Will Helt (both images) of the Nature Conservancy programs water level monitoring equipment (left) to be deployed at
the outflow to Elm Lake in Roger Williams Park. (Right) Will gives a demonstration to volunteers about the Cyanoscope
monitoring program being done in Roger Williams Park
SNEP
Stormwater Innovation Center:
A Unique Opportunity in an Unlikely Place
Adam Reiliy
In 2017, managers in the city of Providence, RI found themselves with an unexpected opportunity.
A consent decree had been issued by the State, which included a requirement for construction and
maintenance of 42 separate stormwater projects within Roger Williams Park, a major undertaking
to which the City committed $1.5 million. That commitment became a down payment on important
lessons learned of the challenges of constructing and maintaining green stormwater practices.
Implementing the required projects planted a kernel of innovation: "what if we documented all of
these challenges and provided training and educational resources to prevent other municipalities
from finding themselves in a similar predicament?" From that seed, the Stormwater Innovation
Center was born: a Center focused on community outreach, education, and research.
With initial funding from EPA through Restore America's Estuaries, a pass-through entity for the
Southeast New England Program, the Center launched in November of 2019 with three main
objectives: 1) to provide training to organizations and municipalities on stormwater management
and green infrastructure design and implementation; 2) to monitor green infrastructure for
functionality and to determine best management practices and the proper length of maintenance;
and 3) to provide public outreach and increase community engagement with stormwater
management practices.
The Center is located in the heart of Roger Williams Park, which serves as a living laboratory to test
innovative stormwater management and green infrastructure designs. Prior to COVID, the Center
hosted regular training events to engage local community members in new stormwater
management strategies. "That's one of the strengths of the Center and its location," said Brian
Byrnes. "Of the trainings that we've done prior to COVID, we would do a half-day in class and then
take these participants -- engineers, DPW workers, homeowners, facility managers- into the
practices to have them do the actual maintenance [in the field]." And because of the unique
landscape of the park, "we can mimic almost anything that you would see in an urban [stormwater]
setting."
Southeast New England Program
www.epa.gov/sitecwrp

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SNEP
Stormwater Innovation Center:
A Unique Opportunity in an Unlikely Place
Adam Reilly
The hands-on component of the Center adds an important learn-by-doing element that has been
well-received by local community members and event attendees. During our interview for this
article, Brian shared that he was recently attending an outdoor meeting when he noticed a woman
cleaning out leaf debris from her local storm drain. When he stopped to thank her, she remarked
that she had recently attended an event at the Center and understood the importance of keeping the
drains clear.
Like most other programs, CQVID-19 has adversely impacted the Center and prevented many of the
in-person trainings that had been planned. In the interim, the Center has focused primarily on
digital outreach by boosting its online profile and providing as many training materials and
interactive webinars as possible on its website. Additionally, the Center has continued regular
stormwater monitoring in partnership with the Universities of Rhode Island and New Hampshire,
as well as ongoing development of maintenance programs for existing BMPs. While future funding
for the program remains a challenge, the program has generated significant interest at all levels of
government, proving the necessity and value of the stormwater education and outreach that the
Center provides.
For more information about the Stormwater Innovation Center, please contact Ryan Kopp at
RKopp@asri.org or visit their website at https: //www.stormwaterinnovation.org/
Southeast New England Program
www.epa.gov/sitecwrp

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