Natural Security: Congressional Briefing
On September 23, 2009, American Rivers held a Congressional briefing on the Natural Security report in order to inform lawmakers of the need to help communities embrace sustainable solutions to prepare for climate change. Following an introduction by our Senior Vice President for Conservation, Andrew Fahlund, three speakers spoke in depth about the sustainable strategies detailed in our report.
- Mike Thomas, General Manager of the Clayton County Water Authority, talked about how their unique water recycling wetland system and conservation efforts have helped maintain a secure water supply during record droughts. View this presentation (PDF).
- Glen Abrams, Watersheds Planning Manager for the Philadelphia Water Department, described how his city is embracing green infrastructure techniques such as green roofs and tree planting to control sewer overflows. He highlighted the numerous benefits of such an approach ranging from increased recreation to improved air quality compared to traditional big pipe solutions. View this presentation (PDF).
- Sam Riley Medlock, Policy Counsel for the Association of State Floodplain Managers, outlined a new vision for reducing flood risk by moving communities out of harm’s way and reducing our reliance on structural measures such as dams and levees. View this presentation (PDF).
These speakers demonstrated that communities are already embracing sustainable strategies and preparing themselves for a changing climate.
You can see full bios of the speakers here (PDF).
