Leaders in Stormwater: AMANDA ROCKLER

This LEADER IN STORMWATER is a Founding Partner of the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Program - Amanda Rockler, Watershed Restoration Specialist, University of Maryland (UMD).

Raised in a household of diverse perspectives, Amanda parents’ insight brought invaluable insight in shaping her interest in choosing a career that tackles both environmental and social equity, working in the ever evolving world of stormwater management (SWM). Amanda explains that stormwater "can be transformed from a challenge to an asset that contributes to [both] environmental and social well-being...an area where science, design, and community engagement intersect, and that cross-disciplinary approach keeps it exciting...”.  Fortunate to have Doug Lipton and Heather Gewandter as instrumental mentors early on in her career provided Amanda with vital guidance that laid down the groundwork for the role she has today.

Now working within UMD’s AGNR Sea Grant Extension Program, Amanda has found a deep interest in translating sound science into practical, community-driven solutions. For 20 years, she has built programs focused on watershed restoration and environmental resilience, and feels privileged to mentor and teach students, transforming science into actionable strategies for sustainable community planning. Dubbed by colleagues as the “Kevin Bacon of Maryland” speaks to the connections Amanda has made across many different fields and communities, bringing a variety of people together in meaningful ways.

Amanda says that both natural systems and infrastructure components are essential for creating sustainable, resilient environments. Natural systems provide the foundation for ecological health; infrastructure plays a crucial role in managing human impact and ensuring systems function effectively. And the social dynamics that drive community engagement are critical to restoration. She notes a challenge facing the industry in how to design, install, and maintain SWM infrastructure that not only restores ecological function but also addresses the socio-economic of planning and community engagement. She says, “This involves balancing competing interests—economic development, environmental protection, and social equity—and lacks a one-size-fits-all solution. Communities faces unique challenges based on geography, demographics, and existing infrastructure which makes developing universally effective strategies difficult. ...The problem requires cross-sector collaboration between planners, scientists, engineers, and local communities. This issue demands innovative, adaptive solutions integrating natural systems with infrastructure while ensuring community participation and buy-in.” She goes on to say that, “By bridging science, policy, and community engagement, I strive to ensure complex scientific concepts are accessible, actionable, and impactful, creating tangible benefits for the environment and the people who depend on it.”