71st SWCS International Annual Conference July 24-27, 2016 Louisville, KY

1. Construction Stormwater Activities
by the SWCS Alabama Chapter:
Benefits and Lesson Leaned
71st SWCS International Annual Conference
July 25, 2016
Louisville, KY
Earl Norton, CPESC, Auburn, AL
SWCS -AL Chapter CPESC Committee Chair
earl_norton@yahoo.com 334.728.4107

2. Alabama Chapter Strategic Plan
First in 2001, revised in 2005
Strategic Objectives
1. We will support the professional
development of members and others
through new and existing training
programs, regular Chapter meetings,
and certification opportunities.

3. SWCS – AL Chapter Current Activities
Provide continuing education for credentialed
professionals (CPESCs, PEs, PGs, CCAs)
Support CPESCs – exam review course & exams
Support water festivals – judges & cash prizes
Sponsor - 2 student chapters
Support a state-wide erosion and sediment
control program with state conservation
agency and partners

4. Looking back at Chapter Membership
1982
Downward trend in membership
during l970’s and early 1980’s
Merged North AL and South AL
Chapters in 1982 - trend continued
Trend changed after mid-90’s
Why??

5. Membership increased in 1990’s
Momentum began in 1995
Chapter began support of Certified
Professional in Erosion and Sediment
Control (CPESC)
• Provided Chapter’s first CPESC exam tutorial
and CPESC exam at annual meeting
(4 CPESCs before meeting and added 4)
• Established CPESC Committee

6. 1996
Began Continuing
Education For CPESCs
(½ day study trip before Annual Meeting)
1997
Added Continuing Education
For Certified Crop Advisors
(½ day seminar before Annual Meeting)

7. 2001 Spin-offs from Expanding
Continuing Ed
1. Chapter developed a strategic plan
2. Extended annual meeting from 1 day to Wed.
1/2 day, Thurs. all day, Fri. 1/2 day with
only 2 hours non-technical for business mtg
3. Developed vision plan for state-wide erosion
and sediment control program with state
natural resources agency – more info later
4. Sponsored our Auburn University student
chapter

8. More Spin-offs from Expanding
Continuing Ed
2002
Began supporting water festivals
2003
Sponsored Alabama A&M student chapter
2011
Sponsored Tuskegee student chapter

9. The Chapter in 2016
• About 105 members
• Annual meeting – 60 +
supported annually by IECA SE Chapter
- provide PDHs for CCAs, CPESCs, PEs, PG
• Supporting (recap)
- state-wide ESC program
- CCAs with continuing ed
- CPESCs (100+) with continuing ed
- Water festivals
- Student chapters (2)

10. A Typical Chapter Annual Meeting Program
“Managing Our Landscapes for Multiple Uses”
Wednesday afternoon program
- Keynote (on meeting title)
- The Municipal Approach
- The Ag Approach
- The Forestry Approach
- Wetlands – Functions and Values
- Wetlands – Regulations
- Mitigation Banking
- Constructed Wetlands
Thursday field day and Friday technical
session followed the theme

11. • Handbook for Erosion Control, Sediment
Control and Stormwater Management
• Field Guide for Erosion and Sediment
Control on Construction Sites
• Clear Water AL Seminars and Field Days
• Brochure “Let’s Look at Sediment”
Significant Stormwater Activities
Chapter and AL Soil and Water Conservation
Committee and partners
provide

12. Handbook for Erosion Control,
Sediment Control, and
Stormwater Management
2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2014
Field Guide for
Erosion and
Sediment Control on
Construction Sites
Brochure
“Let’s Look
at Sediment”
33 Seminars
23 Clear Water Alabama
Seminar and Field Days
2004 2015

13. Red Water Blues Days, 2004-2007
• Steep slope and channel stabilization - hydraulic
mulches, erosion control blanket, rock rip-rap
• Inlet protection in subdivisions and commercial sites
– various Inlet protection devices
• Sediment control at site perimeters using silt fence
13

14. Red Water Blues Days, 2004-2007
Demonstrated erosion control on house sites
–
14
Construction Exit Pad Mulching
w/wheat straw

15. 2008 –changed names
Red Water Blues became Clear Water AL
Program became a 2-day event with an all-day
seminar and all-day field day
Learned of need for better sediment basin
technology and turbidity control from the
experts” Dr. Al Jarrett (Penn State) &
Dr. Rich McLaughlin (NC State)
15
Learned that gravel packs
not effective in removing
fine particles and
reducing turbidity

