Borden’s Experience Brings Cutting Edge Ideas to Stormwater and Erosion Management
- Years of industry experience called on for new ways to solve site problems
In this time of drought combined with new community interest in Green Building and Sustainability, we have a great opportunity to make Fulton County into a leading environmental community according to Wilson Borden, candidate for Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor.
“The days of treating all job sites with the same practices like silt fences and poured walls are numbered” Borden said. Drawing on his extensive experience of working with the enforcement community, environmental groups, and job site contractors, Borden will bring a fresh voice, and new ideas, to the Supervisor Position.
“In the past 10 years of working hand in hand with numerous stakeholder groups throughout the southeast, I have seen new ways to solve problems in the field. My experience in finding new ways to solve problems full time far exceeds the qualifications of the incumbents who only work at this position 4 hours per month.”
One of the ideas that Borden plans on bringing to the table is Low Impact Development. Low Impact Development (LID) is an innovative stormwater management approach with a basic principle that manages rainfall at the source. LID's goal is to minimize a site's runoff impact by infiltrating, filtering, storing, evaporating, and detaining runoff close to its source.
“Stormwater management shouldn’t include unsightly and unfriendly concrete retaining walls damming water followed immediately by discharging all of the water downstream in pipes” says Borden. “We have been working with multiple jurisdictions with this new approach throughout the Southeast. As the economic leader of the South, Fulton County needs to push to be the environmental leader as well.” Borden’s experience can bring that leadership to Fulton.
LID allows for greater development potential with less environmental impacts through the use of smarter designs and advanced technologies that achieve a better balance between conservation, growth, ecosystem protection, and public health / quality of life
LID has numerous benefits and advantages over conventional stormwater and erosion control management approaches. In short, it is a more environmentally sound technology and a more economically sustainable approach to addressing the adverse impacts of urbanization. By managing runoff close to its source though intelligent site design, LID can enhance the local environment, protect public health, and improve community livability all while saving developers and local governments money. The need for such an approach has never been greater.
As a regulator, we can use LID to address a wide range of Wet Weather Flow issues, including Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Phase II permits, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) permits, Nonpoint Source Program goals, and other Water Quality Standards. Fulton County can use LID as a model in revising local zoning and subdivision regulations in favor of more cost-effective, ecologically sound development practices.
Overall, this new, innovative approach is a win-win situation that the current Supervisors can’t or won’t bring to the table.
- It looks better
- It costs less
- It is better for the environment
- In this time of drought, it provides stormwater benefits, such as groundwater recharge and cleaner streams, but they also increase the urban forest, reduce the urban heat island, improve air quality, reduce thermal stream pollution, enhance the appearance of a community, provide a stronger sense of place, etc.
- It is more aesthetically pleasing
This is the type of new idea that only Borden will bring to the table.
Borden has extensive experience in soil and water management issues in Fulton County and throughout the Southeast. A graduate of the University of Georgia, he holds a masters degree from Georgia Tech. He is an acknowledged leader in the industry and is the recipient of several business and environmental awards. He serves in leadership roles in several non-profit, environmental and business organizations.
Borden concluded, “I will bring fresh new ideas and strong leadership to the Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District for the benefit of all Fulton County residents.”
For further information on the Wilson Borden for Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor campaign, please visit the website http://bordenforsoilandwater.com/.
1 comment:
I voted for you Borden.
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