Post U7 Materials and Information

  • IN REVIEW
  • PRESENTATIONS
  • MATERIALS
  • GALLERY
  • EVALUATION RESULTS

The National NEMO Network held its seventh conference, NEMO University 7 (U 007), in Portland, ME September 29-October 1, 2010. The National NEMO Network is a confederation of 30 educational programs across the country that educate local officials about the connection between land use and water quality. Each of these programs is modeled after the original NEMO program at the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use education and Research (CLEAR), which serves as the coordinating "hub" of the Network and organizer of the NEMO University conferences.

A Network of Networks

Despite travel bans and tough economic times, the conference was very well attended with over 100 registrants from 24 states. Demonstrating the multi-disciplinary interest and participation in the NEMO Network, attendees represented many diverse organizations and national networks (see Evaluation Results tab). The two primary leaders of NEMO programs, Sea Grant and Extension, both piggy-backed additional meetings on the conference.

Varied Conference Sessions

The agenda was almost as diverse as the participants, featuring a balance of plenary sessions, concurrent sessions from programs around the country, field trips, workshops, and networking events. Highlights of the conference included:

  • A plenary focused on climate change that explored how climate change adaptation and planning can fit into the NEMO approach of working with local land use officials, with examples of early adopters;

  • Four field trips – a smart growth and Low Impact Development (LID) walking tour of Portland; a trip to the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center; a tour of the Long Creek urban LID retrofit project; and a conservation walk at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR);

  • A symposium/keynote on hybrid approaches to local planning & design by Randall Arendt, a nationally acclaimed expert in innovative community design and conservation planning;

  • A 3-hour networking boat tour of Casco Bay;

  • A plenary focused on urban stormwater retrofits that featured the Long Creek Project (above) and the first impervious cover TMDL project in the country, currently the subject of a project led by the CT NEMO Program;

  • 20 presentations from around the country on innovative outreach strategies, technical tools, and land use/water quality programs; and

  • A lobster-bake networking event.

Wednesday's Presentations

Opening Plenary Session

Host State Address: LaMarr Clannon, Maine NEMO

State of the Network Address: Dave Dickson, National NEMO Network Coordinator

Stormwater in the City

The Latest in Urban Stormwater Practices: Rich Claytor, Horsley Witten Group

The Fate of the First Impervious Cover TMDL in the Nation: Chet Arnold, UConn CLEAR & Kelly Collins, Center for Watershed Protection

Long Creek Overview: A Creative Local Effort to Fund and Carry Out Restoration of an Urban Watershed: Curtis Bohlen, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership

Reiterating & Retooling NEMO

A Case of Changing Identity: New Hampshire’s Natural Resource Outreach Coalition (NROC): Julia Peterson, NH Sea Grant & Steve Miller, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Dr. NEMO: When The Prescription is Education, What’s a Municipal Official To Do?: Lorraine Joubert & Lisa DeProspo Philo, RI NEMO

Helping Communities Reach Watershed Goals – Regional Water Quality Asksistance Network: Eve Brantley, AL NEMO

Water Runs Through It

Quantum of Buffer: Emily Wilson, CT NEMO, CLEAR & Juliana Barrett, CT NEMO, CT Sea Grant

Mission: For Your Streams Only: Jessica D’Ambrosio, Andy Ward & Jonathan Witter, OH NEMO

You Sank My Nitrogen! Adding Nitrogen Assessment & Control to Coastal NEMO Programs: Art Gold, University of Rhode Island, Q. Kellogg, University of Rhode Island, Melinda Shimizu, Arizona State University, Dept. of Geography, Elizabeth Wentz, Arizona State University, Dept. of Geography, Kelly Addy, University of Rhode Island & Chet Arnold, UConn CLEAR

Partners in Crime

The World (& Data) is Not Enough: Danielle Bamford, Stephanie Beard, Adrianne Harrison & Nate Herold, NOAA Coastal Services Center

An Undercover Agent’s View of Community-based Watershed Management in Hawaii: Jolie Wanger (Hawaii Sea Grant), Carol Wilcox & Alyssa Miller (Mālama Maunalua) NERRs

Go Ahead… Make My Day - the NERR Coastal Training Program & NEMO Friends or Foe?: Dr. Christine Feurt, Wells NERR, Maine & Jennifer West, Narragansett Bay NERR, Rhode Island

Tools from the Mind of NEMO

CRIs Like Us: Emily Wilson, CT NEMO; Greg Bonynge, RI NEMO; Jesse Schomberg, Northland NEMO; Dan Hitchcock & April Turner, SC NEMO; and Patrick Beggs & Christy Perrin, NC NEMO

