Rice’s SSPEED Center hosting Feb. 26 LID workshop

Rice University’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disaster (SSPEED) Center will host a one-day workshop Feb. 26 regarding low-impact development (LID), an engineering and land-planning approach that mimics nature to both slow stormwater runoff and clean stormwater before it enters waterways.

The workshop will bring together experts to show how LID is already being implemented and how it can do more to reduce flooding and improve water quality in Houston and Harris County. For example, widespread use of LID could reduce flood risks and improve water quality in Houston bayous, including those that do not currently meet Environmental Protection Agency standards.

The workshop is free for Rice students, faculty and staff, but seating is limited and registration is required. Contact Erin Baker at erin.baker@rice.edu or 713-348-4977.

The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Duncan Hall, Room 1064.

Speakers include workshop organizer and SSPEED Director Phil Bedient of Rice, Nick Russo of Harris County, Charles Penland of Walter P. Moore, Michael Dietz of the University of Connecticut, Franco Montalto of Drexel University and Allen Davis of the University of Maryland.

The agenda is available at: http://sspeed.rice.edu/sspeed/downloads/LID/LID_Schedule.pdf.