President’s Message:

Dear friends and colleagues,

For some time I saw a need for an organization that addresses the special needs and specific characters of urban watersheds.  As a part of densely populated areas, urban watersheds have many competing demands on their resources and ecologies.  Several of my friends agreed and we created a non-profit organization registered in Colorado, named Urban Watersheds Research Institute (UWRI).  One of its goals is to develop technology transfer seminars and courses focused on:

• Urban water resources;
• Stormwater system design and management;
• Stormwater quality and quantity management;
• Floodplain management;
• Urban stream and lake protection and restoration;
• Urban ecology;
• Community needs, including aesthetics and function; and
• Other topics serving professional community.  

Since its creation in 2005 we focused on the needs of professionals and governments.  We view this new organization as a vehicle for technology development and transfer to professionals dealing with urban watershed problems and issues at all levels. To date we have gained recogniton as a center for science and technology focused on the special needs of urban watersheds and their ecologies.  We ask you to support us and to share your thoughts and ideas with us.

To help UWRI with its long term and immediate goals, the Board of Directors invited the following individuals to serve on the Board of Advisors and on the Technical Steering Committee. UWRI is grateful to them for their service.

Ben Urbonas, P.E., D.WRE, President