What Grows On in Rhode Island News

Webinar for Teachers: Developing Artistic Approaches to Environmental Education ~ April 7, 2011

We’re pleased to announce new one-hour webinars this Spring for formal and non-formal youth educators. For details of these and the previously-announced webinars, visit the Green Teachers website.

A reminder: these webinars are free of charge. We hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to explore these current popular topics in environmental and outdoor learning with us.
 
We’ll be announcing more webinars soon, so please check our website frequently – OR visit http://list.web.net/lists/listinfo/gt-news and join our listserv to receive email notices of upcoming webinars.

REGISTER for these free webinars at http://greenteacher.com/webinars.html

Thursday April 7, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic:  "Shades of Green: Developing Artistic Approaches to Environmental Education"
Presenter:  Hilary Inwood
 
This webinar explores the emerging field of eco-art education, an integration of art education and environmental education, as a means of helping to develop environmental literacy in students and teachers. Hilary will introduce artwork and artists focusing on environmental issues in Canada and beyond, as well as some of the eco-art work that has been created in Toronto schools in recent years. Participants will be invited to share their own ideas and projects for creative approaches to EE.

Age appropriateness:  K-12

UPCOMING WEBINARS:

Tuesday April 12, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic:  "Innovative Curriculum Design for Sustainability"
Presenter:  Jaimie Cloud

Thursday April 28, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic:  "School Grounds for Healthy Play and Learning – Research and Case Studies of Good Design and Teaching Excellence on School Grounds"
Presenter:  Cam Collyer

Monday May 2, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic:  "Using the Environment as a Context for Learning in Standards-Based Education Systems"
Presenter:  Gerry Lieberman

Tuesday May 10, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic:  "FROG SONGS: Poetry and Essays, Field Ecology and Entomology" 
Presenter:  Brian Fox Ellis

Wednesday May 25, 2011, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Webinar topic:  "Green Craft-Making" 
Presenter:  Zabe MacEachren

Low Impact Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual Training Workshop ~ April 8, 2011

DEM, CRMC ANNOUNCE COMPLETION OF

RI LOW IMPACT SITE PLANNING AND DESIGN GUIDANCE MANUAL

Training Workshop for Local Officials and Site Designers Set for April 8th

 

Press Release

            PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and the Coastal Resources Management Council announce the completion of the Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual (LID manual).  This new low impact development (LID) manual is a companion guide to the recently revised Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual (stormwater manual).
 
            The LID manual was specifically developed to provide local planning officials with guidance and examples of how their ordinances can be amended to avoid and reduce stormwater impacts from new development or redevelopment, and encourage effective implementation of LID practices. The recommended site-planning and design techniques can help preserve community character, reduce flooding impacts, and save costs for municipal operation and maintenance. “This new guidance tool for low impact development was developed to assist our community partners accommodate desirable growth without sacrificing the environment or the quality of life that Rhode Islanders enjoy,” noted DEM Director Janet Coit.   “The new LID manual provides excellent examples and guidance to assist local decision-makers in making minor adjustments to existing ordinances to meet the goals of avoiding and reducing impacts to our public waters,” said Grover Fugate, Executive Director of CRMC.       
 
            In the past, stormwater management was primarily an engineering exercise to collect and dispose of runoff as quickly as possible. The new Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, however, changes stormwater management to encourage or require more creative site-planning and design, as well as better engineering and maintenance practices in keeping with the requirements of the Smart Development for a Cleaner Bay Act of 2007.

            The new stormwater manual requires LID practices for all major development, representing a fundamental shift in how development projects are planned and designed. LID is a more comprehensive and effective approach to managing stormwater that uses site-planning and design techniques that store, infiltrate, evaporate, and detain runoff as close as possible to the point where precipitation reaches the ground.
 
            LID can be used to accommodate growth and reduce the environmental impact of site development. Many of the LID concepts employ non-structural onsite treatment that can reduce the cost of infrastructure while maintaining or even increasing the value of the property relative to conventionally-designed developments.  In the past the landscape was altered significantly to fit the conventional style of development, whereas the LID process is reversed such that the development is designed to fit the landscape and its natural features.
 
            DEM is partnering with the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve’s Coastal Training Program to offer training on the new Rhode Island Low Impact Development Site Planning and Design Guidance Manual for local officials and site designers. A free training workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 8 at DEM Headquarters at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. To register, contact Jennifer West at 222-4700 ext 7413 or via email at [email protected]
 
            The LID manual is available on DEM’s website at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/suswshed/pdfs/lidplan.pdf.  For questions or more information on the LID manual, contact Scott Millar at 222-4700 ext 4419 or via email at [email protected]

Contact:      RI DEM    Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

Lessons Learned from 2010 Floods ~ March 24, 2011

Brown Center Investigates “What Have We Learned from the March 2010 Floods?”

