Staying the Course

By the time you receive this issue of Stormwater—whether it’s the print copy in your mailbox or the digital copy in your inbox—many of you, like me, will likely be working from home in response to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. Conferences have been canceled or postponed, travel plans suspended, and the only thing that seems certain is uncertainty. 

Here is one thing that is certain: Stormwater magazine will continue to provide quality content for the stormwater and erosion control industries. From our social media accounts to our print and digital magazines, we’ll continue to offer our loyal readers and followers engaging articles, industry updates, and key information to help them do their jobs. This issue is no exception—we’ve packed it full of great content we hope you’ll love.

Compost starts in your kitchen as a bucket of food scraps, which no one wants to empty, and ends up as dirt in your garden—right? In “Give Compost a Chance” (pg. 12), we look at what compost really is, the stormwater and erosion control benefits it offers, and why Gary Gittere of the US Composting Council thinks compost is a growing industry. 

A tricky parking lot in Texas, an Interstate construction project in Florida, and luxury apartments on a steep slope in Colorado; we’ve brought you three diverse and unique project profiles this issue from across the country. 

As rising sea levels and more severe storms increase flooding across the country, communities are looking for greener ways to protect communities. In “Keeping Our Heads Above Water” (pg. 30), Anna Brown of The Nature Conservancy makes a case for working with nature as sea levels rise and severe storms increase. 

In February, before the wave of canceled and postponed conferences, I attended the International Erosion Control Association’s (IECA) Annual Conference in Raleigh, NC. Read my wrap up in “Excited about Erosion” (pg. 37) and share in my gratitude for all the smart, dedicated people working together in this industry. 

As we all adjust to social distancing, we could use a reminder of the great things that are possible when we work together. Check out the Q&A (pg. 32) with Keisha Brown of Corvias on its Clean Water Partnership with Prince George’s County, MD. The Partnership has helped the county meet compliance goals, fostered community engagement, and helped small, minority- and women-owned businesses. Check back next month for the follow up with some of those businesses. 

Stormwater’s goal hasn’t changed—to provide you with the most relevant stories and technologies to help you do what you do best. It’s more important now than ever to find new and creative ways to join forces, collaborate, and work together. As always, send your stories to [email protected]—and stay healthy.