Pennsylvania loses nearly 120,000 acres of open space to development each year. The increased stormwater runoff associated with so much land conversion begins a chain of events that includes flooding, erosion, stream channel alteration, and ecological damage.

Combined with an increase in man-made pollutants, these changes in function result in degraded systems no longer capable of providing good drainage, healthy habitat, or natural pollutant processing.

Today, more than 3,000 miles of Pennsylvania streams are do not meet water quality standards due to urban runoff. In December of last year, the Department of Environmental Protection released a new manual intended to facilitate better site development and stormwater management across the state.

In order to aid in the understanding and implementation of this manual, Chesapeake Bay Foundation is hosting a 1.5-day conference at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College, PA.

The event will focus on the engineering and land use planning aspects of good stormwater management. Presentations, given by renowned local and state officials, engineers, and nationally entities, will focus on how practitioners can use the concepts of the manual by citing real-world examples.

Attendees will also be able to tour state-of-the-art stormwater management facilities at the ClearWater Conservancy office, Penn State Visitors Center, and two green roofs on campus.

Watershed organizations and concerned citizens are particularly encouraged to attend as they will garner tools to more effectively engage local governments on better stormwater management and land use planning.

Thomas Cahill, President of Cahill Associates and a nationally recognized consulting firm on innovative stormwater management, will serve as the keynote speaker.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of the book Save Our Land, Save Our Towns, Thomas Hyton, will speak on the direct connection between land use and stormwater at the luncheon.

For registration, agenda and sponsorship and exhibitor information, visit the Preparing for the Storm Conference webpage.

Link: DEP Accepting Growing Greener Grant Applications, Deadline April 13

2/2/2007