Fixing Flooding: One Community at a Time

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1 Fixing Flooding: One Community at a Time Innovative Solutions using Green Infrastructure Middlesex County Fire Academy 1001 Fire Academy Drive, Sayreville, NJ Friday, February 26, 2016 Biographies Charlotte Anderson, SPHR, GPHR, Amethyst and Iris Consulting. Charlotte is an Organization Development professional specializing in instructional design, organizational diagnostics, and professional development. She worked for over 12 years in Human Resource Management before starting her consulting practice in Charlotte is active in her local chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), maintains both Senior Professional and Global Professional in Human Resources certification, and has worked since 1998 as an instructor of the SHRM Learning System for persons seeking the certification. She has been appointed to the Organizational Development Special Expertise Panel for SHRM national. She also participates in the American Society for Training and Development, and SHRM's Professional Emphasis Group, The Consultant's Forum. She holds a B.S. degree from Albright College in BioChemistry and performed her graduate work in Microbiology, at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Michele Bakacs, Environmental and Resource Management Agent for Middlesex and Union County, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Michele joined Rutgers Cooperative Extension in 2009 and has 17 years of experience in watershed management primarily focused on stormwater management, green infrastructure, and water quality protection. Currently, Michele conducts research, educational programming, and technical assistance in the areas of water resource protection, organic land care, and safe practices for urban gardening. She has collaborated on numerous state and federal grants focused on researching the water quality of rainwater harvesting and bioretention systems and helping municipalities disconnect impervious surfaces utilizing rain gardens, rain barrels, and permeable pavements. Michele works in urbanized communities teaching residents about contaminated garden soil and best practices for remediation for which she received the 2014 Diversity/Multicultural Individual Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi. She helped develop and coordinate the Rutgers Organic Land Care Certificate Program for professional landscapers, recognized by the state s top industry organization, the NJ Turfgrass Association, with their 2014 Environmental Stewardship Award. Michele also coordinates the Environmental Stewards program in Middlesex County, which teaches citizens about local environmental issues and enables them to create positive change in their communities. Jeremiah Bergstrom, LLA, ASLA, Senior Research Project Manager, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program. Jeremiah is a licensed Landscape Architect with a background in green infrastructure, stormwater best management practice design, native plant materials, ecological restoration, watershed planning, geographic information systems, and data management. He has extensive experience in the design and implementation of distributed and disconnected stormwater management strategies in urban and suburban landscapes. He has an in-depth background in the inventory and analysis of natural, Fixing Flooding: One Community at a Time, Innovative Solutions using Green Infrastructure, February 26, 2016 Page 1 of 5

2 recreational, historic, and scenic resources in regional and watershed planning. Jeremiah has been responsible for design development, environmental permitting, construction documents, technical specifications, cost estimating, public bidding, and construction administration of multiple landscape design, stormwater management, and ecological restoration projects. Jeremiah frequently facilitates planning and design efforts for multi-discipline collaborations and implements a majority of his work in partnership with nonprofit, academic, municipal, and county entities. Jeremiah also conducts training programs and lectures on green infrastructure strategies, rain garden design, and water conservation as well as environmentally sensitive and sustainable site planning. Rosana Da Silva, Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program. Rosana graduated in May 2011 from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey with a B.S. in Environmental Sciences and a minor in Education and graduated in January 2016 from the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey with an Education Masters (Ed.M.) in Science Education. Rosana interned with the Water Resources Program from May 2010 to August During her internship, Rosana developed and delivered educational outreach programs to urban communities throughout New Jersey. Rosana has participated in the construction and maintenance of rain gardens, assisted in rain barrel workshops, developed flyers, and developed evaluation tools to measure the impact of outreach programs delivered. As a Program Associate with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, Rosana continues to develop, deliver, and evaluate educational programs to address water resources issues in New Jersey s urban centers. Donna Drewes, AICP/PP, Co-Director, Sustainability Institute at the College of New Jersey. Donna is a professional planner with over 35 years experience in sustainable development and natural resource management planning. She has worked as a professional planning consultant in the private sector for both public agencies and non-governmental organizations. Her experience includes extensive work in community sustainability planning, development of regional watershed plans and models as well as rural and environmental resource management issues. Since 2004 Donna has been with The College of New Jersey and currently serves as the Co-Director of the Sustainability Institute. The Institute administers the Sustainable Jersey municipal and schools certification program, a hugely successful state level effort to engage communities in advancing sustainable development by providing clear guidance, training, capacity building, and financial incentives. Michelle Hartmann, Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program. Michelle graduated in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture (BSLA) from Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Her undergraduate academic work focused on ways to inspire community activism for environmental change through landscape design and community outreach. Recently, Michelle was awarded a Merit Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NJASLA) for her undergraduate academic thesis. As part of the George H. Cook Scholars program, the project was developed to re-envision sustainable campus planning from the student perspective. Throughout her experience, Michelle developed technical skills in AutoCAD/AutoCAD Architecture, Adobe Suite, and ArcGIS to aid in the development of site design. Following graduation, Michelle joined the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program in September of 2014 to assist with the design of green infrastructure and further develop her skills in community outreach throughout New Jersey. Fixing Flooding: One Community at a Time, Innovative Solutions using Green Infrastructure, February 26, 2016 Page 2 of 5

