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Concrete channels, buried creeks, and straightened streams simplified urban development but decades later we see the side effects: faster water, steeper channels, collapsing streambanks, and pollution. Manager of Stormwater Design Kristen Buccier and Project Manager Denis Zaharija explain the benefits of more recent, holistic stream design methods.

A stream is a living system seeking stability. Denis and Kristen discuss hydrology and hydraulics, how a stream's bends (or "meanders") dissipate energy, and how riffles and pools create habitat for fish and aquatic bugs. We also learn how “flashy” stormwater volumes can overwhelm streams and how designers work to bring resiliency back to those impacted waterways.

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We talk with Mark Christie, Director of Cuyahoga County's Office of Emergency Management, about severe weather in Northeast Ohio, damage assessments, and how recovery decisions get made fast.

Mark gives some tips on preparing for hazards during thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter storms, and flooding that hits both rivers and basements, with info on ReadyNotify and the federal IPAWS system and a simple preparedness plan you can follow before the next storm hits.

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Mike and Donna report from the 19th annual Ohio Stormwater Conference in Sandusky, OH. The day's presentations touch on education, stormwater modeling and maintenance, and funding, and demonstrate how design choices and policy decisions can ripple across entire communities.

Our guests include:

Erica Matheny, Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners
Refka Abroug, Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners
Jesse Rufner, GPD Group
Jack Caruso, Cleveland Metroparks
Joey Smith, Ohio State University
Tony Burgoyne, OHM Advisors

Topics discussed:

• The Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners’ new strategic plan and illustrated watershed mapping
• Water scarcity, pollution, and access to clean drinking water in Northern Africa
• An East Cleveland project that ties together water lines, roadways, and sewer improvements
• Antecedent moisture modeling
• Extreme storms, risk tools, and what “reasonable” infrastructure can handle
• Mosquito science in stormwater control measures
• Stacking funding sources and building coalitions through policy roundtables

For more information on the Ohio Stormwater Conference, visit tinkerscreek.org