The workshops are sponsored by URI, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The first workshop, scheduled for May 10 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will teach participants how to use TR-55, a software program that provides simple procedures for calculating storm runoff volume, discharges, reservoir storage volumes and other hydrological measurements for small watersheds. This workshop will be held at RIDEM offices in Providence.
“This is a valuable refresher course to help those who prepare municipal storm water plans,” said Lorraine Joubert, the workshop coordinator for URI Cooperative Extension. “It will provide training on basic hydrologic analysis to support the local use of DEM storm water design standards.”
Those interested in learning how to better manage local wastewater systems should attend a half-day workshop on May 18 at URI’s Coastal Institute in Kingston.
Entitled “Starting a Local Wastewater Management Program Using the Rhode Island Wastewater Information System,” the workshop describes steps communities can take to begin or expand a wastewater management program using an online database system that incorporates examples from Rhode Island municipalities. The database provides a highly efficient system for communicating with system owners and tracking system conditions, inspection results, maintenance and performance.
“In the past, the lack of a low-cost, efficient and easily adaptable software tracking system was a major stumbling block for communities interested in beginning to oversee management of onsite systems,” Joubert said.
A follow-up workshop that provides detailed training in the use of the Rhode Island Wastewater Information System will be held July 26 at URI’s Coastal Institute.
For registration and fee information for these workshops, contact Lorraine Joubert at ljoubert@uri.edu or 401-874-2138.