The Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) - Houston Chapter recently had their 2nd Annual Half-Day Conference in Downtown Houston. EWRI Houston holds regular conferences that aim to gather industry professional to share knowledge, strategies and to promote the sustainability and resiliency of the Houston region’s environmental and water resources.  

 

Among those speaking during the event were several of the Flood Control Districts own staff: Ryan Slattery, Scott Elmer, Ataul Hannan and Jonathan Holley. Mr. Slattery and Mr. Elmor were speakers at a panel discussion centered around Flood Resiliency in the Houston-area and the importance of collaboration towards resiliency. Mr. Hannan was also a panelist in a discussion about “Planning in an Uncertain Future” and Mr. Holley gave a separate presentation on the advantages of nature-based alternatives to urban stormwater detention.

 

November’s meeting featured speakers / panelists from local, state, and federal agencies as well as universities and non-profits. all with the shared aim to build stronger communities in the Houston area. With this year’s theme focused on collaboration, the event included a mixture of panel discussions and presentations covering a wide range of topics such as:

 

• Sediment management and water quality

• Urban flood resiliency

• Sustainable urban stormwater systems

• Nature-based coastal engineering solutions

• Community-led conservation

• Planning in the face of climate change

• Interface between water supply and flood risk reduction

• Future research needs

 

For more information about everything EWRI - Houston does, visit https://ascehouston.org/EWRI