal permits, LID may become a required element.
The Washington State University/Puget Sound Partnership LID Technical Workshop Series provides the latest design guidelines, science, construction details, and practical experience necessary to properly design, build and maintain LID practices. Instructors of the four, two-day workshops are regional experts, and this year all classes will be located at the new WSU LID research facility that offers extensive examples of permeable paving and bioretention, as well hands-on learning opportunities.
2011 WSU LID Workshop Series
Bioretention: May 3-4, 2011
Permeable Paving: May 17-18, 2011
LID for Buildings: May 31-June 1, 2011
Site Planning: June 14-15, 2011
Read more here. Registration information will be updated soon.
EPA Webcasts
Registration for these webcast opens approximately two weeks before the scheduled event. Please visit the EPA Web site to register.
Recent webcasts:
December 9, 2010 - Designing LID to Work: Lessons Learned from North Carolina. A Watershed Academy webcast. North Carolina is a geographically diverse state spanning mountain, piedmont and coastal regions, making its low impact development (LID) implementation progress a model for many states across the country. North Carolina State University is a national leader in the study of LID and has advanced LID research and implementation, including the development of the state’s LID guidance, the “North Carolina LID Guidebook.” The NC State Cooperative Extension’s LID certification program also has the potential to be replicated nationally. This webcast will feature a discussion of barriers to LID implementation and the progress that is being made to address them from a “boots on the ground” perspective of the NC State Cooperative Extension, as well as a landscape architect who is making LID a reality. more information
October 13, 2010 – EPA's Healthy Watershed Initiative: Protecting Our High Quality Waters and Watersheds. Webcast on the new Healthy Watersheds Initiative. While most EPA water quality programs have focused on restoring impaired waters, the new Healthy Watersheds Initiative encourages states, local governments, watershed organizations and others to protect and maintain healthy waterbodies as well. Healthy watersheds provide our communities with drinking water, recreational opportunities, environmental benefits and services, including clean water for healthy aquatic ecosystems, habitat for fish and wildlife, and better resilience against storms and floods, climate change and future land use changes. Protecting healthy watersheds will result in considerable savings over time if the need for costly restoration can be avoided in watersheds that would otherwise become impaired by cumulative impacts of multiple stressors. Join us for this Webcast to learn what tools EPA is developing to help promote Healthy Watersheds and to hear about what several states are doing to protect their healthy watersheds.
Previous Webcasts: Over 50 previous webcasts on specific stormwater topics are archived and can be viewed at any time. They make great training tools for new staff. Also, you can now download these webcasts and listen to them on your iPod or MP4 player. To access previous webcasts, please visit the EPA Web site.