At our 17th Transform Westside Summit, City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management (DWM) Commissioner Kishia Powell discussed efforts to reduce flooding and address water quality issues on Atlanta’s historic Westside.

 

According to Commissioner Powell, to solve flooding and other storm water related obstacles, the City of Atlanta has implemented a green infrastructure task force which includes more than 15 agencies and organizations such as: Department of Watershed Management; Mayor’s Office of Resilience, Department of Planning and Community Development; Department of Public Works; Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.; Park Pride; and American Rivers.

DWM executes measures under the City’s Green Infrastructure Strategic Action Plan that includes four areas: project implementation; policy funding and planning; partnering, outreach, and communication; and data tracking and technical analysis.

During her presentation, Commissioner Powell also reiterated the City’s commitment to protecting the fabric of the community by receiving input from members of the community.

“When we updated our Green Infrastructure Action Plan we wanted to make sure we focused on equity,” said Powell. “Equity is not giving people the same thing, but it is giving people the solutions they need to be on equal ground.”

Powell and her 1,200 person team want to ensure that activities in Upper Proctor Creek create an equitable foundation for the community to grow and thrive.

There are 114 projects underway in Proctor Creek alone. There are 18 stream restoration projects, 87 storm water control projects, and 9 green infrastructure projects. The work that has already been completed has reduced sewer spills by 80 percent.

“I believe this partnership will change the paradigm of how watershed improvement is done in this country,” stated Powell. “There is no other project going on like this with the number of partners that we have.”

To watch Commissioner Powell’s full presentation, click here. Her full PowerPoint presentation can also be downloaded here. 

And special thanks to Westside Atlanta native and president of the Washington Park Neighborhood Association, Bill Cannon, who delivered our morning devotion. Click here to watch Mr. Cannon’s opening statement. 

Want to view photos from the Summit? Made a Westside Community Pledge and want to tag yourself in the photo? Visit our Summit photo galleries on the Westside Future Fund’s Facebook page. 

Want to attend our next Transform Westside Summit? Register Now!