SYPC Gets Ready for Wet Work in Orlando

By Haley Falconer, Chair of SYPC Service Project Subcommittee

I’m excited to report that WEF’s Students and Young Professionals Committee (SYPC) will definitely enhance the environment in Orlando this year at WEFTEC! On Saturday October 10th, around 80 volunteers from WEF, consulting firms, universities, and industry are joining forces to complete the second annual community service project, “Wading for Wetlands,” at the Northwest Water Reclamation Facility outside of Orlando. This year we are focusing on harvesting plants from an established part of the wetland and replanting them in undeveloped wetland areas.

Our main goals are to educate participants about the wetland treatment system and how wetlands are used to further remove nutrients from the reclaimed water prior to recharging sensitive aquifer systems. We’ll also encourage volunteers to share this knowledge in their communities. The SYPC service project will help Orange County increase the planted area in the wetlands, which in turn will enhance nutrient reduction by the wetlands, thus improving the overall system performance.

The SYPC, along with staff at the NWRF and WEF, is planning and coordinating the project, recruiting volunteers and sponsors, and most importantly, providing manual labor. A morning ceremony will be attended by WEF Past President Jim Clark and afternoon recognition will be given by WEF Immediate Past President Adam Zabinski.

The SYPC would like to encourage MAs to consider planning a service project for their annual meetings. This is a great way to recruit new members and young professionals, as well as give people a different outlet for furthering their involvement in the organization. It would be fantastic to have any interested MA leaders attend the service project in Orlando to see what the SYPC is up to.

The planning process will soon begin for the WEFTEC.10 third annual outreach project in New Orleans, Louisiana. If you would like more information on this project, please contact me at haleyfalconer@gmail.com. Meanwhile, we hope to see you in some Orlando wetlands next month!