July 2026 - Issue #123

Pollution prevention includes any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source before it is created. Most pollution prevention efforts are voluntary and have primarily been aimed at industry.

Marie Forney, P.E. is CWP's newest Water Resources Engineer

How did you get started working on watersheds?

I decided to be an environmental engineer after a life-changing trip to California that ignited a passion for conservation. While I was initially focused on renewable energy, going to college in the midst of watersheds impacted by acid mine drainage switched that focus to watershed conservation. After almost ten years of corporate consulting, I am thrilled to finally be focused on that niche!

What is your favorite part about working at CWP?

While working for CWP carries with it an inherent perk of doing meaningful work, driven by genuine care for the planet, I think my more specific answer is that I love the collaborative atmosphere.

What was your favorite TV show when growing up?

I was definitely a “PBS Kid.” I loved Reading Rainbow, Wishbone, The Magic School Bus, and Shining Time Station. But I also would sit with my parents and watch New Yankee Workshop or Star Trek: Voyager. (All these combined definitely explain a lot, haha!)

Choose a movie title for the story of your life.

Stargirl, as in the novel by Jerry Spinelli. (We won’t talk about the 2020 Disney adaptation.)

Which sea creature is your favorite?

ORCAS!!!! I watched Free Willy as a kid, and have been obsessed with them ever since. I love their beauty, their intelligence, their social structures, their salmon hats… And I am continually motivated by the threats they face, from the impacts of captivity to the plights of the Southern Residents.

What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time?

Gaming. I’ve logged way too many hours playing various MMORPGs, and perhaps even more hours playing tabletop games. My most recent endeavors have been a D&D campaign with a bunch of family friends, and a very intense Pokémon TCG tournament with my husband. I also love fantasy and sci-fi shows, movies, books, etc., listening to science-y and philosophical podcasts, and spending hours assembling complicated Lego sets. If there’s something nerdy you can think of, I probably enjoy it.

What’s the strangest talent you have?

Calling up a movie quote, song lyric, or soundbite for pretty much any situation.

CEC is always looking for effective and engaging ways to support their MS4 clients in meeting their public education and outreach goals. Lindsay M. Wilson-Kokes, a Project Manager in CEC Nashville’s Water Resources practice, shares, “While in-person, kid-friendly environmental education events can be impactful, they often require significant time and coordination. A creative alternative is developing in-field demonstration videos that can be shared across social media by clients—delivering meaningful educational content in a more efficient format.”

Recently, Lindsay had the opportunity to demonstrate how macroinvertebrate benthic organisms are collected and explain how their presence (or absence) can indicate stream water quality. Not only did the video provide valuable insight into environmental monitoring, but it also offered a fun and hands-on way to connect with the community. Innovative approaches like this helps their clients communicate the importance of water quality while maximizing their outreach efforts.

The 2027 National Watershed and Stormwater Conference Will Be In San Antonio, Texas!

Missed CWP’s 2026 Conference? Presentations Available

CWPA Members Save 15% on StormCon 2026 Registration

Newly Released: National Guidebook for Using Biochar in Stormwater BMPs