Watch the 2023 Regional Climate Workshop
Climate Change Workshop
Climate change is resulting in greater intensity and frequency of destructive weather events worldwide. In the Greater Manchester area, the most pressing climate risk is inland flooding due to extreme precipitation. Roadway stream crossings such as culverts and bridges are particularly vulnerable to flooding -- and the failure of this critical transportation infrastructure has the potential to negatively impact our region’s economy, ecology, and quality of life.
On April 11, SNHPC is hosting a regional climate workshop that will bring together municipal officials and stakeholders to discuss key opportunities for adapting our roadways in the face of climate change. Join us for a lively discussion with state and national experts, and as well as a preview of potential funding opportunities and new resources in development. We look forward to a collaborative and interactive session that will inspire further climate leadership and action in our region.
We are excited to feature speakers from: Federal Highway Administration ~ UNH Center for Infrastructure Resilience to Climate ~ The Nature Conservancy ~ Upper Valley Climate Adaptation Work Group ~ Rockingham Planning Commission
Panelists
Eva Birk
Eva Birk is a member of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Sustainable Transportation & Resilience Team. FHWA's Resilience team provides technical assistance to State DOTs & MPOs on climate and resilience topics, and delivers the PROTECT formula and grant programs. Prior to FHWA, Eva worked for 10 years in environmental policy for both private industry and State and Local governments. Eva received a BS in Environmental Studies from Tufts University and a Masters in City
and Regional Planning from Cornell University. She serves as an adjunct professor in Environmental Policy at Tufts University.
Meghan Butts
Meghan Butts is the Executive Director of the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission (UVLSRPC). She is also the Vice Chair of the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup (UVAW). Her work focuses on the relationship between climate and transportation and taking a regional perspective in planning for the future with a significant focus on cross-sectoral relationships. She has a BA in Sociology and in Geography from SUNY New Paltz, a Masters Degree in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University and holds a Certificate of Science, Technology, and International Security. Meghan is also member of the Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee.
Dr. Jo Sias
Dr. Jo Sias is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New Hampshire. Her research interests include performance evaluation of asphalt pavements and materials, particularly with respect to resilience and sustainability and the impact of climate change on transportation infrastructure. She is the director of the UNH Center for Infrastructure Resilience to Climate (UCIRC) and co-director of the Infrastructure and Climate Network (ICNet). She currently serves on the AAPT Board of Directors as past-president and is an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Road Materials and Pavement Design.
Matthew Thorne
Matthew Thorne is the Climate Adaptation Manager at The Nature Conservancy NH chapter. His background in restoration ecology, outdoor education and art brings a creative, intuitive perspective to his project management approach. Before joining TNC Matthew served as the Executive Director of the Merrimack River Watershed Council, based in Lawrence, MA and previously oversaw farm and food access programming at the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success in Manchester,
NH. Matthew holds a BA from American University in International Development and an MS in Restoration Ecology from University of Washington.
Dave Walker
Dave Walker is the Assistant Director and Transportation Program Manager for the Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC). He has over 25 years of experience leading short and long-range transportation planning efforts with most of that at RPC. Dave participated as a subject matter expert in a USDOT effort to develop guidance on integrating resilience into transportation planning, was the project lead and transportation planner for the Seacoast Transportation Corridors Vulnerability Assessment, and is currently working with New Hampshire DOT on the development of their Coastal Flood Risk Tolerance Framework.