News release from the organizers of the upcoming Rivers Summit:
2011 Rivers Summit
(June 14, 2011) – The 2011 Rivers Summit will be held at the Grand Wayne Center on June 28-29, 2011. This event is the brainchild of twelve organizations and agencies working together to bring the public and local officials current information about our rivers and the possibilities that exist for our interaction with them.
Friends of the River Co-Chair Dan Wire stated that the Rivers Summit will answer questions, provide insight, and encourage visioning among participants.
“Communities across the country are rallying around their own waterways. This region has multiple professional groups and interested citizens addressing and overcoming obstacles in their quest to improve the quality of life for their citizens by reclaiming their waterways” Wire said.
Rod Renkenberger, Director of the Maumee River Basin Commission encourages attendance at the Rivers Summit. “Residents all across northeast Indiana are encouraged to attend to learn about the great strides being taken to reduce flood damage throughout the region. Residents will leave the conference with a greater understanding of why flooding, as noted by the great Gilbert F. White, “is an act of God, but flood-damages are caused by acts of mankind.”
Pre-conference Continuing Education Sessions are available on Tuesday, June 28. Topics include: Groundwater- Managing the Resource (8:30 am-3:30 pm); FEMA Letter of Map Change (9:00 am-12:30 pm); Floodplain 101 (8:30 am-12:00 pm). Workshop fees and pre-registration applies.
The general conference kick-off begins on June 28 at 6:30 pm with keynote speakers Mayor Tom Henry, Senator Dennis Kruse and Congressman Marlin Stutzman discussing why our river resources are important to Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. Follow-up speakers will cover what river-related activities are currently underway locally and in other areas. There is no fee to attend the kick-off event.
The summit will resume at 9:00 am on Wednesday June 29 with a full day of presenters covering the following topics: flooding and water quality; water quality concerns from the Fort (Fort Wayne) to the Port (Port of Toledo – the ultimate receiving water for the Maumee River and its major tributaries, the St. Joseph and the St. Marys ); economic water centered development; local watershed efforts; combined sewer overflow long term control plans; wetlands, wildlife and water; blue-green algae and phosphorus over-loading; and water-based recreation (to name a few).
June 28 – 8:30 am – 3:30 pm: Pre-conference training sessions (fees apply)
June 28 – 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Conference kick-off (no charge)
June 29 – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm: Conference with multiple speakers and break-out sessions ($15.00 registration includes lunch)Public input is crucial to the success of water quality efforts. This event will encourage networking and public input.
For more information and to register, go to: www.riversummit.org
About the Planning Committee: The Rivers Summit planning committee is made up of representatives from the following organizations/agencies: The Allen County SWCD; Friends of the Rivers; The St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative; The St. Mary’s River Watershed Project; The Upper Maumee River Watershed Partnership; The Maumee River Basin Commission; The Nature Conservancy; The Indiana State Department of Agriculture; Friends of the Parks; Leadership Fort Wayne; City of Fort Wayne; The Allen County Partnership for Water Quality.
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