Speakers
Sarah K. Mack, MSPH
Ms. Sarah K. Mack's experiences in the environmental and public health field include water quality management, wastewater management, environmental toxicology, emergency management, and governmental relations. Ms. Mack works on special projects in the Environmental Affairs Division of the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (S&WB).
After the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, Ms. Mack served as the Emergency Operation Center Liaison between the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans and all agencies involved with the response and recovery. Additionally, Ms. Mack advised the Mayor's staff on sewer, water, and drainage critical infrastructure, and assisted City Governmental Operations in strategic planning for re-entry and repopulation of New Orleans. Consumed with these duties, she also became the Emergency Response and Recovery Coordinator for the Federal Republic of Germany Disaster Relief Agency (THW) for Orleans Parish and St. Bernard Parish. Sarah Mack continues to serve on the Waste Water Treatment Plant Task Force for restoration of the wastewater treatment plant that was destroyed during the storm. Furthermore, Ms. Mack initiated the long-term recovery planning efforts and continues to be responsible for the S&WB mitigation activities. In addition Sarah Mack serves as Project Manager on the regional initiative between S&WB and St. Bernard Parish Government to implement what will be the largest wetland assimilation system in the world.
Ms. Mack holds a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry, a Masters of Science in Public Health focusing on Toxic and Hazardous Waste Management, and currently is a Doctoral Candidate in Global Sustainable Resource Management at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Ms. Mack has presented nationally and internationally at conferences such as Aqua Alta, NACWA, LWEA, and WEF. She was published for Biosolids and Beneficial Reuse in New Orleans at the International Water Environment Federation Technical Conference in 2004. She is an elected member of the Eta Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society, and a founding member of the New Orleans Chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
"Cypress Restoration of the Bayou Bienvenue Central Wetland Unit"
The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish Government have partnered to implement what will be the largest wetland assimilation system in the world. The design will utilize natural wetlands to assimilate over 100 million gallons a day (MGD) of secondarily treated municipal effluent to restore approximately 15,000 acres of critical cypress wetlands. The enhanced wetlands will protect Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes from future storm vulnerability, while the environmental improvement will protect the local economy and culture that is dependent on productive wetlands.