Contributed by the International Erosion Control Association

The EC10 expo showcases erosion, sediment control, and stormwater products from more than 150 vendors.

In February, an estimated 2,000 civil engineers, contractors, developers, and government personnel will journey to Dallas to “Discover New Frontiers” during the world’s largest soil and water event. Environmental Connection 2010 (EC10), Feb. 16-20, is the annual conference and expo of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA). With world-class education, the largest expo hall of its kind featuring more than 150 products and services from around the globe, and networking events, EC10 is the one-stop to help businesses survive and even thrive in difficult economic times.

Training courses
As the landscape of the erosion and sediment control industry shifts during these challenging economic times, it is even more necessary to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques. The focus of EC10’s education offerings is to bring new, relevant content to attendees so that the insights they gain at EC10 have an immediate impact upon returning to the job.

The most popular education format is the full-day training course. This year, IECA will offer training courses Tuesday through Friday, featuring six new courses in the line-up of 22 courses. Professional engineers and others interested in pursuing or maintaining a professional certification will benefit from the six Professional Development Hours (PDHs) awarded for the completion of each full-day training course.

“The professional development courses were very good. The curriculum was well developed and the instructors were well prepared,” said Stoney Wright, CPESC, of Palmer, Alaska. “You could tell that they had a number of years of practical experience behind them. Their presentations flowed logically and met the course objectives. The instruction was geared to the students and held their interest throughout the class.”

Some courses of interest for civil engineers include the following:

Innovative Erosion and Sediment Control Design — This fast-paced one-day workshop is for engineers and advanced-level practitioners who are involved with the design of erosion and sediment control plans for linear and vertical construction. This course emphasizes selection and design of appropriate best management practices (BMPs). Topics covered include a review of erosion processes, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE 2.0), selection of channel linings, sediment removal principles including use of polyacrylamides (PAMs), skimmer basin design principles, and an overview of managing the watercourse for construction at jurisdictional waters.

Theory in Practice: Wind Erosion Control Prediction Systems (WEPS) — Attendees will learn enough basic theory on wind erosion to understand how to select practical methods for controlling airborne soil particles generated from both wind (saltation) and mechanical (road traffic) sources. At the end of the day, attendees will understand wind erosion processes in order to assess the risk of soil loss, be able to assess when and how to use chemical dust suppressant products, and be able to determine what plant density and cover is needed for effective erosion control. Case studies will be used to show methods and materials that have proven effective over time. WEPS will be used to demonstrate the relative effectiveness of alternative control methods and to illustrate the relative risk of soil loss in different climates. Attendees will have the opportunity to use their personal laptop computers to work along with the instructors. (This is a two-day course.)

Soil-Loss Estimation for Construction Lands Using RUSLE 2.0 — Soil-loss estimation is the foundation of most erosion control projects. One practical method for estimating soil loss is version 2.0 of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE 2.0). Course participants will gain experience with RUSLE 2.0 by loading it on their laptop computers and working through several common erosion control scenarios under the guidance of the instructors. Participants will learn how to tailor the program to their project, use the program for project design based on specific class examples, and interpret the results for erosion control planning. (This is a two-day course.)

CPESC or CPSWQ Certification Exam Review Courses — These targeted courses taught by EnviroCert International, Inc.-approved instructors will prepare individuals for the Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) or Certified Professional in Storm Water Quality (CPSWQ) exam. These courses offer an overview of basic rules and regulations; discussion of common erosion, sediment control, and stormwater practices; and a review of some typical exam problems. Both exams will be offered on Friday, Feb. 19, at EC10. Professionals must be pre-approved to sit for either the CPESC or CPSWQ exam. Applications must be received no later than Jan. 5, 2010. For more information about becoming certified, visit www.envirocertintl.org

Design, Installation, and Maintenance Manual for Gabion Structures — As civil engineering consultants begin implementing the use of gabion and gabion mattresses for erosion control, a better understanding of their design, installation, and maintenance will be required for proper implementation. The primary purpose of this course is to help civil engineering consultants follow a consistent set of procedures for the design, specification, construction, inspection, and maintenance of gabion and gabion mattress structures.

Innovative Post-Construction Stormwater Management: Low-Impact Development (LID) Design, Installation, and Maintenance — Linking natural resource conservation, smart site design, and innovative stormwater management techniques is the wave of the future. Rate control is inadequate to protect natural resources and minimize sediment loss. This course will provide individuals insight about the approach being taken in Minnesota and will provide a forum to learn how others are approaching similar efforts. This course will also cover how natural resource-based planning and smart site design can be used as a critical component of an erosion and sediment control program. Course attendees will learn about conservation site design (CSD), better site design (BSD), low-impact development (LID), integrated diffuse stormwater management practices (IMP), and how all of these new approaches to stormwater management fit into the big picture of water resource protection. Insights and experiences about design, implementation, and maintenance of LID will be shared.

