Can Volunteer-Based Programs Be Effective in the Green Stormwater Revolution?
Presentation Abstract
Polluted stormwater is the greatest single threat to the Salish Sea and other waterways. The challenge of shifting to green stormwater infrastructure can seem overwhelming. Retrofitting existing developments will require many thousands of actions at the site scale to bring about measurable improvements to watersheds. Can volunteer-based capacity-building programs provide a cost-effective means to achieve the level of retrofits necessary to make a measurable difference?
This poster will highlight programs implemented by Washington State University Extension's Water Resources Program whose goals are to achieve substantial on-the-ground results through highly trained volunteers offering green infrastructure/low-impact development (LID) education and site-based technical assistance to landowners. Examples of recommendations include guidance for carrying out GSI projects such as rain gardens, pervious pavements, green-stormwater landscaping techniques, large-scale rainwater catchment, and vegetated roofs. The poster will highlight: (1) Program models/framework, including integration of hands-on learning by installing GSI projects. (2) The successes, drawbacks, and challenges of various programs from both the stormwater-manager perspective and the volunteers' perspective. (3) Results of various assessments, such as those that evaluate: actual on-the-ground impacts; staffing and public investments required; potential for scaled-up implementation; program implementation hurdles; and barriers to landowners following through. (4) Less tangible benefits of community-based programs that rely on dedicated, trained volunteers.
Session Title
Moving beyond education and outreach to behavior change
Conference Track
Engagement
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Urban runoff--Environmental aspects--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Water--Pollution-Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Pollution prevention--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Citizen participation
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Can Volunteer-Based Programs Be Effective in the Green Stormwater Revolution?
2016SSEC
Polluted stormwater is the greatest single threat to the Salish Sea and other waterways. The challenge of shifting to green stormwater infrastructure can seem overwhelming. Retrofitting existing developments will require many thousands of actions at the site scale to bring about measurable improvements to watersheds. Can volunteer-based capacity-building programs provide a cost-effective means to achieve the level of retrofits necessary to make a measurable difference?
This poster will highlight programs implemented by Washington State University Extension's Water Resources Program whose goals are to achieve substantial on-the-ground results through highly trained volunteers offering green infrastructure/low-impact development (LID) education and site-based technical assistance to landowners. Examples of recommendations include guidance for carrying out GSI projects such as rain gardens, pervious pavements, green-stormwater landscaping techniques, large-scale rainwater catchment, and vegetated roofs. The poster will highlight: (1) Program models/framework, including integration of hands-on learning by installing GSI projects. (2) The successes, drawbacks, and challenges of various programs from both the stormwater-manager perspective and the volunteers' perspective. (3) Results of various assessments, such as those that evaluate: actual on-the-ground impacts; staffing and public investments required; potential for scaled-up implementation; program implementation hurdles; and barriers to landowners following through. (4) Less tangible benefits of community-based programs that rely on dedicated, trained volunteers.