9:00-10:20am on Thursday, March 24 at 135 Angell Street, Providence, RI

Everyone in Rhode Island remembers the pictures of the Warwick mall in the middle of a lake. The weather forecasters standing in a foot of water on I-95 as the major interstate was closed due to flooding. The helicopter footage of the Warwick and West Warwick wastewater treatments plant completely inundated with river water, and the “do not drink” orders from city officials.
 
After nearly two months of research and interviews, the Center for Environmental Studies at Brown is rolling out a series of six reports on “The March 2010 Floods: What Have We Learned?” 
 
“The floods revealed many ways we’re vulnerable to weather-related disasters, and opportunities to address some complex problems like how we handle storm water, zoning in floodplains, perverse incentives in insurance and disaster relief, and our emergency preparedness,” said Center Director Timmons Roberts.  
 
“The situation was ripe for chaos, miscommunication, and disaster,” said student, Charlene Kim.  “But with some luck, Rhode Island averted the worst.  No one died and, in the end, damage was limited to properties and the ecosystem.”
 
“It’s hard to say if anything has been learned long-term,” reflected Bridgette Black, another student. “I hope so, especially since serious rain events like last March are only going to become more frequent as climate change progresses.”
 
The Center is inviting the community to a panel discussion and presentation from 9:00-10:20am on Thursday, March 24 at 135 Angell Street on the Brown University campus. They hope to commemorate the work that has been done over the past year and to look a bit into the future. 
 
“The students interviewed a diverse range of distinguished community leaders and experts who all contributed unique insights into the floods’ causes, impacts, and long-term implications,” said Lauren Watka, a graduate student in the Center who supervised the project.
 
“Most people don’t realize that not every sector of the economy was negatively impacted by the floods,” said Kening Tan, “And Rhode Island, as a whole, has benefited from the federal funding for infrastructure improvements.”
 
The series of reports are scheduled to be released on the ProJo 7 to 7 blog and on the Center for Environmental Studies website starting Tuesday. One section will be published each day for the next week. They are:

• Tuesday, March 22-- The Upstream Environment: History of development and watershed change in the Pawtuxet
• Wednesday-- Zoning for Disasters? Zoning, Land-use Regulation, and Insurance in the Pawtuxet River Floodplain
• Thursday-- Emergency Management in RI: What does the Flood Tell Us About Our Preparedness?
• Friday-- The March 2010 Floods: Who Suffered Worst?
• Saturday-- Who Were the Winners?
• Sunday-- What Have We Learned?

The panelists on Thursday include:

• Karen Bradbury, who handled flood complaints at U.S. Senator Whitehouse's office;
• Ames Colt from the Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds Coordination Team;
• Jonathan Stone, Executive Director, and Rachel Calabro from Save the Bay; and
• Paul Salera, Director of Family Services and Housing, from West Bay Community Action.

The event is free and open to the public and will take place in Room 106, the Urban
Environmental Laboratory, 135 Angell St., Providence RI. There are parking meters and 2 hour parking around the neighborhood. Coffee, tea and cakes will be served.

Wind Energy, Carbon Footprints, Sustainable Building ~ Noon, March 17, 2011

Brown University Center for Environmental Studies

Capstone Presentations
THURSDAY, March 17th, 2011
Urban Environmental Lab, Rm 106, 135 Angell St, Providence, RI
Starting @ Noon

12:00 - 12:25pm :: Emily Alvarez :: Topic - BI Wind

12:25 - 1:05pm :: Adam Maynard /  Mark Towill :: Topic - Campus Conservation Nationals Dorm Energy Capstone

1:05- 1:30pm ::  Sylvia Stone :: Topic - Managing the carbon footprint of the Australian Open , plus application to regional events in NE

1:30 - 1:55pm :: Robert Warner :: Title - Sustainable retrofitting/repurposing of historic buildings

Urban Agriculture Spring Gardening Kick-Off ~ February 26, 2011

Join us Saturday for the Urban Agriculture Spring Kick-Off at the Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park! We're hosting a full afternoon of gardening workshops, cooking demos, a seed swap, silent auction & local music. The popcorn machine will be cranking! Come trade extra seeds for seeds you need! There will even be a Kids Corner for young green thumbs!

Urban Agriculture Spring Kick-Off
Saturday, February 26th, 1-4 pm
The Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park
1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
Free for Community Gardeners and Kids. $5 for General Public.

Workshops at the Kick-Off will be taught by community experts from around the state. Topics include Seed Starting, Vegetable Garden Planning, City Chickens, Collecting Rainwater, Alternatives to Miracle Gro, How to Tap Maple Trees, Home Composting and more! Plus, you can pick up a free 2011 Plant Providence Calendar, your guide to this year's events related to growing food in the city.
 
If you're one of the 250 gardeners who joined us last year, we look forward to kicking off another season with you. If this is your first Kick-Off, don't miss it. Questions? Call Erika, at 401-273-9419 ext: 30.

