S.W.I.M. Coalition

U.S. EPA release of a final report entitled, A Screening Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Mitigation in the Great Lakes and New England Regions. The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment’s Global Climate research staff. The report is a screening-level assessment of the potential implications climate change has had on combined sewer overflow (CSO) mitigation in the Great Lakes and New England Regions [See WIMS 3/29/07].

Combined sewer systems (CSSs) collect and co-treat storm water and municipal wastewater. During high intensity rainfall events, the capacity of CSSs can be exceeded resulting in the discharge of untreated storm water and wastewater directly into receiving streams. The combined sewer overflow events (CSOs) can result in high concentrations of microbial pathogens, biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and other pollutants in receiving waters. Climate change in many parts of the country is expected to increase the proportion of rainfall occurring in high intensity events, resulting in increased stormwater runoff. The report indicates that these changes present a risk of increased CSO frequency and water quality impairment.

Center for Architecture – 536 LaGuardia Place, New York City
On April 22 2008, the Design Trust for Public Space and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation will host an Earth Day symposium, “Park Design for the 21st Century.” The symposium will bring together a range of professionals to share their experiences in planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, or advocating for sustainable parks and landscapes in urban settings. An afternoon of presentations will illuminate cutting-edge strategies for creating high performance landscapes. Presentations will inform the Design Trust and Parks’ upcoming publication, High Performance Landscape Guidelines. New techniques and innovative designs presented will likely become case studies for the publication. Charles McKinney, Parks Chief of Design, will give welcome remarks.

See the Design Trust website for more information.

Center for Urban Pedagogy is seeking proposals for the next issues of Making Policy Public, CUP’s series of fold-out posters that brings advocates and designers together to create visual explanations of public policy issues. We are looking for advocates, organizations, and researchers with complex policy issues that need visual explanation. Advocates chosen through the juried submission process will receive 1000 copies of the color publication  to distribute directly to their constituents and an honorarium of $1000. Click here to see CUP’s Cargo Chain Poster.

Kate Zidar will be putting in a proposal for SWIM. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, please e-mail here at katezidar@gmail.com Click here to see a copy of the Policy Poster RFP.

EPA has a periodic newsletter on green infrastructure, with updates on new resources being made available to assist local communities in developing and implementing green stormwater management approaches. There are 3 editions so far, at this web site, which include some useful stuff — the newsletter also has an email address you can contact to be added to the distrbution list for future ones –

Click here to read newsletter

SAVE THE DATE: 9th Annual Amazing Bronx River Flotilla
Join a flotilla of canoes and kayaks that will make their way down the Bronx River to celebrate its revitalization and to start the paddling season, or welcome the paddlers as they finish their trip at the Flotilla Picnic at Hunts Point Riverside Park. REGISTER

NRDC recently submitted comments to DEC on the Gowanus Canal Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan. Other groups are also invited to post their comments on this and other WWFPs here. Gowanus WWFP Comments_NRDC