3 Leigh Anne Hindenlang, AICP/PP, Executive Director and Principal Planner, Office of Economic and Community Development and Redevelopment Agency, City of Perth Amboy. Annie oversees and implements initiatives related to planning, brownfield reuse, placemaking, sustainability, revitalization, transit-oriented development, and community development. She received a B.A. in Public Urban Affairs, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Business from Virginia Tech in 2010 and completed her Masters of Urban and Regional Planning at the Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in Tobiah (Toby) Horton, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Landscape Architecture, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Toby holds a B.A. in Studio Art and Spanish Literature from Oberlin College and an MLA from SUNY-ESF. Toby s work investigates the reuse of materials and places in the redevelopment process. Professional projects such as the Willow Patch, NJ Urban Parks Trenton, Queens Plaza/Dutch Kills Green (with Margie Ruddick/WRT Design), Bethlehem Steel Stacks, and Womrath Park (with WRT Design) demonstrate Toby s fascination with how people and places interact through materials. In addition to his landscape built works, Toby s art has been shown in galleries in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Montreux, Switzerland, Portland, Oregon, and Syracuse, New York. Toby s current research and design projects include: Demolition and Reconstruction Methods with Reused Concrete, Chemistry of Reused Concrete: the Additional Benefit of CO2 Absorption, and Reused Concrete Erosion Control Structures. His forthcoming book chapter, entitled Reuse Voices in Design, explores how reused demolition materials in green infrastructure projects create a distinct experience of human/natural systems in the urban environment. As a Rutgers Cooperative Extension Specialist, Toby provides research, service, and educational programs to New Jersey citizens through projects such as the Rahway Rain Gardens, Springfield Green Infrastructure, and the collaborative 4-H program Explorations: See the World through Writing, Drawing, and Sculpting. Doriann Kerber, Councilwoman, Milltown Borough. Doriann, a graduate of Kean University and an entrepreneur, proudly serves the residents of Milltown Borough and Middlesex County as an elected official. In November 2014, she attended a Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership meeting and met Dr. Obropta, where he discussed a grant received by Rutgers from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. At the meeting, Parkview Elementary School was identified as an opportunity to install rain gardens as a green infrastructure practice to help alleviate flooding issues in the town. Doriann facilitated the installation process from start to finish which allowed her to engage with Rutgers, the Board of Education, and Borough staff to accomplish the goal of installing a rain garden utilizing funding made available by Rutgers. She continued to learn about stormwater management issues and how vital resources are to plan and implement additional green infrastructure projects. She has since participated in other workshops and conferences hosted by Sustainable Jersey, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, Rutgers, NY/NJ Baykeeper, and others to educate the Borough about the importance of planning for additional green infrastructure projects. As Utilities Chair this year, Doriann and Borough staff will conduct inventories, surveys, and view stormwater plans by engaging organizations throughout Milltown. With major projects in the works, Doriann will, with support from constituents, work to make major changes, apply for grants to create a better environment, and utilize the Borough s student green clubs to implement demonstration green infrastructure projects. Stacy Krause, AICP/PP, Senior Research Associate, Environmental Analysis and Communications Group (EAC), Rutgers Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Stacy began her planning career with the NJ Office of Smart Growth where she assisted with the coordination of the Plan Endorsement Program and update to the NJ State Development and Redevelopment Plan. More recently, she worked as a Senior Planner for Ocean County, NJ where she managed many projects including the County Water Quality Management Planning Program and the Joint Land Use Military Study Initiative Fixing Flooding: One Community at a Time, Innovative Solutions using Green Infrastructure, February 26, 2016 Page 3 of 5

