PRESS
RELEASE
Brewer Man Honored for Stormwater
Management
(AUGUSTA)— The State of Maine honored Ken Locke of the
City of Brewer today for his innovative and exemplary municipal
stormwater program aimed at protecting and improving the local
waterways of Brewer and the Penobscot River. Mr. Locke was
selected to receive the first annual Steve Ranney Award for
Stormwater Management Excellence by the Maine Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) because he has developed
the most innovative and effective program in the
state. Addressing stormwater is essential to clean water because
polluted stormwater runoff from our lawns, driveways, parking lots
and municipal activities is the greatest source of pollution for
Maine's waterways.
To describe what stormwater pollution is all
about, the ThinkBlueMaine coalition produced the “rubber
duck” TV advertisement that shows pollution (pet waste, oil drips,
fertilizer) morphing into duckies that flow into the storm drain and
then out into our waterways.
Twenty-eight municipalities in Maine are
required through the federal Clean Water Act, due to their urban
density, to take specific actions to protect and restore waterways
from the effect of stormwater pollution. Brewer is one of those
municipalities. David Ladd, the DEP’s statewide stormwater
coordinator, says that Ken Locke is most deserving of this award
because "Ken continuously seeks ways to make municipal operations
more efficient and implements a program that goes well beyond the
State's minimum requirements.” Another nomination states that he
“has set the standard for high level compliance and proactive
stormwater management thinking in the greater Bangor urbanized area
and, I believe, the state of Maine."
The Stormwater Management Excellence Award is named
after the late Steve Ranney. Steve was the city engineer and
stormwater manager for the City of Lewiston where he developed an
outstanding stormwater program and inspired staff to continue his
efforts when he became too ill to continue. The DEP is pleased to
honor Steve and has named this annual award in his memory to
recognize outstanding individuals in the field of stormwater
management. Brenda Zollitsch, coordinator for the Bangor Storm
Water Group said "Steve Ranney would have appreciated Ken's low-key
‘stick-to-it-iveness’ and would have been immensely proud of the
changes that Ken has been able to make happen as a result of his
hard work and perseverance."
The
award specifically states:
The
Steve Ranney Award
for Stormwater Management
Excellence, 2007 Honors Ken Locke
In recognition and appreciation of his leadership and exemplary stormwater
program benefiting the Residents of
Brewer, the Penobscot River Watershed, and the state,
and for his tireless commitment to the environment.
