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The Horinko Group Newsletter: Issue 3, March 2011
Headlines
Water Resources Action Project Rainwater System

Water Resources Action Project Completes Initial Stages of Pilot Project
The Water Resources Action Project (WRAP), in cooperation with Friends of the Earth Middle East and Only Green Environmental Center, has finished construction of its first rain harvesting system at the Sur Bahr Girls School in East Jerusalem. The system has the capacity to collect and store 13,500 liters of water that can be used for flushing toilets, greatly reducing the school’s municipal water usage and related costs.

The installation is complemented by a curriculum on water conservation and the impact of beneficially reusing the rainfall collected. The project is raising awareness of water usage among the students and the local community through research combined with hands-on learning.

“Working along side the teachers and greater community, WRAP will continue to measure and monitor the system’s effectiveness, providing assistance with education, outreach, and maintenance, all crucial to the sustainability of any such effort,” remarks Marianne Horinko, Chair of WRAP.

WRAP will be making its next trip to the Middle East in May of this year to participate in the pilot project dedication and gather information on potential school candidates for the group’s next rain harvesting system. To learn more about the Water Resoureces Action Project visit www.wrapdc.org.

United States Water PrizeCWAA Announces 2011 United States Water Prize Winners
The Clean Water America Alliance announced five national recipients of the 2011 U.S. Water Prize. The U.S. Water Prize honors individuals, institutions and/or organizations that have made an outstanding achievement in the advancement of sustainable solutions to our nation’s water challenges. It is the first of its kind to recognize successful efforts in protecting and improving the health of watersheds in the country.

The five recipients of this year’s award include the City of Los Angeles, Milwaukee Water Council, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, and Pacific Institute.

U.S. Water Prize winners will be honored in a special ceremony on May 9, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the Hotel Monaco of Washington, D.C. Proud sponsors of the inaugural award include Black & Veatch, CDM, CH2M Hill, Malcolm Pirnie, Veolia, and Brown and Caldwell. For additional information, please visit www.CWAA.us or www.uswaterprize.org.

Bottomland Ecosystem Restoration Conference

Bottomlands Ecosystem Restoration Conference Features March 9 Federal Interagency Panel
The Horinko Groups recently designed a federal executive panel for the Bottomlands Ecosystem Restoration Conference held on March 9, 2011 in Collinsville, IL. The panel brought together regional program managers representing key federal organizations with overlapping responsibilities for supporting public stewardship and private conservation practices in the Upper Mississippi River System.

Presenters included:
bulletTom Duffus, Upper Midwest Director, Conservation Fund (Moderator)
bulletKevin Foerster, Upper Mississippi River Refuge Supervisor, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
bulletCharles Barton, Chief, UMR District Support Team (MVD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
bulletSteven Davis, Watershed Program Leader, Northeastern Area, U.S. Forest Service
bulletTerry Watcher, WRP Specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA


The panel provided invaluable insight into the opportunities and challenges of increased levels of collaboration across a range of ecological and social considerations. Stay tuned to the BERC 2011 website for the conference proceedings.

Upcoming Events

2008 EPG LuncheonEnvironmental Policy Group Luncheon
March 16, 2011 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM | Washington, DC
The Horinko Group convenes monthly luncheons for working professionals to discuss a range of environmental topics. This month’s featured luncheon speaker is Richard Lazarus, Law Professor at Georgetown University and recently served as Executive Director of the Oil Spill Commission. Professor Lazarus intends to discuss the Commission and its final report issued earlier this month. This month's luncheon is sponsored by CH2MHill.

To attend this month, or to be notified of future luncheons, please contact Isaac Chapman at ichapman@thehorinkogroup.org.

River NetworkRiver Network’s 2011 National River Rally
June 3-6, 2011 | North Charleston, SC
This year, water protection advocates from across the nation will come together in Charleston, South Carolina, sitting at the confluence of five rivers. Participants will learn the best strategies for river restoration; test and help improve the newest tools and technologies for watershed protection; deliver and discuss critical information from the field and from Washington, DC; and network with a diverse group of stakeholders.

To register or to find our additional information, please visit the River Network's 2011 River Rally website at www.rivernetwork.org.

Spotlight On...

American Water Resources Association

AWRA Adopts Water Policy Statements
In an effort to promote and raise additional awareness of complimentary efforts to advance a collaborative water movement, The Horinko Group applauds the American Water Resource Association's Policy Technical Committee. The recently released policy statements by AWRA’s Board of Directors include:
1) National Water Vision and 2) Integrated Water Resources Management. The Board adopted both statements in January 2011.

For additional information on AWRA or the policy statements, please visit www.awra.org.

Featured Column

Excerpt from: "Early Impressions from a Water Resources Management Practitioner"
Brendan McGinnisBy: Brendan McGinnis, Water Division Chief, The Horinko Group

In the fall of 2005, shortly after completing my Masters in Business Administration, I joined a small environmental non-profit in Arlington, VA, the Global Environment & Technology Foundation. Eager to apply my academic training to build the business case for sustainable practices, I spent the next two years focusing on a suite of international and domestic water and energy initiatives. During this time and the ensuing three years, I was fortunate to be closely involved in a number of collaborative efforts to ensure a more sustainable water future.

One experience that tested my basic understanding of water, energy, and the nexus between the two, was my involvement in the creation of a guidebook providing assistance to off-grid, rural health clinics in sub-Saharan Africa on how best to assess their electrification demands and determine feasible renewable energy alternatives. The effort, led by the Energy Team of the U.S. Agency for International Development and entitled, Powering Health: Electrification Options for Rural Health Centers, continues to be a timely and relevant resource. Upon reflection, the insight I gained truly helped to simplify the complexities of sustaining community energy and water systems.

My big take-away?

Click here to read the remainder of the Featured Column.

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The Horinko Group is an environmental consulting firm operating at the intersection of science, policy, and communication. The Horinko Group has become a leader in designing and applying innovative solutions to address our nation’s most pressing environmental challenges. We bring together disparate groups of stakeholders and facilitate the collaboration critical to ensure efforts are cost-effective and sustainable.

For the latest updates on the environmental issues you care about, visit us online at www.thgadvisors.org.

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