Designer and Reviewer Series — Part I: Developing Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Drawings for Contractors — Get the tools needed as a designer or reviewer to develop and review effective sediment and erosion control drawings for contractors to implement on construction sites. Participants should have a basic understanding of sediment and erosion control methods because this course will dive right in to how to develop cost-effective and practical plans.

Designer and Reviewer Series — Part II: Technical Assessment of Construction Site BMPs — This one-day advanced level course is for designers and reviewers of sediment and erosion control plans having a background in mathematics, science, and engineering. It will provide a technical assessment of some BMPs commonly found on construction sites, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of sediment and erosion control plans.

Technical sessions
The education program also includes shorter, topic-focused presentations. Known as technical sessions, these sessions comprise innovative technical papers showcasing the latest research, inspiring case studies, thought-provoking forums, how-to workshops, and informative poster presentations.

Civil engineers should not miss the following sessions:

Green Design Engineering: A Fresh Approach for Sustainable Erosion Control — In this session, each of the key components for sustainable erosion control designs will be examined, including soil testing and analysis, vegetation species selection, Green Design Engineering technologies, slope and channel design methodologies and related impact on vegetation establishment and proper reinforcement, product installation considerations, and post-installation inspection and maintenance methodology. Participants will be introduced to available tools that can help put all of these components together to meet specific site requirements as well as review case studies of Green Design Engineering in action.

Design Alternatives for Urban Stream Restoration — This paper discusses how to design stream restoration measures successfully in an urban setting and how to incorporate innovative technologies into the design. During this session, J.P. Johns, P.E., and William Rector, EIT, will also cover how to design mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) green wall systems and how to install these measures.

Gilboa Dam Reconstruction Site Case Study: Using a Variety of Inventive Erosion, Sediment, and Stormwater Controls to Protect Natural Resources — This case study covers the unusual erosion and sediment control and stormwater issues that arise with large construction projects. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection will be reconstructing Gilboa Dam on an 86-acre site over six years in four construction phases. Jennifer Cass, P.E., LEED-AP, describes how the erosion and sediment control plan was customized for each phase to protect natural resources.

Ravine Stabilization, Grade, Bank, and Slope Stabilization on Small Streams in Northeast Illinois — This session will focus on implementation of various streambank and bed stabilization techniques in urbanized streams in Northeast Illinois through the study of three specific projects. This session will provide attendees an opportunity to follow projects through the design intent, into implementation, as well as some of the results of practices after intense channel-forming storm events. If you have ever wondered about the purpose for specific streambank practices or how some practices performed after a 50-year flood event, this session is a can’t miss. Expect to learn through experience as several of the projects featured were installed after previous stabilization and restoration efforts failed.

Using HEC-GeoRAS as a Design Tool for the San Antonio River Mission Reach Restoration Project — This presentation will focus on how the import and export capabilities of HEC-GeoRAS are being used as design tools on the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration Project to restore habitat while maintaining hydraulic capacity of 8 miles of the San Antonio River. By utilizing HEC-GeoRAS, as modifications are made to the design DTM for various purposes, they can be quickly reflected in the HEC-RAS model, allowing more design iterations within the project schedule. The DTM is then contoured to produce the grading plan, providing a direct correlation between the plans and HEC-RAS model. Additional methods for modifying or comparing hydraulic data using the Graphical Cross Section Editor in HEC-RAS will also be demonstrated.

Performance Testing of Sediment Retention Devices — This presentation will detail both bench-scale and large-scale test procedures for evaluating the performance of sediment retention devices (SRDs). Joel Sprague, senior engineer for TRI/Environmental, Inc., will present data on tests that were run on a variety of silt fence styles to demonstrate the ability of standardized testing to differentiate product performance and, in so doing, to enable a specifier to “engineer” the system to provide the desired balance between flow and sediment retention.

LEED Certification: Who, What, Where, Why, and More — This workshop will take an in-depth look at what LEED is, the process for LEED accreditation both for an individual and a project, and why the erosion and sediment control industry should care. LEED is a program that has evolved over the years through the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the premier measuring stick for sustainable design throughout the United States. It has become the driving force for designers to develop design methods and direction for all sustainable designs. This session will also cover each aspect of the LEED rating system and give specific examples of products and solutions that may already be in attendees’ erosion and sediment control toolboxes.

EC10 attendees can choose from 22 full-day training courses plus many shorter technical sessions.

Field tours
Looking to get out of the classroom and into the field? Take one of three available field tours offered throughout the week at EC10. Visit www.ieca.org/fieldtours for additional details and how you can reserve your space.

The expo
The EC10 expo showcases erosion, sediment control, and stormwater products from more than 150 vendors. To help attendees schedule time for the show and education, IECA has dedicated expo hall hours. Show hours are Wednesday, Feb. 17, 5:15 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; and Friday, Feb. 19, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The Expo Hall Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday evening provides a chance to preview what the expo has to offer and enjoy a complimentary beverage and appetizers.

Special events and activities
While formal training will always be the cornerstone of Environmental Connection, IECA has always believed that there is great value in networking.

