SUMMIT MATERIALS
Final Summit Agenda (.pdf download)
Speaker Biographies (.pdf download)
Resources (.pdf download)
Open Space Instructions (.pdf download)
River Wise Summary (.pdf download)
Wetlands Watch/HRPDC Study executive summary (.pdf download)
SUMMIT SCOPE
This Summit will bring together a diverse group of watershed organizations, local, state, and federal government representatives, engineers, landscape businesses and professionals, and volunteers to find opportunities for better collaboration and sharing of resources…and to envision a “Path Forward” to protecting water quality and restoring watersheds through actions in Virginia’s urban and suburban communities.
Virginia localities are working hard to meet the challenge of achieving Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration and stormwater pollution reduction goals for developed private and public lands in urban and suburban communities. We are seeing an increased effort by many different groups to locally promote and implement onsite, watershed restoration and stormwater reduction practices, including stormwater retrofits: rain gardens, native plant buffers, permeable pavers, planting trees, green roofs, etc… to help meet these goals. All these efforts, government and non-government, need long-term, financially viable strategies and more citizens support. And all of these efforts would benefit from collaboration and networking.
Through presentations and professionally facilitated discussions, Summit participants will have the opportunity to:
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Build a Common Understanding of the barriers and challenges of coordinating efforts and using landscape-type practices for regulatory compliance.
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Discover innovative initiatives that use partnerships, social marketing techniques, and incentives to build capacity and overcome barriers.
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Discover and inform the development of emerging technology, tools, and resources..
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Network to share knowledge of lessons learned and resources, such as guidance documents, tools, and training, of the “best” programs and practices.
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Discuss long-term, viable financing needs and strategies.
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Find ways to empower and increase certified businesses and contractors to provide goods and trained services.
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Identify ways to coordinate, train and empower more volunteers.
Participants will become part of the solution and begin to form a coalition of efforts needed to restore watersheds and protect water quality in Virginia. They will leave with increased knowledge about the tools and techniques currently available while better connected to available resources and others in their community, region, and state striving to achieve the same goals.
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The content and direction for this Summit is being set by a diverse group of stakeholders listed below (identifying agencies for affiliation purposes only):