Hello!
My name is Erin Bennett, and I am thrilled to be joining the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed as the Policy Intern. Growing up outside of Wilmington, DE I always had an appreciation for the water, whether I was along the bank of the Brandywine River or down south at Rehoboth Beach. My appreciation of water and wildlife grew as I learned more about environmental issues in Delaware and led to my pursuit of a career in water resources.
I received my B.S. in Natural Resource Management from University of Delaware, where I also minored in Resource Economics and Political Science. I also earned an M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy with a concentration in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Delaware. During my graduate education, I served as a Research Assistant with the UD Water Resources Agency.
Most recently, I lived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for 2 years where I volunteered with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and the Edmonton and Area Land Trust. Both opportunities provided me with insight into the environmental challenges Albertans face in and around the North Saskatchewan River, the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, and the northern part of Alberta. Ranging from caribou conservation to protecting the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan, the environmental work was very different but also had similar challenges to the environmental initiatives on the East Coast.
My past work experience also involved working 4.5 years at Blue Water Baltimore (in Baltimore, MD) as Stormwater Program Manager where I managed both the Blue Water Congregations program as well as individual stormwater management projects such as bioretention systems, rain gardens, and rainwater harvesting. My role really brought on an appreciation of the importance of effective community outreach and engaging in nontraditional partners. Seeing on-the-ground projects implemented in Baltimore was extremely rewarding.
Additionally, I worked as Watershed Coordinator with Sassafras River Association on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where I worked on local policy initiatives and local Best Management Practices outreach like rainwater harvesting and soil testing.
I’m excited to be back in the Delaware River Watershed working with the Coalition and assisting with the development of resources to help State Leads achieve their policy priorities. The strong network of stakeholders within the Coalition is a powerful voice speaking up for the Watershed and I look forward to being a part of it.