Kickoff meeting got things off to a great start

The kick-off meeting for UNDERWATER demonstrated strong commitment and a clear shared vision for developing sustainable management of stormwater and sediment.

The kickoff meeting for UNDERWATER took place on March 18–19. Over two days, we immersed ourselves in workshops on the challenges we face, our vision, and the path forward for our transition lab—we also took part in a study visit where we saw a demonstration of dewatering sediment from a stormwater pond. These two days clearly demonstrated a shared interest in working on issues that literally lie under the surface!

Our focus is crystal clear: to ensure that stormwater systems are maintained and that the sediment collected is managed in an efficient and environmentally safe manner over time. This involves both preventing pollutants from spreading into the environment and exploring how sediment can be viewed as a resource – not just as waste. At the same time, it is clear that both technical solutions and policy and regulatory issues need to be developed in tandem to enable this transition.

In summary – a really good start with engaging discussions and a broad range of expertise from all participants. We look forward to continuing our work together!