IECA News

March 22, 2016

Environmental Connection 2016 Recap

IECA hosted a successful conference and expo for Environmental Connection 2016 attendees. IECA hosted over 1,500 attendees and a sold-out exhibit hall of 145 exhibitions in San Antonio, Texas, February 16–19, 2016.

“We had an unexpected number of people register onsite, which pushed our conference attendance past our expectations,” says Laura Clark, IECA Marketing and Publications Director.

Environmental Connection offered countless opportunities for attendees to network.

“As IECA attempts to perfect its education delivery process, we are learning to appreciate every conference that provides a vehicle to a greater delivery of educating our industry,” says Jimmy Eanes, IECA Education Director. “Many thanks to the member leaders, behind the scenes, who worked hard to deliver an excellent education program in San Antonio. We will continue to strive to make sure our members and non-members can rely on IECA to deliver the best industry education on a national and international level.”

What Was New This Year?

  • We hosted a Relax Bar, sponsored by Verdoyl Biotic Earth, where attendees could relax while getting a quick neck massage before they went about their busy day.
  • Who doesn’t love a Selfie Challenge? We asked attendees to use our two hashtags (#ECCON2016 and #IECASelfie) and snap photos with our fun, western-inspired props. It was a great success. Our winners were selected by our sponsor, L&M Supply. They walked away with cash prizes: Dylan (third place—$50), Carrie Powers (second place—$75) and Pavneet Brar (first place—$100).

The closing bash was one of the many opportunities for mingling at Environmental Connection 2016.

In addition to the new additions to the program of the conference, IECA introduced its new Executive Director, Sharan Wilson. “It was a great conference and experience seeing everything come together,” says Wilson. “I still encourage you to keep giving us your input and ideas so that we can make Environmental Connection 2017 even bigger and better,” she concludes.

IECA Requesting Abstract Submittals for Environmental Connection 2017
Environmental Connection 2017 will take place February 21–24, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Cobb Galleria Centre. IECA is looking for the latest and greatest case studies, papers, and everything in between. The deadline to submit an abstract is May 31.

We want to thank our IECA South Central Chapter volunteers for their help at the conference and their dedication to IECA.

Suggested Trending Topics:

  • Post-construction stormwater issues or opportunities beyond bank stabilization
  • New technology (aside from UAVs) such as new surveying techniques/equipment, GIS-guided equipment, and water monitoring equipment
  • Waters of the United States issues
  • Pipeline/drilling issues and/or solutions
  • Soil amendments (biological, chemical, and physical) for better plant establishment and soil properties and species selection
  • Improving sediment basin ­performance
  • Transportation project stormwater controls—balancing roadway safety with best management practices (BMPs)
Environmental Connection’s expo hall floor provided a useful venue for attendee networking.

Who Attends Environmental Connection?
IECA’s annual conference draws thousands of professionals in the erosion and sediment control industry from around the world each year, including:

  • Contractors
  • Land developers
  • Engineers
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturers
  • Contractors
  • Home builders
  • Landscape architects
  • Government agencies
  • Academics

For more information or questions about how to submit your application
to be a presenter, visit www.ieca.org/submissions or contact IECA’s Education Department at 303-640-7554.

IECA Great Connections 2016

La Crosse, Wisconsin • July 26–28, 2016

Explore La Crosse and make some Great Connections when you join your colleagues in La Crosse, Wisconsin, next summer for the second biannual Great Connections Conference and Exposition, hosted by the Great Lakes, Great Rivers, and Northern Plains chapters of the IECA, and the City of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Credit: ISTOCK/DRMAKKOY

Building on the success of the first IECA Great Connections conference held in Davenport, Iowa, just two years ago, the purpose of this conference is to pull expertise from public and private industry sources across a broader geographic range of the Upper Midwest than is available for most local and state level conferences. IECA distinguishes itself from other professional organizations serving the stormwater and erosion and sediment control industries by effectively uniting professionals who manufacture and provide products with planners, designers, installers, and inspection professionals from the public and private sectors.

The three-day event will feature full- and half-day ­workshops, technical and case study presentations, featured keynote speakers, local project tours, a full exposition hall area, and exciting fundraising and networking opportunities. Set between the mighty Mississippi River and the beautiful bluffs and coulees of western Wisconsin, La Crosse provides a beautiful natural setting for this conference. All conference activities will be held in the downtown La Crosse Center and Radisson Hotel facilities with much of La Crosse’s historic downtown in easy walking distance.

Bill Stowe, CEO and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works

Keynote
William (Bill) Stowe is the CEO and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works (DMWW). DMWW works closely with business, environmental, consumer, and agricultural leaders to advocate for better stewardship of water resources and clean water initiatives throughout central Iowa.

Stowe will speak on the central Iowa utility’s mission to provide safe, affordable, and abundant drinking water to 500,000 customers and the challenges faced in a largely agricultural watershed. Ninety-three percent of the nitrogen in Iowa’s waterways originates from nonpoint sources, largely agricultural lands, while the most heavily regulated nitrate polluters, point sources, contribute only 7%. It is a critical mistake in terms of cost, environmental protection, and social responsibility to rely on volunteerism alone for nonpoint agricultural pollution compliance. Stowe’s powerful keynote presentation will cut across the urban-rural divide, demonstrating how effective watershed-based approaches do not start and stop at municipal boundaries.

