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Stream Management Academy

Grant Frontier Park

About the Academy

The Stream Management Academy is a program led by MHFD, the Colorado Riparian Association, and the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers that provides continuing education related to watershed and stream functions – functions that should be considered for any urban stream project. The classes are held once a month over a nine month period and are intended for public works professionals, water resources engineers, land development engineers, landscape architects, environmental scientists, and planners. In addition to training the students on the technical aspects of watershed and stream functions – classes also include leadership development and opportunities to network with professionals from a diverse cross section of the industry.

Rain and dark clouds

What does the Stream Management Academy teach?

Over the course of the program students will learn how to design and implement strategies and technologies to achieve healthy and sustainable streams, from the source of runoff in the watershed all the way to the stream itself. The Stream Management Academy aims for its students to:

  • Understand the key watershed and stream functions that drive natural processes.
  • Integrate runoff reducing practices and high functioning low maintenance stream designs into land use decisions, planning, design, construction, and maintenance.
  • Lead multidiscipline projects and teams.

Class Structure

The Stream Management Academy classes are structured as follows:

  • Class 1 Reducing Runoff:  The Role of Hydrology
  • Class 2 Reducing Runoff:  Master Plans and Conceptual Designs
  • Class 3 Reducing Runoff:  Preliminary and Final Designs
  • Class 4 Reducing Runoff:  Working with the Concepts Learned
  • Class 5 Low Maintenance Streams:  How to Mimic Natural Streams
  • Class 6 Low Maintenance Streams:  Practical Concept Designs
  • Class 7 Low Maintenance Streams:  Integrating Life and Social Systems
  • Class 8 Low Maintenance Streams:  Final Design
  • Class 9 Working with all the Concepts Learned

 

Leadership Training is also included in each of the classes, covering such topics as interpersonal communication, change management, collaboration, personality type, and risk management.

At the end of the Stream Management Academy, students are given the title “Stream Ambassador,” which shows that they have taken the course, that they understand the elements required to create, maintain, and sustain healthy watersheds and streams, and that they will promote the values put forward by the Stream Management Academy.

How to get involved

The Stream Management Academy is an enriching and fulfilling experience for public works professionals, planners, engineers, scientists, architects, and anyone else involved in maintaining healthy watersheds and streams in their area.

If you’re interested in this seven-month course that meets from April through October, please click here to fill out a statement of interest form. Unfortunately, our 2022 class is full, but please fill out the statement of interest form to be put on the waitlist for 2023 and beyond.

 

MHFD Stream Academy Student Group Photo

Above:
Troy Bales, Rick Engineering Company
Tristan Bonser, JR Engineering
Lisa Cherry, Denver Public Works
Aaron Cook, Jacobs
James Deherra, Aurora
Wanda DeVargas, Greenwood Village
Carly Gelatt, Stream Design

Brent Kaslon, Valerian
Deb Kula, Douglas County
Nate Hatleback, City of Thornton
Kristine House, HR Green
Kyle Morose, CVL
Tyler Rosburg, ICON Engineering
Mark Scheurer, CVL
Dave Skuodas, Mile High Flood District
Michael Walton, Smith Environmental and Engineering
Jennifer Winters, RESPEC

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