About the author: Osgood is associate editor for Water & Wastes Digest. She can be reached at 847/391-1025 or by e-mail at [email protected].
With record numbers of sessions and presenters, StormCon '06, which will be held July 24 to 27 at Adam's Mark in Denver, will be the largest storm water pollution prevention convention yet. The fifth annual StormCon will feature 47 sessions and more than 200 presenters. In addition, StormCon '06 is expected to draw 195 exhibitors and 800 attendees.
StormCon's opening speaker will kick off the event with a fresh perspective on industry issues Tues., July 25 from 8 to 9 a.m.
"Cathy Leslie, P.E., executive director of Engineers Without Borders, is going to show a side of civil and environmental engineering that few people know exists—the international efforts of engineers to solve chronic infrastructure problems in developing countries," said Laura Funkhouser, marketing manager for Forester Communications, event organizer.
StrormCon sessions, presented by the nation's leading storm water professionals, are categorized by the following tracks: BMPs in Practice—structural and nonstructural best management practices, techniques, tools and technology to achieve water-quality goals; Managing the Stormwater Program-public education and outreach, funding, storm water utilities and more; Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring-monitoring, sampling, assessment, tracking illicit discharges and pollutant sources, and more; and Research & Testing of BMPs-technical information including methods for testing and comparing best management practices.
New additions to this year's StormCon include a news update and Q&A session with the U.S. EPA, expanded pre-conference workshops, more presentations on regional BMPs and a panel discussion on BMPs trends, according to Funkhouser.
Attendees can take part in what promises to be a lively debate at the BMPs Trends Panel Discussion Wed., July 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Expert panelists include Gordon England, from the Bahamian Ministry of Works in Nassau; Bruce K. Ferguson, from the University of Georgia in Athens; Masoud Kayhanian, from the University of California–Davis; Gary Minton, from the Resource Planning Associates in Seattle, Wash.; and John Sansalone, from the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Nikos Singelis, senior program analyst for the U.S. EPA Office of Wastewater Management, will bring attendees up to speed on new storm water regulations and programs at the EPA News Update and Q&A Session Thurs., July 27 from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
StormCon also features the nation’s largest exhibition of storm water equipment and technologies. In addition, the event offers NPDES Phase II training in all aspects of storm water management for municipalities, consultants, highway and heavy construction contractors, developers, regulated industries, and special sites, such as ports and airports.
"Every conference has its own energy, and StormCon is like a beehive where you can witness knowledge being transmitted that allows people to immediately become more effective at meeting their challenges," Funkhouser said. "It’s exciting to see the exchange of information when people get what they’ve needed. The larger program and expanded regional BMPs sessions will help out a lot of people."
For more information about StormCon, visit www.stormcon.com.