4 with the Department of Defense. At EAC, Stacy conducts research on health policy as part of the NJ Healthy Homes Program as well as flood hazard mitigation and federal disaster assistance grant programs for FEMA. She also conducts research in the area of climate adaption and resiliency for the New Jersey's coastal zone. She received a B.A. from Rutgers University with a double major in Political Science and Urban Studies and a Master of City and Regional Planning Degree from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy with a concentration in Community Development. Stacy is a licensed professional planner in New Jersey, certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners, and a member of the American Planning Association. Karl Kuber, Supervisor, Township of Parsippany Department of Public Works. Karl started working for the Township of Parsippany-Department of Public Works - Road Division in 1981 as a laborer. He worked his way up to Supervisor of the Department of Public Works and recently retired in January Karl was responsible for primarily installations, repairs, updating, cleaning of all the drainage lines, structures, and castings. He also maintained all hand and power tool supplies needed to keep up with the maintenance throughout the Township. Karl also repaired Belgium block, concrete curbing, and topsoil. Karl was also responsible for addressing daily complaints, which included current complaints from Township residents, the Mayor s office, Police Department, and the Director of Public Works. He prioritized jobs and manpower needs daily. He also set up special events, parades, clean ups, salting, plowing, and street sweeping activities in the municipality. Karl worked with several different federal, state, and county agencies which included emergent and non-emergent situations, inspections, and projects. Debbie Mans, Baykeeper and Executive Director, NY/NJ Baykeeper. Debbie has been Baykeeper and Executive Director since April NY/NJ Baykeeper is the citizen guardian of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. Prior to joining NY/NJ Baykeeper, Debbie was the Environmental and Energy Policy Advisor for New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine. Debbie is a graduate of The University of Michigan and holds a J.D. from Vermont Law School. She is the Chair of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters and Treasurer of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. Sara Mellor, Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program. Sara graduated in May 2010 from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, with a B.S. in Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behaviors. Sara interned with the Water Resources Program from May 2009 to May 2010 and worked part time as a Program Coordinator with the Water Resources Program from May 2010 to May During the internship and tenure as a Program Coordinator, Sara participated in water quality sampling, flow monitoring, and stream visual assessments for watershed restoration and protection plans, assisted in the coordination, construction, and maintenance of rain gardens, helped develop and run rain barrel workshops, organized the "One Barrel at a Time Co-op," created flyers, press releases, and other forms of promotional materials for the program, supported Water Resources Program staff in community educational outreach projects, supervised project volunteers, researched ways to inform the public about the importance of conserving water, and contributed to the development of evaluation tools to measure programmatic impact. As a Program Associate with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, Sara coordinates and presents various workshops throughout New Jersey, designs, constructs, and coordinates the installation of rain gardens and natural landscaped systems throughout New Jersey, and participates in community and youth outreach projects pertaining to water resources. Robert O Neil, AICP/PP, Principal Watershed Protection Specialist, New Jersey Water Supply Authority. Bob is a Licensed Professional Planner and member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He earned his bachelor s degree in Geography and Regional Planning from Mansfield University and Master of Regional Planning from The Pennsylvania State University. Bob's areas of expertise includes Fixing Flooding: One Community at a Time, Innovative Solutions using Green Infrastructure, February 26, 2016 Page 4 of 5

5 Comprehensive Master Planning, Environmental Impact Statements, Wetlands Delineation, Transportation Systems, Zoning and Land Use, Site Design, Parks and Recreation, Housing, Economic Development, Neighborhood Revitalization, and Historic Preservation. Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E., Extension Specialist in Water Resources, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Dr. Obropta is an Associate Professor with the Department of Environmental Sciences at the School of Environmental & Biological Sciences, Rutgers University. He has a doctorate in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, a M.S. in Civil Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. Prior to joining Rutgers, Dr. Obropta was an environmental consultant for 12 years at Omni Environmental Corporation. Dr. Obropta has a background in watershed management, water quality modeling, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and coastal engineering. His specific experience includes watershed restoration, onsite wastewater treatment system design and management, wasteload allocations and TMDL studies, stormwater management, wetland design, effluent dilution analyses, longshore sediment transport, computer-aided design, and geographic information systems. He teaches Bioresource Engineering Design I & II where he directs student design teams to develop solutions to complex real-life engineering problems. David Peifer, Highlands Project Director, Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC). Since 2007 in this position, David has assisted municipal environmental commissions and other local officials on a broad range of environmental protection issues including land use planning, land preservation and stewardship, water quality protection, and stormwater management. On ANJEC s behalf, he presents testimony and comments on Highlands Council policies and programs and works to help Highlands communities coordinate their planning with the goals of the Highlands Act and the Highlands Comprehensive Master Plan. David has been active in environmental issues since He served as Executive Director of the Upper Raritan Watershed Association (URWA) from 1981 until URWA (now the Raritan Headwaters Association) is a regional conservation organization with an active land preservation program. David holds a bachelor s degree in history from Drew University and has served on the Clean Water Council, the Water Supply Advisory Council, and the Natirar Master Plan Task Force. He is a former member of the Warren County Environmental Commission. Pat Rector, Environmental and Resource Management Agent for Morris and Somerset County, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Since joining Rutgers Cooperative Extension in 2009, Pat has focused her efforts in three program areas: disconnection of stormwater, aquatic invasive species, and youth and water programming. Pat is also a Program Coordinator of the Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program in Somerset County located at Duke Farms. Pat s interest is in how to increase adoption rates for stormwater best management practices (BMPs) at the residential level and has conducted community based educational programs to provide an effective means to engage residential clientele in the implementation of stormwater BMPs. Pat has also been involved in Cluster Rain Garden Programs which indicated that early adopters influenced the outcome of neighbors to install rain gardens during a later opportunity. She also partners with lake associations and pond owners to assist with aquatic invasive species problems. Pat has had both direct involvement with youth and also conducted teacher in-service trainings to enable educators to be prepared to utilize a curriculum based around rain gardens. Fixing Flooding: One Community at a Time, Innovative Solutions using Green Infrastructure, February 26, 2016 Page 5 of 5