NEW ORLEANS – The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans and the Greater New Orleans Foundation announced they have entered into a cooperative endeavor agreement to promote green infrastructure and stormwater management in New Orleans.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with the Greater New Orleans Foundation because multiple partners—both locally and internationally—are needed to bring creative solutions to address our unique water challenges including flooding, land loss, and an aging gray infrastructure,” said Cedric Grant, executive director of the Sewerage and Water Board.
“The role we’ve played in the past, and one that we will continue to do so in the future with the Sewerage & Water Board, is to help educate the community about the necessity and the benefits of green stormwater management,” said Albert Ruesga, president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation.
The Greater New Orleans Foundation will assist the Sewerage & Water Board in promoting a more comprehensive green stormwater management system as well as help with the launch of a public communications campaign. Ella Delio, director of environmental and regional initiatives for the Greater New Orleans Foundation, will lead the effort on behalf of the Foundation. “What we’ve learned from other cities is that community support and public education is crucial when creating a new vision of a more sustainable and livable city,” said Delio.
Delio said the Foundation will work closely with the Sewerage & Water Board to generate greater public awareness of the solutions that are available. “The public can play a huge role in helping solve these issues as stewards of their environment,” she said.
Both the Sewerage and Water Board and the Greater New Orleans Foundation give credit to all groups working on the award-winning Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan including the newly formed City of New Orleans Office of Resiliency and Sustainability.
