PRESENTED BY:

Managing Stormwater in Washington presented by the Northwest Environmental Business Council

Managing Stormwater
in Washington

The State’s Largest and Most Comprehensive Stormwater Conference!

March 3, 2026

Greater Tacoma Convention Center

1500 Commerce Street, Tacoma, WA

Managing Stormwater in Washington is the state’s leading one-day stormwater conference, bringing together regulated businesses, municipalities, solution providers, and regulators for a full day of education, professional development, and networking. The event also features the region’s largest stormwater trade show, showcasing more than 40 service providers and technology innovators delivering real-world solutions.

Conference Agenda

The educational sessions cover basic and advanced topics in the areas of:

  • Fundamental Stormwater Management
  • Industrial Stormwater Management
  • Municipal & Development Stormwater Management
  • Science & Research
2026 Keynote Sessions

From Vision to Reality: Washington’s Stormwater Success Stories

Across Washington, communities, agencies, and practitioners are transforming complex stormwater challenges into meaningful, on-the-ground solutions. This keynote will showcase a curated selection of innovative—and sometimes unexpected—stormwater success stories from across the state, highlighting projects that moved beyond compliance to deliver measurable environmental, community, and climate benefits.

Designed to both inspire and inform, the session will offer attendees practical takeaways, transferable strategies, and fresh perspectives that can be applied across Washington’s diverse stormwater settings.

Julianne Ubigau
Co-Founder
FieldLab

Jess Huybregts
Stormwater Permit Manager
City of Seattle

Sniffing Out Sources of Stormwater Pollution – Using Canine-Assisted Screening to Find PCB Sources

Join Julianne Ubigau, Jasper, and Jess Huybregts as they introduce canine detection as an innovative approach for tracking down sources of a persistent stormwater pollutant, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Learn how local agencies like the City of Seattle are supplementing traditional stormwater source tracing practices by integrating this fast and friendly screening tool into their toolbox. This method can support NPDES Permittees as they strive to prevent PCBs still present in the built environment from entering their stormwater conveyance systems and downstream waterways. For his grand finale, Jasper will perform a live demonstration!

Beyond Source Control: King County Strategies for Mitigating 6PPDQ

Jenée Colton
Supervisor, Toxic Chemical Assessment Unit
King County

WA State has been conducting an alternatives assessment for 6PPD, and a ban on 6PPD is proposed in the state legislature. My presentation will describe King County’s current strategies to remove 6PPDQ and other contaminants in stormwater, highlighting specific examples of our science-based work.

Searching for Safer Alternatives to 6PPD

Craig Manahan, PhD
Toxicologist
Washington Department of Ecology

6PPD is a tire chemical that can lead to salmonid mortality in urban streams. Why is it still present in every tire on the market? This talk will cover the why 6PPD is so hard to replace in tires. Topics include proposed alternatives, potential legislation, and how to assess potential alternatives to make sure they are safer than 6PPD.

Building Blocks for Success: How Our Experiences Help Us Innovate, Collaborate, and Lead the Way in Stormwater

Heather Bartlett
Deputy Director
Washington State Department of Ecology

Deputy Director Bartlett will reflect on Washington’s approach to stormwater and how we can continue to build successful regulatory frameworks that support clean water, communities, and businesses.

Heather Bartlett is the Deputy Director for the Washington State Department of Ecology.  Heather is passionate about Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations. She embraces the vision that innovative partnerships protect and sustain healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. Heather has been with the Department of Ecology since 2014, initially leading the Water Quality Program prior to stepping into the Deputy Director role in February 2020. She has over 30 years of working in the public sector in natural resource management and environmental protection.

Let’s Talk Stormwater: Table Talks, Ideas and Research in Motion

The conference will conclude with a dynamic, participant-driven closing session designed to foster connection, reflection, and knowledge sharing. Rather than a traditional presentation, this interactive format invites attendees to move, engage, and choose their own experience. Facilitated table-topic discussions will be arranged throughout the room, each focused on a timely stormwater issue, challenge, or opportunity. Participants are encouraged to join the conversations that interest them most, share perspectives, ask questions, and learn from peers across disciplines and sectors.

In parallel, a poster session will highlight current stormwater research and applied projects from across Washington. Posters will be displayed around the room, allowing attendees to browse, connect with researchers and practitioners, and explore emerging findings at their own pace.

This flexible, informal format creates space for deeper dialogue, cross-pollination of ideas, and meaningful networking—sending attendees off with new insights, connections, and inspiration to carry forward into their work.

2026 Sponsors

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2026 Exhibitors

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