TRACK 2, DAY 1
Harnessing Nature for Stormwater Resilience in NYC
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Hall F
ABSTRACT
NYC is experiencing increasing storm severity and changing weather patterns. The last three years alone have brought record breaking hourly rainfall events, overwhelming city infrastructure, disrupting travel and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. This has focused attention on inland flooding in a way not seen before.
The future of green and grey infrastructure planning revolves around the intersection of stormwater management and inland flood risk reduction. To meet the future service needs of NYC, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is undergoing a series of novel solutions combining grey and green infrastructure strategies, using new tools and data analytics to build off of and adapt conventional strategies.
Working with public and private partners and communities affected by chronic flooding, DEP is developing a more resilient and forward-looking capital program to address stormwater resiliency.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Melissa Enoch, New York City
Melissa Enoch is Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Environmental Planning and Analysis (BEPA) at NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), leading many of DEP’s environmental and integrated water management planning efforts, including capital planning and operations and maintenance for the NYC Green Infrastructure Program.
Melissa has over 15 years of experience in environmental planning, stormwater management, and land use review in state and local government and holds an M.S. in environmental science and an M.P.A. from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.