Panel Discussion: Stormwater Centers for Excellence

Monday, May 19, 2025

1:15 PM - 2:45 PM Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)

Room: Cook Hall

Moderator(s)

Jane Clary, LEED AP, CEPSC

Principal Scientist
Wright Water Engineers, Colorado, United States

Panelist(s)

Andy Erickson, Ph.D., P.E.

Research Manager
St. Anthony Falls Lab - Univ. of Minnesota, Minnesota, United States
Jason R. Vogel, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, F.EWRI

Associate Professor and Stormwater Specialist
Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, United States
Elizabeth Fassman-Beck, Ph.D.

Engineering Dept. Head
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, California, United States
Eban Zachary Bean, PhD, PE

Assistant Professor
University of Florida, Florida, United States
Marc Leisenring, PE

Senior Principal
Geosyntec Consultants, Oregon, United States
Carol K. Wong

Senior Water Resources Engineer
Center for Watershed Protection, Maryland, United States
James Houle, PhD

Director
UNH Stormwater Center, New Hampshire, United States

In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded four competitive grants for regional Stormwater Centers of Excellence.

The Centers will play an important role in conducting research and providing technical assistance to state, Tribal, and local governments to support stormwater infrastructure improvements that protect public health, safeguard the environment, and increase climate resilience. All of the Centers include active EWRI professionals, many of whom also collaborate with the International Stormwater BMP Database project (www.bmpdatabase.org) supported by an EWRI-led co-sponsor coalition.

This panel session will include brief presentations by the four stormwater centers and the BMP Database team to provide highlights of stormwater-focused national research needs and data sharing opportunities, followed by a panel-style Q&A session. The panel will share the goals of their projects and plans for the next few years, including opportunities for collaboration.

Panel participants representing each entity include:

• Southwest Stormwater Center for Stormwater Technology Excellence (Desert Research Institute/Southern California Coastal Water Research Program [SCCWRP]): Elizabeth Fassman-Beck, Ph.D., P.E., SCCWRP
• Great Plains Stormwater Center of Excellence: Jason Vogel, Ph.D., P.E., University of Oklahoma
• Cold Climate Center of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technology (CCCESIT): Jamie Houle, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire and Andy Erickson, Ph.D., P.E., University of Minnesota
• Coastal Stormwater Center and National Stormwater Manager’s Clearinghouse: Carol Wong, P.E., Center for Watershed Protection and Eban Bean, Ph.D., P.E., University of Florida
• International Stormwater BMP Database: Marc Leisenring, P.E., Geosyntec Consultants and Jane Clary, Wright Water Engineers, Inc.