Luisa Robles is the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Greenbelt and has worked with Public Works since 2008. She has a Ph. D in Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development and Ecological Economics from the University of Maryland. She is in charge of the City’s recycling programs, the greenhouse gas emissions inventory, is the liaison to the Greenbelt Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (Green ACES), and is in charge of helping the City be more sustainable through various programs, workshops, and outreach efforts. Luisa will talk about watersheds, stormwater runoff, environmental impacts, and what we as a community can do to restore our environment.

2. Stormwater Solutions
• House keeping:
• Bathrooms
• Water
• Recycling
• Composting
• 10am-12noon: Presentations
• 12noon-1pm: Lunch – Ecotour & Watershed models
• 1pm- 3pm: Demonstrations & Painting

3. Stormwater solutions -
presentations
• Overview – The Problem: What is Stormwater pollution & its effects. The
solutions: what can we do?
Luisa Robles, Department of Public Works, City of Greenbelt
• Rain Check Rebate Program – Solutions and Applications: How can we
get money back for doing good?
Carole Ann Barth, Prince George’s County, DER
• GHI Rainbarrel program – Solutions and Applications: What else can we
do? Do I need an exception?
Matt Berres, Greenbelt Homes Incorporated
• Rainbarrel types & how to install them – Solutions and Applications:
Soaking it Up, Slowing it Down and Spreading it Out!
Vicky Hageman, Citizens to Conserve and Restore Indian Creek (CCRIC)

4. Stormwater & Surface runoff
• Stormwater that does not soak into the ground becomes surface runoff.
• Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when the soil is infiltrated
to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources
flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle, and
the primary agent in water erosion.

5. Surface runoff

6. Surface runoff pollution
• Surface runoff pollutions is when stormwater collects dirt, toxins,
fertilizers, pet waste, oils, trash, etc. on its way from roofs, gutters,
downspouts, driveways, parking lots, yards, etc.

7. Surface runoff pollution
• Pathogens (pet wastes, poultry, beef, pork…), and nutrients
(fertilizers, poultry, etc.).

8. Surface runoff problems
• In addition to causing water erosion and pollution, surface runoff in
urban areas is a primary cause of urban flooding which can result in
property damage, damp and mold in basements, and street flooding.

9. What can we do?
Plantings instead of grass
Urban Tree Canopy
Green Roofs
Rain gardens

10. What can we do?
Rain barrels
Cisterns
Permeable pavement

11. How can we do it?
• Our next speakers will tell us:
• How to finance our projects with the Rain Check Rebates
• What are the requirements for GHI
• Different types of rain barrels and installations.
It is easy being Green!