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 at your home.

Presenters

Lee Ann Freitas

Botanical Center Director

Providence Parks Department

Bachelor's degree in Horticulture from the 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

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, 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
Managed and planned GSI projects with RI housing, WBNA, One Builders, West Elmwood Housing Authority, Southside Landtrust, Pawtucket Foundation, and the cities of Providence, Warwick, Central Falls, and 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 that 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)