October 18, 2023: Roger Williams Park

Expo Program

A Note from the GIC Leadership Team, written by Sara Churgin:
Welcome to our Fifth Annual Stormwater Innovation Expo!

Throughout today’s event, we will be delving into insightful discussions, sharing innovative solutions, and learning from each other's experiences. I am confident that the knowledge and connections established today will have a lasting impact on our efforts to create more
sustainable and resilient stormwater systems.

It is always a pleasure to see our stormwater professionals, elected officials, state and municipal staff, and engaged community members coming together to address the future of stormwater - which will continue to be a pressing issue given the guarantee of climate change and more
frequent, severe storms.

As we move forward, let us continue to collaborate, exchange ideas, and work collectively to include green stormwater solutions. Once again, thank you for being a part of the 2023 expo, and I hope to see you all at our future endeavors to build a more sustainable and storm-ready future.

Thank you so much to our sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, and vendors for making today possible – and thank YOU for being here!

Presentations:
Keynote Remarks
Clara Decerbo, Providence Emergency Management

Creative Urban Streambank Restoration - Lessons Learned from Centredale Superfund Site Remediation along the Woonasquatucket River
David Payne, Loureiro Engineering
Lee Carbonneau, Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Jacob Gorke, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

Below and Above, A Floating Wetland Supports Life
Video Presentation by Holly Ewald

Using Nature-Based Solutions to Solve Water Resource Challenges and Provide Community Value
Dean Audet, Shawna Little, Sara Morrison, Beth Kirmmse, Fuss & O’Neill, Inc.

Advancing Regional Consistency in Stormwater Project Planning & Implementation
Elizabeth Scott, Elizabeth Scott Consulting

Stormwater Financing Panel
Mary Tchamkina, Raftelis
Hillary Waite, Town of Braintree
Sheila Dormody, City of Providence

New England Community-Driven Coastal Climate Research & Solutions (3CRS) Hub
Emanuele Di Lorenzo, Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences at Brown University

Algae as Indicators of Water Quality, The Good and The Bad
Scott Ruhren

Biopod: Water Purification, Citizen Science, & Community Action
RISD Biopod Team (Katia Zolotovsky, Avantika Velho, Varun Mehta, Manini Banerjee)

Ecosystems and Stormwater Mitigation in Your Backyard
Lee Ann Freitas and Wenley Ferguson

Designing Natural Systems -Constructed Wetland with Native Plants
Horsley Witten Group (Ellen Biegert, Michael Easler, Katherine Feeney)

Roger Williams Park Ponds Stormwater Treatment Train
Brandon Blanchard and Brian Byrnes

Phytotechnology Mechanisms: How Plants Do What They Do in Treatment Systems, and How to Use That in Design
Renee Stoops

The Pond and Lake Connection - Lake Stewardship at Roger Williams Park
Peter Grundy

November 30, 2022: Roger Williams Park

Expo Program

A Note from the GIC Leadership Team, written by Sara Churgin:
Today is designed to be educational and informative – but more importantly, it is an opportunity to build meaningful connections between advocates and doers in the green infrastructure field.

We are at a pivotal time in our state’s environmental history. Big changes are on the way, with incoming funding from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, the passage of the 2021 Act on Climate, efforts to expand offshore wind – and legislation regulating toxic PFAS chemicals, pesticides, and
outlawing plastic bags.

Much has been done to protect our climate and there is still so much left to do. We must work together to leverage federal, state, and municipal funding and financing for natural infrastructure and stormwater management. Our organizations and districts do not operate in silos, we all must collaborate and share resources in order to create a sustainable environmental future
for our community.

Thank you so much to our sponsors and exhibitors for making today possible and thank YOU for being here!

Presentations:
Keynote Remarks
Senator Jack Reed (video)
Governor Dan McKee (video)

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Kim Korioth, Stormwater & Resilience Analyst, RI Infrastructure Bank

Panel and Q&A - Topic: Stormwater Funding & Financing Opportunities
Tom Ardito, Director, SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants
Karen Bradbury, Office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Alisa Richardson, RIDOT, Office of Stormwater Management
Chris Farrell, Senior Advisor, Office of the Rhode Island Governor
Priscilla De La Cruz (Moderator), Rhode Island Audubon

Water, Arts Festivals, and Murals: Bringing the Community into the People’s Park
Kevin Essington & José Ramirez, Roger Williams Park Conservancy

BMP Design Basics – Drainage Areas and Sizing
Greg Avenia, Project Manager, Kleinfelder

Grey to Green/Lawn to Wetland: Roger Williams Park and the Constructed Wetland
Brian Kuchar, Principal Landscape Architect, Horsley Witten Group

Buffer Restoration: Another Tool in the Stormwater Management Toolkit
Elizabeth Scott, Consultant, & Wenley Ferguson, Director of Restoration, Save the Bay

