WATER SYMPOSIUM
As part of the Anba DLO WATER SYMPOSIUM
As part of the Anba Dlo festival (Saturday, October 20, 2012 12 noon to 4 p.m.)
The New Orleans Healing Center will be hosting a series of lectures on water by some of the region’s most experts and engaging minds. New Orleans has a very unique relationship with water, surrounded by the Mississippi River, the Gulf, Wetlands and Estuaries, and a water-table just below the topsoil. Given the abundant supply of fresh water, New Orleans has a strategic advantage over most cities in the world. However, with rising sea levels and subsoil subsidence New Orleans is one of the most vulnerable cities in the world. Issac demonstrated vastly improved flood protection for Orleans Parish, yet the City is still woefully unprepared for May 5th and April 20th rain events (1990′s) where rain storms drop so much water it must be pumped out at the rate of flow of the Ohio River. Now.. planning efforts and grassroots organizations, innovative thinkers, and communities studying the Dutch flood protection system are rethinking the wisdom of our city’s long held paradigm – “Build walls and pump out every drop that falls”. At the same time efforts are underway to try to preserve and restore, at very tough odds, the remaining wetlands of the region. Come discover water anew… let’s all begin to understand water quality, flood mitigation, wetlands restoration, urban best management practices, and most especially- let’s learn to understand and appreciate water as a unique and valuable resource.
12:00 INTRO to symposium
12:05 David Waggonner: “Dutch Dialogues and a Water Plan for New Orleans” Waggonner & Ball Architects12:35 J.O. Evans: “Urban Re-naturalization and the New Ecology of Human Habitation” Futureproof: Sustainability Master Planners
1:05 Robert Twilley: “Human Settlement and Adaptive Management for the Future” LSU-Based Louisiana Sea Grant College Program
1:30 (INTERMISSION)
1:45 Jeff Carney:“Design Solutions for an Adaptive and Resilient Coast” Director LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio
2:15 Don Blancher: (Cultural Watercology)“Advancing a Cultural Water Ecology” Chief Scientist, Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration
2:45 Bob Marshal: “The Water State” Times-Picayune Outdoors Event
3:15 Denise Reed:“Integrated Water Resource Management in Coastal Louisiana” Chief Scientist
3:40 CLOSING & THANKS
4:00 END
The Water Institute of the Gulf Pulitzer-prize winning Journalist Executive Director, Groundwork New Orleans Associate Professor, School of Architecture Louisiana State University