“Through the networking opportunities at the conference, I met people from all over the country,” said Shane Morrow at EC09 in Reno, Nev. “I learned something about erosion control from every single person I met.”

Get to know fellow attendees outside the classroom by mingling at the Expo Hall Grand Opening. And, don’t miss out on your opportunity to see more of what EC10’s host city has to offer by visiting historic landmarks and modern marvels on a special tour.

Sixth Floor Museum tour
Step back in time to Nov. 22, 1963. On this tour, attendees will follow in the steps of President John F. Kennedy’s final visit to Dallas. The tour, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., includes visits to the Sixth Floor Museum, formerly the Texas Book Depository, complete with audio guide and artifacts, and the “grassy knoll” in the famous Dealey Plaza. Tour fee includes transportation, museum admission, and JFK certified DFW tour guide.

Wednesday awards luncheon
Join IECA for a plated lunch while celebrating the accomplishments of peers. The luncheon, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., includes presentations of chapter awards and addresses from the president of the IECA board of directors, Michael R. Chase, CPESC, CPSWQ, CESSWI, and Russell Adsit, FASLA, IECA’s executive director.

IECA chapter meetings
Visit the chapter that represents your state to meet professionals who face the same challenges that you do. Open to everyone, the chapter meetings, Thursday, Feb. 18, 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m., are a perfect way to establish connections close to home.

Cowboys Stadium tour
Attendees will want to take time from their busy EC10 schedules to tour the new Cowboys Stadium on Friday, Feb. 19, from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. This expansive structure, which replaced the Cowboy’s previous home, Texas Stadium, features a retractable roof and seating for as many as 100,000. The new stadium also will be the home of Super Bowl XLV in February 2011. The tour fee includes transportation and tour of the stadium.

Dallas — “Live Large. Think Big.”
EC10 ventures to the Lone Star State and the vibrant city of Dallas where attendees will experience some of the finest accommodations, entertainment, and dining choices. IECA encourages EC10 attendees to stay at the host hotel, the Hilton Anatole. Until Jan. 22, attendees can benefit from a special rate of $149 (plus taxes) per night. Call 214-761-7500 or book online at IECA’s hotel and travel page at www.ieca.org/travel

Registration tips
Training courses for Environmental Connection sell out every year, so for the best selection, register early. An unlimited number of technical session and expo hall passes are available. But don’t wait to register onsite. Registration lines can be long, especially Tuesday night and Wednesday. To save time, register using IECA’s secure, online registration form. For more information or to register for EC10 visit www.ieca.org/engineering

Special events and activities offer attendees great opportunities to network with peers.

IIECA membership offers education, peer networking, and discounts The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is the world’s oldest and largest association devoted entirely to helping members solve the problems caused by erosion and its byproduct — sediment. Founded in 1972, the non-profit organization serves nearly 3,000 members throughout the world. Members of the association are able to connect with professionals in many sectors of the erosion control industry including engineers, contractors, developers, landscape architects, regulators, inspectors, academics, and those involved in wetland mitigation and streambank restoration. The joining of many disciplines allows members to gain a unique perspective on the industry as a whole. Members share technical information through a variety of mediums including the members-only listserve, blogs, and locally through chapter meetings and events. “What makes IECA unique is that it’s a real melting pot of professions,” said Russell Adsit, IECA executive director. “Members are able to learn how others in the industry work and the challenges they face. It helps people better work together to achieve the primary goal — reducing the amount of sediment entering our waters.” IECA members also enjoy the benefit of year-round education delivered through webinars, members-only online resources, and IECA’s members-only publication, Environmental Connection, which features peer-reviewed articles focusing on the latest technology, innovations, and research. Member discounts are also available with IECA’s alternate training solution, IECA Live. IECA Live — the answer for live, on-site training needs — mobilizes the best of IECA educators in a local area, drawing upon a highly qualified instructor pool from IECA’s membership and chapters. Erosion control professionals can save money on EC10 registration by becoming an IECA member today.
Soil and water solutions on display The following companies — advertisers in this issue of CE News — will join more than 150 companies at EC10 to display the latest products and services for erosion and sediment control and stormwater management.
	MODULAR WETLANDS (www.modularwetlands.com) offers a complete, self-contained treatment train incorporating screening, hydrodynamic separation, media filtration, bioretention, and internal bypass.
	NORTH AMERICAN GREEN (www.nagreen.com) offers a complete line of erosion control/turf reinforcement blankets for all slope, channel, and shoreline erosion control needs.
	PRESTO GEOSYSTEMS’ (www.prestogeo.com) GEOWEB cellular confinement and GEOBLOCK porous pavement systems provide sustainable, environmentally sound solutions to soil stabilization problems and porous pavement needs.
	ROLANKA INTERNATIONAL, INC. (www.rolanka.com) offers a full line of green products made from strong, durable coir fiber (coconut fiber) for applications in erosion control, sediment control, soil bioengineering, and landscaping.