Stormwater Planning Series

Applications Now Open! 

The Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Network invites you to apply for the SNEP Network Stormwater Planning Series 2023/2024 Cohort! This facilitated training series offers FREE training and technical assistance to help guide your community through the process of developing a conceptual design for a nature-based stormwater retrofit in a selected drainage area in your community.

Learn More and Apply here: https://snepnetwork.org/stormwater-planning-series-2023-2024/

SNEP Network Stormwater Planning Series

In response to municipalities’ requests for stormwater planning assistance, the SNEP Network developed the “Stormwater Training/Facilitated Planning Series” which collectively guides communities to develop to a conceptual design for a nature-based stormwater retrofit option in their selected drainage area. Participants use the tools and techniques presented in the training to identify low-cost stormwater solutions to address the stormwater problem at their specific location.

Communities are encouraged to invite an interdisciplinary team to participate in the planning series including municipal/tribal staff, board members, and/or community members to build a common understanding of options for managing stormwater and cohesion in developing stormwater solutions that align with their communities’ culture and maintenance capacity. The planning series is held virtually with five training sessions over the course of six months.

At the outset of the series, a site visit to the selected area is scheduled for the SNEP Network team and community members to see first-hand and discuss the area’s challenges and opportunities with respect to managing stormwater.  In between the training sessions, participants have “homework assignments” to advance their design concepts and are offered planning sessions with the SNEP Network team to assist with their project and answer questions as needed.

Participants will:

  • translate the tools and techniques presented in the training sessions to the identification of low-cost solutions to address stormwater problems in specific locations within their selected drainage area
  • generate conceptual designs, magnitude of order cost estimates, and pollutant reduction stormwater credits for green infrastructure installation and/or stormwater retrofits
  • employ and assess low-cost strategies to managing stormwater that fit with their municipal/tribal culture and operation and maintenance regime
  • demonstrate understanding and confidence when meeting with engineers and other project consultants
  • demonstrate understanding of strategies and tools for engaging stakeholders in developing stormwater solutions

The SNEP Network team includes:

  • Elizabeth Scott, Elizabeth Scott Consulting, Rhode Island Liaison for SNEP Network
  • Jamie Houle, Director of the University of New Hampshire’s Stormwater Center
  • Wenley Ferguson, Director of Habitat Restoration, Save the Bay
  • Priscilla De La Cruz, Sr. Director of Government Affairs, Audubon Society of Rhode Island (Providence Stormwater Innovation Center)
  • Ryan Kopp, Stormwater Coordinator, Audubon Society of Rhode Island (Providence Stormwater Innovation Center)
  • Jen West, Coastal Training Coordinator, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • Kimberly Groff, Kimberly Groff Consulting, Massachusetts Liaison for SNEP Network

Resources

Site Visit at Santuit Pond in Mashpee, MA