Challenges and Triumphs

It’s that time again when we get a little retrospective about the year that’s slipping away and start looking towards the year ahead—maybe with apprehension, maybe with hope. Usually, the passing year is a mixed bag of triumphs and disappointments, but 2020 has been a little heavy on the unexpected challenges. Hopes are high for 2021, but the source of most of this year’s strife, the COVID-19 pandemic, is unlikely to disappear at the stroke of midnight on December 31. My more realistic hope is for a new year that is more like the ones I’m familiar with—a more even distribution of successes and triumphs, challenges and pitfalls. Optimism and hope are tempered with the knowledge that there will be hard work ahead. In this issue of Stormwater, that’s what we’re bringing you—stories of hard work and dedication overcoming unexpected challenges, tools to help make each project the best it can be, and a healthy dash of hope.

First up, never mind “set it and forget it,” nearly every sediment control solution, green infrastructure project, or BMP will need care and maintenance over its lifetime. The longer the lifetime, the more that maintenance can focus on keeping the system at peak performance, rather than just trying to keep it functioning at all. For an underground storage system, replacement is a big, expensive hassle. In “Building BMPs to Last,” the first installment in a two-part series, we look at some of the important considerations for functional, long-lasting stormwater storage systems. Don’t miss part two next month.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Louise Firth of the University of Plymouth in the UK about a recent commentary article she and her colleagues wrote. In the article, they caution that “greenwashing” could be used to facilitate coastal development, whether or not the proposed infrastructure is effective at increasing biodiversity and promoting environmental health. Check out “A Wolf in Green Clothing” for more on the paper, Dr. Firth’s research, and how to make sure your green infrastructure provides the value promised.

Since you can’t improve water quality or resilience without knowing where you stand now, Dr. Marccus Hendricks of the University of Maryland set out to create a living laboratory on the 1,335-acre campus. In “Working Toward Resilience through Stormwater Monitoring,” learn more about how Dr. Hendricks and his new stormwater monitoring network will gather data to inform the university’s journey towards a more sustainable campus.

When Indiana's Kline Wetland Levee failed, a new one needed to be built to prevent sediment transport into Lake Maxinkuckee’s sparkling waters. Despite funding challenges, a failed zone in the new levee, an unseasonably warm winter, and a statewide shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund refused to give up, and the results will preserve the lake for years to come. Don’t miss “Kline Levee Reconstruction at Lake Maxinkuckee.”

And finally, in this month’s Q&A, we speak with Dr. Vikas Nandwana of Northwestern University about a nanomaterial coating for household sponges he and his colleagues developed to clean up oil spills. The coating allows oil to be removed from water and recovered, so the sponge can be used again and again. For Dr. Nandwana, this is just the beginning—work is already underway to target excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.

It’s been a long year. We needed to continually adapt to new challenges and changing restrictions. But overwhelmingly, surface water and erosion control professionals around the country have done just that with dedication and grace. This new year won’t be smooth sailing, but with perseverance, clear eyes, and a healthy serving of hope, we’ll make it through.