Pinar Balci

Dr. Balci specializes in sustainable cities and integrated urban water resources management including climate resiliency and adaptation. Her research interests center on the development of ecological, environmental, social and economic solutions to urban environmental problems with a focus on sustainable urban design and climate change. Currently, she is the Assistant Commissioner of Environmental Planning and Analysis at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.  In her current role, she manages sustainability programs including NYC MS4 Stormwater Management Plan, climate change and resiliency, demand management and utility rate studies.  She oversees the nation’s largest Green Infrastructure Program design and construction including research and modeling efforts; manages DEP’s Demand Management Programs including water use and reuse initiatives, building retrofits for water use reductions and develops city-wide environmental regulations and policies.

In addition, she supports the agency’s large capital budget by providing City Environmental Quality Review and evaluating other city sponsored development projects including waterfront planning and rezoning initiatives; reviews new federal and State water quality/storm water regulations for applicability to DEP and NYC. At the South Florida Water Management District, she managed Federal and State Policy and Permitting Division to achieve goals of the Everglades Restoration and Capital Projects. She has served as an infrastructure, environmental and sustainability consultant, served as a Board member of several non-profits and teaches classes on urban water systems management at City University of New York.

Selected Publications:

• Balci, P. NYC’s Next Generation Tools for Private Property Green Infrastructure. WEFTEC, October 2020.

• Balci, P., F. Poliseo, S. Mehrotra. 2017. Innovative and Integrated Stormwater Management, Technical Report, NYC DEP.

• Balci, P., J. Kleyman, S. Rangarajan.  2017. Lot Size Soil Disturbance Threshold Determination for Development Projects in New York City. In 2017 Proceedings for Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, 89^th Annual Conference, Chicago. IL.

• Urusika, M., P. Balci, J. McLauglin, J. Kleyman. NYC Green Infrastructure Monitoring Plan Implementation. In 2017 Proceedings for Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, 89^th Annual Conference, Chicago. IL.

• Balci, P., M. Enoch, S. Rangarajan., J. Kleyman, M. Walker. 2016. NYC Green Infrastructure Performance Metrics, Technical Report, NYC DEP.

• Balci, P., M. Walker, D. Tonning, J. Kleyman, H. Gheith, F. Montalto, and S. Rangarajan. Refinement of GI Models in New York City Based on Post-Construction Monitoring Data, International Low Impact Development Conference, Portland, Maine, August 2016.

• Balci, P., A. Cohn.  2014. Implementing Wastewater Resiliency in New York City. In 2014 Proceedings for Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference, 86^th Annual Conference, Chicago. IL.

• Balci, P., J. McLaughlin and L. Bendernagel. 2013. A Comprehensive Analysis of the Co-Benefits and Costs of Green Infrastructure in New York City, Technical Report, NYC DEP.

• Balci P., K Donnelly. Climate Resilient Infrastructure Planning: Another Unfunded Mandate. In 2013 Proceedings for American Society of Civil Engineers Metropolitan Infrastructure Group- Technical Seminar Impacts of Sandy’s Storm Surge on NY/NJ Infrastructure”.

• Balci P., T Morgan.  2009. St. Lucie River and Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plans.  In 2009 South Florida Environmental Report, Volume I, Chapter 12. Available at: https://my.sfwmd.gov/