Villanova University’s Role in the Upstream Suburban Philadelphia Cluster of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative
Andrea Welker, PhD, PE
Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Villanova University
Abstract:
The Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI) was created by the William Penn Foundation to align the efforts of the various organizations and agencies that are working independently to assure plentiful, clean water in the Delaware River watershed.
Recently, the William Penn Foundation announced more than $40 million in new funding for the DRWI, which is among the country’s largest non-governmental conservation efforts to protect and restore clean water. The DRWI is a first-of-its-kind collaboration involving 65 non-governmental organizations working together to protect and restore the Delaware River and its tributaries, which provide drinking water for 15 million people in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Villanova University if part of the Upstream Suburban Philadelphia Cluster. This cluster is focused on five hydrologically separated stream systems - The Pennypack, Tookany, Wissahickon, Cobbs, and Poquessing. The cluster includes the upstream suburban portions of these watersheds in Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, where about 400,000 people reside. Almost all of the reaches of the cluster's waterways are on Pennsylvania's list of impaired streams due primarily to stormwater runoff and secondarily to excessive sediment and nutrient pollution. The work in this cluster will need to achieve water quality improvements through restoration of degraded areas.
This presentation will describe the multifaceted work of this cluster from focus area selection to project implementation to education and outreach with a special emphasis on Villanova University’s role in the DRWI.
Speaker Bio:
Andrea L. Welker, PhD, PE is a Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Villanova University. Most of Dr. Welker’s research is focused on stormwater control measures including monitoring of individual practices as well as the effects of stormwater management on streams. She is currently part of a multi-state, multi-year effort supported by the William Penn Foundation to ensure plentiful, clean water in the Delaware River Watershed. In addition, she is studying the effect of modern-day stormwater management on streams. She is active in the Geo-Institute of the ASCE and is also the Program Chair of the Civil Engineering Division of ASEE.
Engineers:
This seminar does qualify for 1.0 Professional Development Hour (PDH). A Certificate of Attendance will be available on site for AWRA-PMAS members only. The meeting price for non-members who wish to receive a Certificate of Attendance for the PDH is $10.00 ($3.00 for meeting + $7.00 for certificate).
Please note: all lunch orders will close by noon on the day before the presentation. In addition, all lunch orders will need to be paid for online by this time. We are unable to refund the cost of lunch or meeting fees because they are paid ahead of time based on number of registrations.
Thank you!