Responding to Climate Change with Multi-Benefit Projects

Topic: Responding to Climate Change with Multi-Benefit Projects
Speakers: Melinda Frost-Hurzel, P.E., coordinator, Cosumnes Coalition

Gary Bardini, planning director, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency

When: Friday, March 8th, 2019, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
Where: University Library, 2000 State University Drive, Library 11

Map

March 8th, 2019 Water Seminar Series Flyer

Topic Overview

Climate change is creating new challenges to flood protection and water management. An emerging strategy from the Department of Water Resources is Flood-MAR:

…an integrated and voluntary resource management strategy that uses flood water from rainfall or snow melt for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) on agricultural lands and working landscapes, including refuges, floodplains, and flood bypasses. Flood-MAR can be implemented at multiple scales, from individual landowners diverting flood water with existing infrastructure, to using extensive detention/recharge areas and modernizing flood management infrastructure and operations.

The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency and the Cosumnes Coalition are collaborating with stakeholders and researchers to explore a FloodMAR multi-benefit project that would increase regional flood protection while benefitting water supply and Cosumnes River ecosystems.

About the Speakers

Melinda Frost-Hurzel

Melinda Frost-Hurzel is the coordinator of the Cosumnes Coalition, a group that includes Trout Unlimited, American River Conservancy, Cosumnes Culture and WaterWays, Fishery Foundation, and Landmark Environmental Consultants. The Cosumnes Coalition (http://www.cosumnescoalition.org/) works collaboratively with communities, agencies, and partners to create win/win solutions that preserve the unique values of the Cosumnes Watershed. Melinda is also the monitoring coordinator for the ARC Cosumnes River Water Quality Monitoring Program.

Gary Bardini, director of planning for the Sacramento Flood Control Agency (http://www.safca.org/) since September 2017, has more than 30 years of public service with the State of California. His experience includes providing strategic planning, policy development, and engineering services to promote integrated and sustainable management of the state’s water resources. At SAFCA, Gary directs the formulation, coordination, and policy administration for strategic and project-level planning initiatives. Prior to working for SACFA, he served as the deputy director of Integrated Water Management for the California Department of Water Resources from 2011 to 2017. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Bardini received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.