Annual NC WRRI Conference
Carolina Wetlands Association Makes an Impacts at the Annual NC WRRI Conference
The
NC Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) was in full swing March 20-21, 2024. Carolina Wetlands Association was again a sponsor and an exhibitor at the conference location. In addition to myself, Chase Bergeson and Aaron Ellis attended the conference. In addition to staffing our exhibit booth, Chase judged student posters. Thank you, Chase!
There was a special conference section on Nature Based Solutions that was very interesting. The Plenary session was a panel discussion with Dr. Ryan Emanuel (Duke University), Samantha Krop (Sound Rivers), and Colleen Karl of the Chowan Edenton Environmental Group about community engagement and partnerships. I had a nice conversation with all three at the end of the panel discussion; Dr. Emanuel about our wetland restoration planning at the Lumbee cultural center, Samantha about coordinating more programming with Carolina Wetlands Association, and Colleen about a particular project they may need help with.
The highlight of the conference was probably the panel discussion on WOTUS (Waters of the US) sponsored and moderated by Carolina Wetlands Association. The session was entitled The ever changing world of the waters of the US: How can we deal with it, how can we change it, what can we do. The "all star" panel consisted of Julie Youngman (Southern Environmental Law Center and Carolina Wetlands Association Board member); John Dorney (Axiom Environmental); Bailey Recktenwald (Climate Policy Advisor to NC Governor Cooper); Phil May (an independent environmental consultant); and Norton Webster (wetland mitigation consultant and Carolina Wetlands Association Board Treasurer). The session was well attended and helped to explain the current state of wetland protection in North Carolina.
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