Restoring the Waters of Roger Williams Park: Polo Lake Pilot
Art Gold, Professor & Associate Director, URI Coastal Institute

BMP Monitoring Methods - Advanced to Simple
Ryan Kopp, Manager, Providence Stormwater Innovation Center

Lessons Learned on Inlet Structures and Roadway Grading
Brian Byrnes, Deputy Superintendent, Providence Parks

Monitoring Criteria for Cyanobacteria
Heather Kinney, Coastal Restoration Scientist, The Nature Conservancy

Ecosystems in Green Infrastructure
Lee Ann Freitas, Director, Roger Williams Park Botanical Center

Choosing the Right Permeable Paver for Your Solution
Mike Everhart, Stormwater Specialist, EJ Prescott, Inc.

Sediment Removal Driven by Best Maintenance Practices and Design
Brian Byrnes, Deputy Superintendent, Providence Parks Department

Stormwater Inlet Types: Assessing their Function & Maintenance Needs
Wenley Ferguson, Director of Restoration, Save the Bay

October 26-27, 2021: Hybrid Zoom and In-Person at Roger Williams Park

Expo Program

The 2021 Stormwater Innovation Expo took place over two days. The first day included a series of speakers and workshops via Zoom featuring presentations about municipal funding planning and tree trenches. The second day included field trainings and tours of green infrastructure installations at Roger Williams Park in Providence. The two-day format allowed for physical distancing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with the first day taking place on Zoom and the second day allowing people to spread out outside.

Presentations:
Municipal Stormwater Challenges
Alyse Oziolor, Principal Planner, Town of Westerly
Craig Hochman, Chief Engineer, City of Providence
Jen West, Coastal Training Program Coordinator, Naragansett Bay Research Reserve

Mr. Potato Head And Tree Trench—What Could They Possibly Have In Common?
Ellen Biegert, Horsley Witten Group
Brian Kuchar, Horsley Witten Group

Providence Stormwater Innovation Center: Element 29 Video Presentation

November 19, 2020: Zoom

Expo Program

The 2020 Stormwater Innovation Expo transitioned to a virtual format on Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the environmental community's adaptability. The event successfully brought together experts and innovators to share solutions for stormwater management. Despite the challenges of remote interaction, the team delivered a seamless experience with engaging discussions and presentations. This virtual gathering highlighted the power of technology to advance environmental progress even during unprecedented times.

Presentations:
Partnerships for Stormwater Management
Alisa Richardson, Managing Engineer, RIDOT Environmental Division

Lessons Learned from Municipal Green Infrastructure
Wenley Ferguson, Director of Restoration, Save The Bay

State Approaches to Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure
Alisa Richardson, Managing Engineer, RIDOT Environmental Division
Terry Gray, Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, RIDEM
Sheila Dormody, RI Director of Climate and Cities Programs, moderator

Municipal Green Infrastructure
Wenley Ferguson, Director of Restoration, Save The Bay
Meg Kerr, Senior Director of Policy, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, moderator

October 30, 2019: The Casino at Roger Williams Park

The first Stormwater Innovation Expo in 2019 brought together experts to discuss cutting-edge solutions in green infrastructure. Highlights included presentations on a bioswale installation in Providence, green infrastructure projects, and strategies for selecting locations for green stormwater infrastructure in historic urban areas. The event featured engaging talks from industry leaders. Attendees also enjoyed networking opportunities and outdoor tours of green infrastructure installations.

Presentations:
Getting ROW Bioswales Designed, Sited, and Installed on Providence City Streets – Lessons Learned
Amelia Rose, Executive Director, Groundwork Rhode Island
Steve Ricci, Director of Field Operations, Groundwork Rhode Island

Private/Public Partnership for Cool Green Infrastructure Projects, Melville School Example
Sara Churgin, District Manager, Eastern RI Conservation District

Private/Public Partnership for Cool Green Infrastructure Projects, Olneyville Example
Mark Pereira, PE, CFM, Project Manager, Fuss & O’Neill
Alicia Lehrer, Exec. Dir., Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

Location Selection for GSI Projects in Historic Urban Areas
David Potter, P.E., Managing Engineer, Pare Corporation’s Civil Division
Green Talks generously sponsored by EJ Prescott & Filtrexx

Tours of green infrastructure installations throughout Roger Williams Park
Engineers from Horsley Witten Group and Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions joined Brian Byrnes, City of Providence Deputy Superintendent of Parks to lead walking tours of stormwater practices near the Roger Williams Park Casino. The City of Providence is investing $1.5 million in natural infrastructure to prevent stormwater pollution at Roger Williams Park. The Stormwater Innovation Center is using the installations as training resources to advance stormwater management practices in Rhode Island. The tours highlighted insights from green infrastructure design, construction, and maintenance. The tours were 30-45 minutes each.