Annnouncing the Seventh Annual PennFuture Watershed Workshop

Bold Action to Protect Water Quality in Philadelphia and Beyond
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friends Center in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Water Department has some of the most exciting and ambitious plans and regulations in the country to protect and improve water quality. Reserve your spot to learn about these cutting edge initiatives and how they might catch on in other parts of Pennsylvania.

This workshop will update watershed groups, conservancies, municipal government officials, and interested residents on the changes Philadelphia is making to ensure the health of our waterways. These changes can serve as a model for other municipalities who not only seek to better manage their stormwater, but also want to build their economy by simultaneously improving their overall physical environment. Hear from the folks behind this new approach to stormwater management and from those who are making the change happen.

• Christine Marjoram, manager of the Stormwater Plan Review & Incentive Program at the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), will review stormwater management regulations and how they are changing;
• Joanne Dahme, program manager, PWD Office of Watersheds and PennFuture’s own Brian Glass, staff attorney, will explain the changes that are being made to the commercial stormwater charge and why it is it likely to result in better stormwater management;
• Maggie Allio of the Trans-Pacific Engineering Corp andJoanne Dahme of PWD Office of Watersheds will discuss the need for and strategies around implementing integrated watershed management planning;
• Marc Cammarata, manager of watershed planning and engineering for PWD and Brian Glass will delve into Philadelphia’s bold combined sewer overflow long term control plan update, Green City, Clean Waters and the benefits it offers over other plans being put forward across the country;
• PennFuture’s Rachel Vassar, Philadelphia outreach coordinator will take a look at Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling, and why it is relevant to southeastern Pennsylvania’s water quality;

Other highlights of the day include:  A guided tour of the Friends Center green roof and other water management practices incorporated into the facility, a chance to win a rain barrel to manage stormwater management at home; and  a light breakfast, lunch and materials!  Workshop is FREE to PennFuture members, $10 for non-members.  Space is limited and registration is required by Friday, April 9, 2010; register online today or by calling 717-214-7920.

admin Events CSO, Delaware River Basin, green infrastructure, integrated watershed planning, rain barrels, stormwater legislation, stormwater runoff

In an effort to continue to meet the needs of our many “stormwater stakeholders” and engage the larger water resource community, we’ve been reaching out to a number of experts for contributions on key issues — and have been thrilled with the response. Following is the first “Guest Commentary” in what we expect is going to become a very active part of the Blog.

As always, feel free to comment, and/or get in touch with us if you’d like to join our team of Guest Contributors.

Guest Commentary, submitted by

John A. Miller, P.E., CFM
Water Resources Engineer

I never thought that the US Army Corps of Engineers would use the word ‘holistic’, but a Corps Colonel did just that in a January 15, 2010 Engineering Circular 1105-2-411 and it demonstrates that the federal focus continues to change from myopic, project-specific planning, to a broader, watershed perspective.  This updated approach for the Corps formalizes watershed planning that will consider the context of the problem they have been asked to address, wherein the Corps will

1.    Work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders to help solve water resources problems in an integrated and sustainable manner;
2.    Use systems approaches to understand the connection between natural and man-made systems;
3.    Analyze water resources problems on larger geographic scales; and
4.    Strive to achieve multiple goals and functions using water and related resources in a balanced manner.

Are these the words you expected from the Corps?  As stormwater managers at a local level, it can feel like the rest of the world is finally catching up with us.  We face a host of problems due to the past lack of a watershed perspective; we should welcome the Corps to our broader way of thinking - one that recognized the multitude of uses and threats to our watersheds.

You can access the Complete Army Corps Circular on Watershed Planning here.

We welcome your thoughts.

John A. Miller, P.E., CFM is an Associate Water Resources Engineer with Princeton Hydro, LLC in Ringoes, New Jersey.  In that capacity, Mr. Miller manages projects involving stormwater, floodplain and wastewater management.  His interests include stormwater management planning and policy; floodplain management, analysis, mitigation and policy; land use, especially with regard to water resources and open space; forensic analysis; and expert testimony.  He has been qualified as an expert in stormwater and floodplain management by courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Mr. Miller is a licensed professional engineer in five (5) states that include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Maine.  He is a Certified Floodplain Manager as administered by the national Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM).  A graduate of Villanova University with honors, he promotes the importance of continuing education for professionals.  Mr. Miller serves as a member of the City of Lambertville Planning Board, the City of Lambertville Emergency Management Council and as an alternate member of the Hunterdon County Planning Board.  By Resolution in January 2010, the City of Lambertville formally recognized Mr. Miller’s “dedication to the various projects and committees he serves” and “for his input and contributions to the flood water management programs, grants, and guidance offered to the City of Lambertville.”

In addition, Mr. Miller is very active in national and state professional organizations.  He is a Past Chair and founder of the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM), a chapter of ASFPM.  He served as the Region II Director for ASFPM and is active with the leadership and staff of the Association on national floodplain management policy and issues.  He is the Immediate Past President of the New Jersey Section American Water Resources Association (NJ-AWRA) and helped enhance this organization in his tenure as Secretary and Vice President.  He has received the 2006 NJAFM Founders Award and the 2008 NJ-AWRA President’s Award acknowledging his leadership, time and dedication to the organizations.

admin Guest Commentary, National Army Corps of Engineers, integrated watershed planning, stormwater, stormwater runoff, watershed approach, watershed protection