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MEDIA CONTACT
Katy Johansson
360.725.5442 (office)
360.701.3568 (cell)
katy.johansson@psp.wa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2008

Stormwater management workshops proving popular

Puget Sound Partnership-sponsored low impact development series continues in June

 

OLYMPIA – Interest in and use of low impact development (LID) stormwater management by communities around the Sound is bringing strong turnout to a series of LID workshops sponsored by the Puget Sound Partnership and presented by Washington State University’s Pierce County Extension.

“We know 1.5 million more people are coming to Puget Sound. If we’re going to accommodate them – and take care of the Sound – we need to figure out how to lessen the impacts,” said David Dicks, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership.

“Low impact development has a lot of potential. This training provides communities with the tools to grow with grace.”

The first two workshops, on permeable paving and bioretention, were held in Sequim earlier this month. Attendees have given them rave reviews.

“I’ve been involved in the policy implementation of low impact development, and a promoter of it, for years. I’ve gained invaluable information from every presentation so far,” said Art Castle, executive vice president of the Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County.

“The workshop on permeable paving was very timely and what we learned is helping us greatly, right now, as we work with a Bremerton developer to install pervious pavement on a major redevelopment project,” said Larry Matel, managing engineer of the Bremerton Department of Public Works and Utilities.

Two more workshops remain in the Sequim series:

  • June 4-5: green roofs, low impact foundations and rain water collection
  • June 25-26: site planning, plan review, clearing and grading, and inspection


The same series of workshops will be provided in the coming months in other Puget Sound communities:

  • Bellingham (September/October 2008)
  • Seattle (February/March 2009)
  • Olympia (Spring 2009)


“Taken together, these workshops are some of the most comprehensive LID training opportunities in the United States. They are an essential next step in education and outreach as we move toward developing stormwater management systems that provide greater protection for our aquatic resources,” said Curtis Hinman, WSU extension faculty and creator of the workshop series.

Each two-day workshop costs $50, which includes course materials, breakfast and lunch. Pre-registration is required.

For more information about the workshops, and to pre-register, visit http://capps.wsu.edu/conferences/lidworkshops. For more information about low impact development, visit: www.psp.wa.gov/stormwater.html.

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