News

Presentation Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Time: 10:00-11:30am

Follow-up Resources Link

Download the following resources from this webinar:

• Panelist responses to remaining questions from the 9/22/20 webinar
• John Gauthier’s presentation slides – Introduction to CRS
• Kristen Hychka’s presentation slides – CRS Pro’s and Con’s
• Community Rating System – a resources list compiled by NYS WRI

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About: Flooding in New York State is a frequent threat and a costly disaster for communities. Local governments, however, can protect their citizens by taking flood risk reduction measures – and reduce insurance premiums as well. Join Syracuse University’s Environmental Finance Center to learn about FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS) program.  FEMA’s ​voluntary CRS program credits community efforts beyond minimum floodplain management standards by reducing flood insurance premiums for the community’s property owners.  This free 75 minute webinar provided an introduction to FEMA’s CRS program, followed by a panel discussion where speakers shared their diverse experiences with the CRS program.  Please join us to find out if your community is a good fit for CRS.

This free webinar was co-hosted by the New York State Water Resources Institute, New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association, and Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center

Presenters and Panelists

John Gauthier, P.E., CFM, Associate Engineer, Town of Greece

Russell Houck, P.E., CFM, Facilities Engineer, City of Syracuse

Nathan Mitchell, Chair of the Piermont Waterfront Resiliency Commission, Village of Piermont

Kristen Hychka, PhD, Research & Outreach Specialist, NYS Water Resources Institute

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This webinar has not been submitted to licensing agencies for preapproval of continuing education or training credits. 

Requirements to Receive a Certificate of Attendance: •You must attend the entire 1.5 hour session on the original broadcast date (September 22, 2020) •You must register and attend using your real name and unique email address

Download an agenda here.

It is your responsibility to check with your licensing agency or municipality about its rules and criteria for credit.
The certificate of attendance and agenda may be useful for:
– New York Code Enforcement Official Professional Development Electives
– ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager Continuing Education Credit Flood-related Virtual Learning Activity
– New York State Planning and Zoning Board training requirements, if your elected board considers the content relevant.

Questions? Contact Meredith at maperrea@syr.edu.

This webinar is based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 

Developing a Wastewater Coronavirus Surveillance System for New York State

Presentation Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Note: 
-The first 3.5 minutes of the webinar recording are audio only. Presentations begin at 3.5 minutes.
–Certificates of completion are provided only to those who registered and participated in the webinar on its original broadcast date.

Tracking infectious disease transmission through wastewater has been an important tool for safeguarding public health for 25 years. Recent scientific breakthroughs show that levels of coronavirus genetic material in sewer systems predict cases a week sooner than incident cases seen in the health system. 

In this 75-minute webinar, experts from Syracuse University, Cornell, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry will introduce their pilot project for tracking levels of coronavirus RNA in New York’s sewer systems. Tracking RNA will provide an advanced warning of an increase in coronavirus transmission in a geographically-targeted area and warn of an incoming surge in cases and hospitalizations. These measures will also help us identify areas where the virus is spreading, waning, or absent.

Ask questions during our facilitated discussion about safe and effective real-time monitoring of coronavirus RNA in wastewater, and learn how this surveillance method can help guide us through the process of reopening the state.

This webinar is organized by Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center, New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) and the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University.

Presenters and Panelists

• David Larsen, Associate Professor, Public Health, Falk College, Syracuse University
• Hyatt Green, Assistant Professor, Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 
• Anthony Hay, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Agricultural & Life Sciences, Cornell University

Panelists: 

• Seth Jensen, Director, Municipal Utilities, City of Auburn, NY
• Teng Zeng, Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University
• Kristen Hychka, Research & Outreach Specialist, New York State Water Resources Institute, Cornell University
• Rassil Sayess, Research & Outreach Specialist, New York State Water Resources Institute, Cornell University

Facilitation from Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center

This webinar is based upon work supported under a grant by the Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 

The Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center and the New York State Federation of Lake Associations formed a unique partnership to offer a series of no-cost webinars, for lake association members and local governments with lakes in their jurisdictions. The goal was to grow skills for better lake management.

Who: Municipal board members, elected officials, municipal staff, Lake Association members, lakeshore landowners & anyone else that’s interested!

-Looking for webinar recordings? Scroll down for links.
-Certificates of completion are provided only to those who register and participate in the webinars on their original broadcast dates.

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Webinar 1: Insurance Coverage for Nonprofit Lake Associations

Date: June 4, 2020, 10-11am

Description: Nonprofits provide a variety of services to our communities. Understanding the risk associated with providing a service and choosing the right liability insurance to protect your nonprofit is not always easy. This workshop will walk attendees though the various types of liability insurance your nonprofit might need, and why you may (or may not) need it.

