Building an Equitable and Resilient Future: Social and Environmental Factors in Stormwater Infrastructure

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

9:10 AM – 10:10 AM

Location: 200AB

Credit: 1 PDH

Presentation Level: All: Suitable for a broad audience

Presenter(s)

Jacob O. Burkey, PE

Project Manager
Woolpert Inc.
North Charleston, South Carolina, United States

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Co-Presenter(s)

Ryan D. Eaves, PE, CFM, CPESC

Stormwater and Erosion Control Division Manager
Durham County
Durham, North Carolina, United States
J.P. Johns, PE

Water Market Director
Woolpert Inc
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Gleicy M. Cavalcante, EIT

Water Resources Engineer
Woolpert
Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States

Until recently, the most common factors in stormwater infrastructure decisions included location, capacity, treatment, suitability, cost, and other conventional engineering considerations. With increasing calls for decision making to include diversity, equity, and inclusion, social and environmental justice are now also important criteria in stormwater project selection. Similarly, improving resiliency to climate change and/or sea level rise is also paramount, as these issues disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities with aging infrastructure.

Join us for a workshop to share and discuss how communities are including these issues into stormwater project selection and infrastructure planning. The workshop will feature examples from cities across the Southeastern United States: Durham, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; Columbia, South Carolina; and, Charleston, South Carolina.

Learning Objectives:

Describe how social and environmental factors will impact the future of stormwater infrastructure.
Think critically about ways to improve stormwater infrastructure planning to include social and environmental factors.
Implement lessons learned in stormwater management planning efforts in the future.