16. 2009 Clear Water Alabama - Bessemer
Seminar provided
Sediment basin design – Perry Oakes
More on ESC strategies - Dr. McLaughlin
Added low impact development (LID)
16Retaining Wall Drill Seeding
Field Day

17. 2010 Clear Water Alabama - Auburn
Seminar provided
Sediment basins on linear projects – Ted Sherrod
from NCDOT
Streambank restoration - Dr. Eve Brantley from AU
Turbidity sampling – Dr. Jim Spotts, consultant
from GA
17
Streambank
Restoration LID
Field Day
Turbidity Sampling

18. 2011 Clear Water Alabama
Partnered with IECA for 3-day event at Birmingham
(IECA Roadshow)
Seminars 2 days + Field Day
Update from EPA rep
Research updates from Auburn University
LID basics – NC State representative
Turbidity control and other topics – Dr. Rich
McLaughlin, NC State
MS4 responsibilities in stormwater – Rod Long of
City of Hoover
Introduced place of ESC in LEED
Project installation successes – TN, GA, AL
Turbidity Sampling – Dr. Spotts and Beth Chesson
18

19. 2011 Clear Water Alabama
2011 Partnered with IECA for 3-day event
19
Shades Creek Stream
Restoration
Corridor X (Interstate -22)
LID at RR Park
Mined Land Reclamation
Field
Day

20. 2012 Clear Water Alabama – 2 locations
Huntsville and Spanish Fort
Seminars provided
Wetlands regulations - ACOE
Turbidity sampling – Dr. Jim Spotts, John Carlton
ESC Case Studies
LID
20
Joe’s Branch
Gully Stabilization Vulcan Quarry
Field Days
DOT & Wetlands

21. Clear Water AL Supporters Over The Years
Industry – with Products
Sunshine Supplies
American Excelsior
Hanes Geo
Pennington Seed Co
Silt Saver, Inc. Erosion Pros, L.L.C.
W. J. Faircloth and Son, Inc.
Applied Polymer Systems, Inc.
Thompson Engineering
Spread Rite Environmental
Twin Oaks Environmental
Southern Pipe and Supply, Inc.
Southeast Environmental Consultants
21

22. Clear Water AL Supporters over the Years
Industry – with members, staff, funds
• Associate General Contractors – Alabama
• Home Builders Association of Alabama
• CPESC and EnviroCert International, Inc.
• IECA – Southeast Chapter
• Alabama Power Company
Agencies and Organizations – provide staff support
• ADEM and ALDOT
• NRCS
• Soil and Water Conservation Society
• Auburn University and AL Cooperative Ext. System
• Local soil and water conservation districts
• Host cities
22

23. 25,000 copies printed.
Revising and preparing
to reprint
23
Over 19,000 copies printed

24. Coordination of Training
Soil and Water Conservation Committee
AL Clean Water Partnership
AL Chapter - Soil & Water Conservation Society
AL Department of Environmental Management
AL Department of Transportation
Auburn University and AL Cooperative Extension System
AL Association of Conservation Districts
Associated General Contractors - AL
Home Builders Association of AL
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Thompson Engineering
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Website for events: provided by Auburn University Erosion Control Test Facility
http://eng.auburn.edu/research/centers/auesctf/al-stormwater/upcoming-
events.html
24

25. Chapter spawned/nurtured Statewide
Erosion and Sediment Control Program
• Chapter developed vision plan
• Signed MOU with AL Soil and Water
Conservation Committee - funded in
September 2001
• Chapter provides Coordinator
• Chapter Administers funds
- 319 grant funds since 2001-2011 = $455,500
- State funding currently $50-$70,000/year
- Revolving funds support Field Days,
Handbooks, and Field Guides

26. Lessons Leaned
1. Chapter Needed Activities to Support in 1990’s
2. Support of CPESC provided a springboard
3. Strategic Plan gave the Chapter direction
3. Variety of activities attracted new participants
4. Stormwater activities have provided the most attractive
opportunities to potential participants
4. Diverse membership is extremely valuable in identifying
important Chapter activities and in having a pool of
qualified leaders
5. Intangibles: Connections! Trust! Communications!

27. Construction Stormwater Activities
by the SWCS - Alabama Chapter:
Benefits and Lesson Leaned
Thank you!
Questions?
Earl Norton, CPESC, Auburn, AL July 25, 2016
CPESC Committee Chair, SWCS -AL Chapter
earl_norton@yahoo.com 334.728.4107