RESIDENTIAL GUIDE TO STORMWATER

Description:

What people do in and around their homes can impact stormwater runoff and the water quality in your nearby rivers, lakes and ponds. In this training hosted by the Providence Stormwater Innovation Center, residents will learn stormwater-friendly landscaping and horticulture tips and techniques and how to treat your yard like a small ecosystem. The chemicals and pesticides you use in and around your home can be detrimental to your own plants and habitat as well as to downstream water quality. The training will also provide information on how to design, size, construct and maintain residential rain gardens and rain barrels. Rain garden site assessment, soil analysis, plant selection and safety measures are all critical elements to consider when constructing a rain garden on your home.

Trainers:

Lee Ann Freitas, Botanical Center Director, Providence Parks Department

Amelia Rose, Director, Groundwork Rhode Island

Steve Ricci, Director of Field Operations, Groundwork Rhode Island

Jake Gorke, Ranger, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

Sara Canuel, Education Director, Woonasquatucketer River Watershed Council

Member of the Green Infrastructure Coalition

Call us:

401-949-5454

ext 3044

Find us:

Providence Stormwater Innovation Center

Roger Williams Park

1000 Elmwood Ave

Providence, Rhode Island 02907

RKopp@asri.org

Video Recording of our virtual 2021 training: COMING SOON

FULL TRAINER BIOS

Lee Ann Freitas

Botanical Center Director - Providence Parks Department

Bachelor's degree in Horticulture from University of Rhode Island
Manages operations and volunteers at the Botanical Center in Roger Williams Park
Oversees maintenance of all green infrastructure projects in Roger Williams Park
Local grower, farmer and sustainable foods advocate

Amelia Rose

Executive Director - Groundwork Rhode Island

Executive Director of Groundwork Rhode Island since 2014,
Oversees programs related to environmental job training and employment, brownfield redevelopment, stormwater management, composting, and youth engagement.
Formerly worked at the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island for 6 years.
Amelia has also worked for the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Washington Interfaith Network, and Toxics Action Center.
She has a B.A. in Anthropology from Mary Washington College.

Steven Ricci

Director Of Field Operations – Groundwork Rhode Island

18 years’ experience in the field of landscape maintenance and construction
Experience in rain garden installation, curb cut tree pits, bioswales, native planting designs, green infrastructure installation, and full landscape site construction
Director of the GroundCorp crew
Managed and planned GSI projects with Rhode Island housing, WBNA, One Builders, West Elmwood Housing Authority, Southside Landtrust, Pawtucket Foundation, City Of Providence, City Of Warwick, City Of Central Falls, and the City Of Pawtucket
Landscape Architecture and Community Planning degrees from URI

Jacob Gorke
River Ranger - Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC)

River Ranger for the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) since 2018.
Responsible for planting and maintaining green stormwater installations within the Woonasquatucket River Watershed.
Serves as a co-leader for WRWC’s Urban Community Fish Monitoring Project- a study which gathers data on fish populations and assesses water quality in local watersheds.
Currently attending school for environmental studies

Sara Canuel

Education Director - Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC)

Education Director for the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council: has worked with the organization for four years coordinating and facilitating all K-12 Education Programs as part of in-school and afterschool programs, and adult resiliency programs.
Runs our Urban Fish Community Monitoring Project.
Graduated from Eckerd College in January 2017 with a BA in Environmental Science and Sociology.
Favorite tree is a Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)