Two Industry Events Focus on Different Approaches to Stormwater Management
October, 2025
As part of a continuous effort to collaborate with industry peers and advance the water resources field, two of our team leaders recently presented at separate conferences focused on stormwater planning and management.
Taking place in Oregon and Colorado, the events covered the nuances found in each region while also representing the geographic reach of our work. Together they shed light on best practices that not only improve local environments but also the impact of work on communities through features like green stormwater infrastructure.
Below is an overview of the events, with a look at the organizations that made them possible and the topics our experts shared.
Sustainable Stormwater Symposium: Portland, Oregon
Achieving Retention without Requiring it: An Alternative to Oregon’s Numeric Stormwater Retention Requirement
With the stated goal of advancing the science and profession of engineering to “enhance the welfare of humanity,” the Environmental Water Resources Group (EWRG) hosted the Sustainable Stormwater Symposium in Portland, Oregon. The group is a subsidiary of the American Society of Engineers, and this bi-annual gathering is their flagship event.
“Using a consistent set of standards, we wanted to show how a team of stormwater engineers, scientists, and policy experts can creatively and practically address regulatory mandates for clients.”
– Trista Kobluskie, Stormwater Group Leader
In tandem with Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES), our group leader of water and natural resources, Trista Kobluskie, presented at this year’s symposium. The joint presentation highlighted different paths to positive environmental outcomes. The two presented a study that compared pre-development retention over a large area to the effects of WES’s approach, which discharges runoff through green infrastructure while targeting natural or pre-development hydrology.
A modeling exercise and policy analysis demonstrated to those in attendance how WES’s stormwater standards lead to positive results, even though they don’t necessarily align with the preferred Numeric Stormwater Retention Requirement approach by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Much of the discussion focused on how to demonstrate that infiltration is often achieved even when it is not required by emphasizing green infrastructure as a preferred strategy in design requirements.
Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM) Annual Conference: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
What to Expect with the Unexpected: Benefits and Challenges to Implementing Adaptive Management
Comprised of professionals involved in floodplain and stormwater management, water quality, flood hazard mitigation, and flood preparedness, the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM) has a primary mission of reducing “the loss of human life and property from flood and storm damage.” With more than 1,000 members, the organization recently held their biannual meeting in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Among the topics covered at this year’s event was the growing practice of adaptive management, or the continued monitoring of a project site after completion to better understand its true impact over time. Along with our Colorado stormwater lead Amy Murdick, the panel included representatives from The Town of Parker, Naranjo Civil Constructors, The Mile High Flood District, and ERO Resources Corporation.
The group’s discussion covered the process of adaptive management which aims to provide a structured approach to decision-making that’s informed by science. They also dived into the benefits and challenges of the growing practice, emphasizing its place in better managing uncertainty, increasing resilience, and improving overall project outcomes.