Technical Sessions
The IECA Great Connections 2016 Conference Education Committee is actively seeking abstracts from industry professionals willing to contribute their knowledge, share their expertise and research, and provide innovative solutions within the Association’s four Educational Tracks:

  • Erosion & sediment control
  • Surface water restoration
  • Stormwater management
  • MS4 management

All interested presenters are asked to complete the online Call for Abstracts form by Friday, April 8, 2016. Guidelines can be found at www.iecagreatconnections.com.

The Radisson Hotel La Crosse is situated in front of the Mississippi River.

Workshops
The full-day workshops will feature high-quality training and information designed to explore how state-of-the-art research results can help you improve your programs and make best use of emerging best practices and policies. A range of certification review courses will also be available.

Speakers and content will range from the core focus of the IECA to trends in science and research on surface water quality, stormwater management regulations, and locally led watershed improvement efforts. Confirmed workshops at this point include:

  • “Design and Review of Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Measures” by Jerald Fifield, Ph.D., CPESC, CISEC
  • “Adaptive Implementation to Achieve Clean Water Goals” by Jay Riggs, CPESC, CPSWQ
  • “Soil Conditioning and Management for Urban Water Quality” by Ted Hartsig, CPS
  • “Better Municipal Codes Means Better Green ­Infrastructure Projects” by Sheila McKinley, ASLA, AICP, CFM, LEED Green Associate
  • “Certified Inspector of Sediment & Erosion Control (CISEC) Training Modules” by Brock Peters, CISEC, and J.B. Dixon, CISEC, CPESC

Exposition and Sponsorship
Limited exhibit space (40 exhibit limit) and sponsorship opportunities are offered for this conference. These opportunities benefit both businesses involved in stormwater management and conference participants. Businesses actively ­participating in the conference have a great venue for promotion of their ­products and services and offer ­conference participants a great opportunity to check out new products and technology directly with the experts. More infor­mation can be found at www.iecagreatconnections.com.

More Information
Further details will be published at www.iecagreatconnections.com as planning for this conference continues. For detailed information, contact Kim Kline, Conference Manager, by telephone at 970-846-9015 or by e-mail at [email protected].

10 Minutes With Thomas Schneider

Stormcon LLC employees and family at the ball park

Each issue, IECA honors one outstanding member who has shown dedication to not only the organization, but to the erosion and sediment control industry. We honor this member to show gratitude and support for all their accomplishments. This issue, it’s our pleasure to feature an outstanding member, Thomas Schneider.

Schneider has been in the industry for 26 years and has been an IECA member since 1995. This respected entrepreneur has an aptitude for helping others succeed. He is currently the Vice President of Stormcon LLC, a full service stormwater compliance company that tailors SWPPPs to meet their clients’ needs.

Q: Why are you in the industry?
A: I’ve always had a bit of entrepreneurial spirit and this industry piqued my interest in that so many useful things could be done to assist the regulated community and the regulators. It’s my hope to bring them together and to help them understand how erosion and sediment control works, what they were capable and not capable of doing, and developing provable, achievable standards for every type of construction site.

Schneider’s daughter, Caitlin, vacationing in Mexico

Q: How did you get started in your field of practice?
A: My first involvement in the environmental industry came in the late 1980s when the City of Arlington, prior to the Construction General Permit, was requiring installation of erosion control for construction projects. I had a background in the construction industry and became interested in how structural controls could be used and modified to fit a specific purpose.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your life outside work?
A: I was born in Topeka, Kansas, and raised in Plano, Texas, and other than a couple of fun years spent in Monroe, Louisiana, have lived here all my life. I’m a family-oriented person and everything I do is directly or indirectly tied to my family except for my desire to help the IECA. This is my one vice outside of my family.

My company is centered around erosion and sediment control on construction sites and the regulations that apply to those sites. My wife and I love to cook for friends and family. We enjoy fishing, swimming, entertaining friends and family, and traveling. I enjoy sports, particularly college football. GO LSU!

Schneider’s son Nick is the older child by one minute.

My wife and I have been married for 36 years and were blessed with twins 24 years ago. Our son, Nick, the oldest by one whole minute, is currently in his final year of graduate school at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy in Abilene, Texas, and will be graduating next spring with a doctorate in pharmacology. Our daughter, ­Caitlin, the baby of the family by one whole minute, graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelors of science in biology and a bachelors of arts in criminology. She is currently enrolled at the Texas A&M School of Law and is in her second year, with a graduation date of December 2016. You can probably tell that they are very competitive with each other and we are extremely proud of the adults they have become.

Q: What drives you to succeed ­professionally?
A: I enjoy what I am doing. It is a simple as that.