Presenter:  Brian Martin, Licensed Account Representative, Council Services Plus, a subsidiary of NYS Council of Nonprofits, Inc.

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Webinar 2: Conflict Management for Organizations

Date: June 18, 2020, 10-11am

Description: Does your organization or board experience conflict over managing resources or making decisions? Learn from a Syracuse University expert how to transform conflict into opportunity. No matter what your job or role, you can gain skills from this webinar.

Presenter:
Catherine M. Gerard, Director of the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC), Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

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Webinar 3: An Introduction to Lake Ecosystems: A New York State Perspective

Date: July 9, 2020, 10-11am

Description: New York State is blessed with a diverse array of nearly 8,000 lake ecosystems, ranging from unnamed small lakes and ponds to some of the largest lakes on Earth. These ecosystems provide a wide range of services, including recreation, aesthetics, water supply, and habitat for aquatic organisms. This webinar will provide an overview of lake science and water quality management from the perspective of New York’s lakes. Topics will include temperature stratification, harmful algal blooms, aquatic invasive species, lake food webs, and relationships between land use and water quality.
New! Register for the webinar to join an online networking event directly afterward. Access to the networking session provided during the webinar.

Presenters:
Monica Matt, Research Scientist, Upstate Freshwater Institute
David Andrews, Research Scientist, Upstate Freshwater Institute
David Matthews, Director, Upstate Freshwater Institute

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Webinar 4: Working with Local Government to Improve Lakes and Communities

Date: July 23, 2020, 10-11am

Description: Learn from two long-time experts about the experiences of towns and lakes working together through zoning and water quality issues. In addition, hear about effective models of collaboration to incorporate into work with your own municipality.

Chris Mikolajczyk of Princeton Hydro will present “A Regional Based Approach to the Management of Lakes in the Borough of Ringwood.” The Borough of Ringwood is situated in the heart of the New Jersey Highlands (which provides drinking water to millions of New Jersey residents) and is home to several public and private lakes that sit within the Ramapo Mountains.  In order to take an active role in the management of these natural resources within multiple watersheds, the Borough of Ringwood is the first municipality in the state of New Jersey to take a regional approach to private lake management through a public-private partnership with four lake associations.

Jim Cunningham, NYSFOLA Board Member, Town of Nelson Supervisor, and Eatonbrook Lake Association member, will discuss the role of local government in lake management using recent experiences and examples from Madison County, NY.
New! Register for the webinar to join an online networking event directly afterward. Access to the networking session provided during the webinar.

Presenters:
Chris Mikolajczyk, Senior Project Manager – Aquatics, Princeton Hydro
Jim Cunningham, Supervisor, Town of Nelson, NY

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Click this link to find webinar recordings, available at the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions YouTube Channel within two days after the webinar date.

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When: Postponed until further notice. Stay tuned as our team works to reschedule this event later in the year.

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What: Learn what others are doing to solve water quality challenges so you can become a part of the solution too.

This workshop is free and open to the public. Dinner will be provided.

Who: Farmers and landowners, lakeshore residents, business owners, anglers, village and town officials, staff and residents, and everyone else who enjoys the Kettle Lakes.

This workshop may count for municipal training credits, such as for planning board members. Please check with your local municipality. Certificates of participation will be provided to all attendees.

Agenda:

5:30pm	Welcome
5:50pm	Kettle Lakes Watershed Planning
6:10pm	Priority Water Quality Practices and Q&A
6:30pm	Dinner
6:55pm	Case Study: Tully Lake Shorescaping
7:05pm	Case Study: Agricultural Soil Health Practices
7:15pm	Conservation Assistance

Click the images below to begin learning about buffer systems.

Contact: Contact Jes Eckerlin at jeschn01@syr.edu or 315-350-8534 with registration or program questions.

State and Federal Funding, Financing, and Resources for Municipal Infrastructure Roundtable Discussion

When: September 19th, 2019

Location: Saratoga Hilton, Saratoga Springs, NY

What: The Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center and government experts presented information about funding and financing for municipal infrastructure.

Who: Municipal Supervisors and Mayors, Council/Board Members, Town Clerks and Managers, DPW Staff, Town Planners, Engineers, and other interested community leaders were invited to attend.

Presentations:

• Charlie Philion – New York State Homes and Community Renewal
  Co-Funding for Municipalities
• John King – Village of Montour Falls and Greg Cummings – Larson Design Group
  Regional Approach for Managing Wastewater Facilities
• Jenn Sunkes – New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation | David Phillips – New York State Department of Health
  Water Infrastructure Investment
• Lelia Mitchell – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  Water Quality Improvement Projects
• Howard Kunz – USDA Rural Development
  Clean water and sanitation help for rural communities

Click here for a database of presentations at previous SU-EFC events.