Portland, OR — A one-day workshop covering the gamut of local and global water sustainability issues and practices, including water pollution issues, conservation techniques, stormwater management, and water-friendly landscape design.

Course Description

As the key ingredient for life on this planet, water is our most precious natural resource. With a constantly expanding human population, sustainable sources of clean water are shrinking due to pollution of water resources and unsustainable use rates. This workshop will present an overview of global and local water resource sustainability issues, touching on human impacts throughout the water cycle. Local water experts will discuss the latest stormwater management techniques, water conservation methods, and water-friendly landscape design.

Speakers and special topics

Steve Fancher (Director, Environmental Services, City of Gresham, OR) will provide an overview of water sustainability issues at the global scale and those that more directly affect the Pacific Northwest. Topics of water supply, management, pollution, and politics will be discussed.

Dave Elkin (Landscape Architect, Greenworks PC, Portland, OR, formerly with the Bureau of Environmental Services, OR) will discuss the latest sustainable stormwater management techniques, such as rain gardens, stormwater planters, green roofs, and green streets.

Kathy Shearin (Supervisor, Sustainable Urban Landscapes Program, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, OR) will provide information on sustainable landscape design that minimizes or eliminates the need for irrigation water, chemical fertilizers or pesticides that can be harmful to water resources.

Jesse Engum (Water Conservation Specialist, Water Division, City of Gresham, OR) will present information on effective methods home and business owners can employ to conserve water in an effort to reduce monthly bills and lessen impacts on the environment.

Contact Information