Q: Tell us about your work style.
A: I’m laid back in most aspects. I enjoy working with people both inside and outside of an office setting. The one thing I am adamant about is punctuality and work quality. I demand it of myself and I expect it from my employees. We have lively conversations and hi-jinks at the office and good-natured teasing is always on the menu; however, when I close my office door they know that I am working on something and prefer that I’m not disturbed. Once the door is open, I’m available to participate in anything from entertaining kids to feeding the fish in the aquariums or swapping recipes or hyperbole about how big the fish was that got away.

Q: What is something people don’t know about you?
A: I find that most people, including clients, are startled and/or confused when they realize that I am married to a business competitor. My wife has her own stormwater consulting firm, so we sometimes find ourselves working with different clients on the same project. They are surprised that we are still happily married despite that. Dinner conversation at our house can be entertaining, to say the least.

Q: What major projects have you or are you involved with that affect the erosion and sediment control and stormwater industry?
A: I designed and patented the first non-flooding inlet filtration device in 1996, which is now known as the P2 Filter. You can see it at www.p2filter.com. The reason behind designing the P2 Filter was that products being used were: one, not filtering out sediments and debris; and two, they were causing flooding and allowing stormwater and pollutants to be bypass and be diverted to other areas, causing greater pollutant discharge.

I have also patented a three-dimensionally interlocking block system for streambank stabilization.

Also, I am starting to look at what I call the environmental cost of a BMP. What is the total cost to the environment (air and water quality) to produce, manufacture, deliver, install, and maintain versus the environmental benefit? I think it will allow us to further design projects that are beneficial to the environment. I am finding that sometimes we are killing the environment by trying to save it. The benefit the BMP provides is far less than the total cost to the environment. I am just getting started but it seems to be something that we need to study further.

Q: Can you tell us about your IECA member experience?
A: I was on the board of directors for the South Central Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association since 2006 and was elected President from 2011–2013. I am a CPESC designee and sat on the Chapter Advisory Committee for the IECA. In 2014, I was elected to a director’s position on the IECA Board of Directors.

Can I offer a word of advice for those who plan to join or who are current non-active members? Just being a member for 15 years does not mean that you have accomplished anything other than paying dues for 15 years. If you are a member and you are not involved, why be a member? I encourage you to be part of your local chapter and to start helping your local community of industry professionals evolve to a strong local group of IECA members.

Q: Why are you an IECA member?
A: I first joined the IECA to get the conference discount. Years later, Bob Jackson, from Austin, Texas, asked if I would be interested in being a board member of the South Central Chapter. If any of the readers know Bob, they will agree that he is a person that you need to meet before you die. Bob is one-of-a-kind. Another person you should add to your list is Andy Johnson who also calls Austin his home. Both of these individuals had a great deal of influence in getting me involved with the IECA as an active member. I could add more people to the list, but to answer your question it is the passion of the other members that drives me to do my part for the IECA. Once you experience it, I don’t understand how you could not want to help.

Q: What are your goals to further your IECA involvement?
A: I would like to be able to make our membership grow and become more active in local areas and address the needs of each area and give them the ability to disseminate the most effective ways and means of working with erosion and sediment controls, as well as the problems inherent in their specific region, state, and local areas. It is why they are members. We, the IECA, must take the lead and assist our membership by giving them the tools they need to be successful whether it is as a contractor onsite, a developer looking to understand how and why they are faced with the cost and regulations of construction, or the municipalities who sometimes have a limited understanding of erosion and sediment controls, what to expect, how to inspect, and what knowledge base all of these individuals (from site superintendent, project manager to local inspector) must have.

Q: What are the most impactful issues regarding erosion and sediment control today?
A: Don’t blame the BMP! It is an inanimate object without a brain or its own will. The designer who chooses to place the BMP in the conditions that cause it to fail is the problem, not the BMP itself.

The methodology for erosion and sediment control use must be ­standardized, and the BMP you select must be designed to fit your specific site. What may work on one site may be detrimental to use on another for a variety of reasons.

Q: What’s your best advice you can give someone new to the industry?
A: If you are not passionate about this industry, get out and don’t waste your time because you don’t stand a chance of succeeding. Our industry has more people with more passion than I have seen in any other industry. But I would give the same advice no matter what the industry was, but for a different reason. Life is too short. Don’t waste one minute doing something that you don’t enjoy just to make money. If you don’t like what you are doing you will not excel at it. Don’t shackle yourself. Find what you love to do and discover what you are capable of.

Q: How would you want to be remembered in the industry?
A: I don’t know, but I hope I have not already done it. I think I have a few more things to contribute before I go and it is possible that one of them might be memorable. I guess everyone is going to have to wait for the answer. With any luck it will be a long wait, so let’s sit back, enjoy the ride, and see what happens.

MS4 Conference Held in Nashville

You won’t want to miss the EPA Region 4 and the IECA Southeast Chapter’s third annual Municipal Wet Weather Stormwater Conference.

The event will host hot-topic technical sessions, including:

  • Integrated or watershed-based permitting
  • Sustainable development, LID, and green infrastructure
  • TMDLs and watershed implementation plans
  • Stormwater funding, program management
  • Legal ordinances and regulations
  • Public education and outreach
  • Erosion and sediment control
  • Evaluation of stormwater practices and devices
  • Inspection methods and technologies
  • Stream evaluation, restoration, and monitoring