[Press Release]

River Restoration and Dam Removal

The Spring rains of 2010 was a statewide historic event that brought record high water to many places in the state. With this high water event the Old Forge Road dam on the boarder of North Kingstown and Warwick was severely damaged. The North Kingstown Department of Public Works has hired an engineering firm to assess the damage and to estimate the cost of Repairing, Rebuilding or Removing the dam.

This presentation by SAVE THE BAY February 22, 2011 7pm at Cold Spring Community Center, 30 Beach Street, North Kingstown, RI, is designed to educate the public on the issues of river restoration and dam removal. Become and informed public by attending this meeting sponsored by the Friends of the Hunt River Watershed. All are welcome.

From the Globe to the Cell and Back - Responses of Ecosystems to Global Environmental Change ~ February 7, 2011

Monday, Feb 7, 2011- Noon ~ Brown University, Sidney Frank Hall / Room 220, 185 Meeting St, Providence, RI   ~ Nathan Marcuvitz Auditorium

Speaker Dr. Bruce Hungate is a Professor of Ecosystem Ecology at Northern Arizona University. His research focuses on ecosystem processes, especially carbon, water, and nutrient cycling. Hungate studies biogeochemical responses to global changes, such as rising atmospheric CO2, climate change, N deposition, and altered land use. Currently he is investigating how altered precipitation and warming alter carbon and nitrogen cycling in Arizona's ecosystems, how elevated CO2 alters nitrogen cycling and hydrology of scrub oak woodlands, and how increased temperature influences the nitrogen cycle in grasslands.

To learn more about Professor Hungate click here

Canada Goose Abatement for Livestock and Agricultural Producers ~ February 2, 2011

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with the RI State Conservation Committee and ROI Conservation Districts is offering a free workshop on “Canada Goose Abatement for Livestock and Agricultural Producers” in RI.  Resident Canada Geese populations can inflict significant damage on agricultural land in the form of water quality impairments, crop loss, and subsequent erosion.  Livestock and agricultural producers in Bristol County and Newport County, RI are encouraged to learn about Canada Geese and strategies for coexistence with them.
 
The workshops will be held on Wednesday, February 2, 2011  7:00 PM
 
Eastern Conservation District Office
(White Wine Plaza)
2490 Main Road
Tiverton, RI 02878  
 
To register for this free and informative educational workshop, please call (401) 349-0262.

Beekeeping in Rhode Island ~ March 1, 2011

Join us at Portsmouth Free Public Library on Tuesday, March 1 (originally Feb 8) at 6:30 PM as Sanne Kure-Jensen, NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional, URI Master Gardener, and beekeeper presents an overview on beekeeping in RI. Learn how to build equipment (woodenware), install bees, check on the colony and harvest honey. This session will also briefly review candles and other products like salves and cosmetics made with beeswax, honey or propolis. Sanne will stress organics and their importance in the home garden and lawn. Attendees will learn where to get more information including the RI Beekeepers Association spring Bee School: a 5-week course run each spring.

This program is free and open to the public.  Seating is limited so please stop by or call the Library at 683-9457 to register.

Portsmouth Free Public Library, 2658 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI 02871

Website:
Phone: 401-683-9457
Email: [email protected]
Price: Free
For directions, see http://portsmouth.patch.com/events/bees-and-beekeeping.

Wastewater 101 for Elected Officials ~ February 3, 2011

The Why, What, How, Costs and Benefits of Your Community’s Investment in Water Pollution Control Infrastructure

When: February 3, 2011 from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m.

RSVP: to Marci Cole Ekberg at [email protected] or 401-272-3540, x113

What: A three-hour workshop sponsored by Save The Bay and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Water Resources providing an overview of the very real water pollution issues, requirements, costs and benefits of clean water.

The Back Story: Every day in Rhode Island, communities collect and treat approximately 100 million gallons of residential, commercial and industrial sewage before it is discharged back into nature. Those facilities and thousands of miles of buried sewer collection pipes and hundreds of pumping stations add up to some of the most expensive and critical infrastructure in the Ocean State — and most of this unseen investment in clean water is owned, operated and maintained by local municipalities. Moreover, communities are responsible for adequately managing stormwater runoff into our state’s waterways.

This workshop will provide you with background information on wastewater and stormwater infrastructure as well as funding mechanisms to maintain your systems. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of regulatory and technical assistance personnel from RI DEM and the U.S. EPA.

Intended Audience: Returning and newly elected municipal officials, town managers and public works directors

The Program:
8:00    Meet and greet. Light breakfast available.
8:30    Welcome and goal setting
8:45    Overview of Water Pollution Issues by John Torgan,
          Save The Bay
9 :00   Wastewater 101 by Bill Patenaude, RIDEM
9:30    Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Stormwater 101
           by Russ Chateauneuf, RIDEM
10:00   Financing Options by Tony Simeone, RI Clean Water
           Finance Agency
10:30   Wrapup, Next Steps, Individual Q&A
11:00   Tour of the Save The Bay Center (optional)