Save our Severn Speakers Series

(All events are in conjunction with SRA Meetings announced on our home page)


March 18, 2008
Anne Pearson, Director, Alliance for Sustainable Communities, will speak on the Core Principles created by a Consortium of 35 prominent organizations as a guide to the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) as they implement the Stormwater ACT of 2007. MDE has revised Chapter 5 to emphasize Environmental Site Design and the use of many Best Management Practices for infiltration and reuse of stormwater, but more revisions are needed - especially to provide specific guidance for permitters and developers to “replicate the natural hydrology of a site to the maximum extent practicable.”

Anne Pearson founded the Alliance for Sustainable Communities in 1994 to motivate partnerships between representatives of all levels of government, business, citizens and innovators - for project action that fits social, economic and environmental needs of the community, to encourage a life-style that follows natural patterns and inspires creative problem solving. She helped draft the Maryland Stormwater Act of 2007. Her work for the past 5 years has focused attention on the need for and benefits of Stormwater Utilities, to fund the billions of dollars of cost to restore current Creek, River and Bay degradation caused by development.

 

Past Speakers

    January 15, Al Todd, Forests and Watershed Health: Working toward Forest-Friendly Development
    (7 PM, Calvary Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis 21401)

    Anne Pearson's Summary of the Talk

    Al Todd, USDA Forest Service Liaison to the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program for the past eight years, is now Forest Service Watershed Program Leader for State and Private Forestry in the 20 Northeastern Area states. He will discuss links between trees and forests and the health and function of watersheds. He will highlight planning and site practices that protect trees in development strategies.
    He is a graduate of Penn State University and the Watershed Hydrology program of the University of Arizona. Al has worked for county government, private consultants and the last 28 years for the USDA Forest Service primarily focusing on watershed restoration and management in Arizona, Idaho, California, and the Northeastern States. He was the Watershed Director for the Lake Tahoe Basin for 5 years, Forest Service Liaison to the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program for 8 years, and now serves as the Forest Service Watershed Program Leader for State and Private Forestry in the 20 Northeastern Area states. Al has written numerous articles and technical papers related to watershed restoration, erosion control, riparian dynamics, forest and water quality management and is a two-time winner of the Chief of the Forest Service's National Stewardship Award.
    Al Todd grew up and attended High School in Camden, NJ, has been married for 26 years to Teresa Todd, a self-employed Architect in Annapolis, MD and has 4 sons. Contact information: Albert H. Todd USDA Forest ServiceNortheastern Area Watershed Program Leader 410 Severn Ave, Suite 109 Annapolis, MD 21403 (410) 2675705 FAX: 4102675777 atodd@fs.fed.us

    November 20, 2007 (7 PM, Calvary Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis 21401)
    Robb Fish: "Recycle. More. Often."
    This presentation will highlight enhancements that the County has implemented in its curbside recycling program and will also discuss the County's vision for the future of the recycling program.  It will also address the benefits of recycling and present a unique marketing initiative that will be launched in the coming months.

    Robb Fish is a Recycling Project Specialist with Anne Arundel County's Waste Management Services division in the Department of Public Works.  One of his responsibilities is to work with small businesses in the county to assist them in implementing a recycling program.  He has been working for the County since November 2006.

    He has over 8 years of program management and development experience and at his previous position as Program Manager for the National Association for Environmental Management in Washington, DC. has worked with several companies cross the country to enhance their environmental, health and safety programs.

    October 16, 2007 (7 PM, Calvary Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis 21401)
    Klaus Philipsen, The Fast Bus System 1000 Friends of Maryland, how and where it works so the car stays home.  Our transportation choices impact our river and quality of life.  See how!

    September 18, 2007 (7 PM, Calvary Methodist Church, 301 Rowe Blvd, Annapolis 21401) Mayor Ellen Moyer, presents Al Gore’s slides: Global Warming and what we can each do to reduce its impact.

    July 17, 2007
    Living Shoreline     at West Severna Park Community Association, 443 Holland Rd, Severna Park, MD 21146. Kevin Smith, Chief of Restoration Services for DNR. He is a graduate of University of Maryland in Fish & wildlife Management/Resource Conservation, and worked on Living Shoreline projects (non-structural shoreline erosion control) since 1985. He has been involved in hundreds of tidal and non-tidal wetland and stream restoration projects throughout Maryland and is currently working with the Coastal Bays Program and Worcester County on living shoreline projects (Map & Directions)

    June 14, 2007 (SRA Annual Meeting)
    Tom Horton, “Growth is Good” Spells Disaster for the Chesapeake Bay, and what you and SRA can do to encourage restoration of the River, and an Action Agenda. 6:30 PM, Epping  Forest Clubhouse (Crownsville), 354 Severn Road, Annapolis MD 21401 (Map & Directions) ,

    April 17, 2007
    Michael Furbish, The Business of Green Design, Furbish Company LLC. Be inspired by his story of shifting his business from Conventional to Green Building and learn about building for environmental sustainability.     (Summary)

    March 20, 2007
    Jamie Benoit, Councilman District 4. Learn more about plans for growth in Anne Arundel County, and how to protect the headwaters of the Severn River.     (Summary)

    February 20, 2007
    Alan Hyatt, Installation of a green roof in Annapolis     (Summary with Audio)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

(Revised Feb 2008)