CRI Connecticut  |  CRI Rhode Island  |  CRI Northland NEMO  |  CRI North Carolina

Bonding With Your Watershed: The Northland NEMO Watershed Game: John Bilotta, Jesse Schomberg, Cindy Hagley, Julie Westerlund, MN, Northland NEMO, Susan O'Halloran, University of Wisconsin Extension & Amy Eliot, Lake Superior Research Institute

Northland NEMO Watershed Game fact sheet

Thursday's Presentations

Site Design/LID

Stealth Stormwater Solutions: Allowing LID to Infiltrate Reluctant Oregon Communities: Robert Emanuel, Derek Godwin, Frank Burris, Megan Kleibacker & Teresa Huntsinger, OR NEMO

Decoding LID and Recruiting Secret Agents for Change in Maine with Counterinsurgency for Coastal Communities: LaMarr Clannon & Fred Dillon ME NEMO

Live and Let Live: Finding Common Ground Between Emergency Safety Needs and Effective Stormwater Management: Monique Myers CA WALUP & Timothy Lawrence, Washington State University Extension

Tools, Too

Bringing Covert Land Use Strategies into the Spotlight: Cracking the Code for Sustainable Communities: Daniel R. Hitchcock, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology & Forest Science, Clemson University

Conservation Subdivision Design: A Planning Tool to Mitigate the Impacts of Development on Natural Resources: Sean D. Rafferty & David A. Skellie, PA NEMO

Stealthy Approaches to Buffer Education - What Would Q Think?: Susan Donaldson & Steven Lewis, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Genie Azad, Carson Water Subconservancy District &
Mary Kay Wagner, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection

Friday's Presentations

Change Through a NEMO Lens

Climate Change in Land Use Planning: Bruce Hyde, University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research

Climate Change and the Economic Importance of an Urban Canopy: Ed MacMullan, Senior Economist, ECONorthwest

LID, Infrastructure & Climate Change: Robert Roseen, University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center

From Al Gore to Local Regulations: Case Studies in Working with Local Officials on Climate Changes

Keene, New Hampshire: Rhett Lamb, City of Keene Planning Director

King County, Washington: Katrina Hoffman, WA Sea Grant

Virginia & Chesapeake Bay NEMO: Jonathan Doherty, Amy Handen, John Kuriawa & Todd Janeski, Virginia & Chesapeake Bay NEMO

Climate Change: Issues and Options for Your Community

Training Sessions

Forging the Link Between LID Research and Land Use Decisions:Todd Janeski, Robert Roseen & James Houle, University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center & Michael Simpson, Antioch University

Economics and LID Practices  |  Barriers to Implementation

Never Say Never: You Too Can Create Cool Web Maps: Emily Wilson & Cary Chadwick, University of Connecticut CLEAR

Shake Up Your Work with Social Science:Brian Eisenhauer, Plymouth State University; Chris Ellis, NOAA Coastal Services Center & Julia Peterson, NH Sea Grant & UNH Cooperative Extension

Registrants' List

Key Contacts' List

Network Policy Statement

NEMO Network Fact Sheet 3: What it Means to Join the NEMO Network

NEMO Network Fact Sheet 5: The Network Hub is Here to Help

Strengthening Network Programs: NEMO Network Initiatives

NEMO Royale Video

Press Play (bottom left of video controls) to begin video. Running Time 00:04:47.

Photo Gallery

General Conference

Casco Bay Lighthouse & Islands Boat Trip

Lobster Bake on Peaks Island

007 Theme Spirit

The Making of NEMO Royale

Lobster Abduction

Group Photo
Conference Poster

Click here to download pdf file of poster.

NEMO U7 was a huge success! According to who? According to you. The NEMO survey monkey asked participants a serious of probing questions about their experience at U7 following the conference. 100% of respondents indicated that they took away new ideas or resources that would help their educational programming back home. Read more in the Conference Report below.

Link to the NEMO University 7 Conference Report (PDF file)

 

A few comments we received from participants:

  • One of the best conferences I've ever attended. Extremely well organized, excellent speakers and topics, and fun! 

  • An essential and inspiring conference - a do not miss for watershed and stormwater technical educators!

  • Never before have I met a more supportive and energized network of environmentalists. Everyone is willing to share their successes and failures in hopes that another program may benefit and in turn find our own success.

  • Best U to date. Venue rocked, sessions were applicable to my work, networking opportunities were excellent, speakers were inspiring, I can hardly wait for the next one.

  • I have attended tons of conferences and trainings focused on watershed issues, but NEMO U is truly one of the most valuable and educational, full of practical and helpful information. Great discussions, and of course, lots of fun! Keep up the great work!