I hope everyone is off to a busy and productive spring season. Throughout our Chapter, significant snowfall and unprecedented flooding has challenged the beginning of the 2019 construction season. In Nebraska, this has led to probably the largest single erosional event in history. Now that many roads are back open to traffic, we are challenged with the task of re-stabilizing and re-vegetating the areas that were damaged by flood waters. While many of these projects are small in nature, cumulatively they have strained resources; from designers that prepare the plans, to contractors that needing to complete the work, to material suppliers trying to provide necessary products to these sites. This has been a monumental effort, but working together all industries are rising to the challenge and working to make the necessary repairs to restore properties within our states.

As you may have noticed, IECA Great Rivers Chapter has launched a new chapter website. With the new site, our goals are for this to be a location on the internet where users can find information about stormwater related training happening within our Chapter. We encourage members to contact anyone on the Board if they become aware of an event that would be of interest to our membership.

 

This past February, the IECA Annual Conference and Expo was held in Denver, CO. As always the conference and trade show brought together colleagues from around the world to learn about the latest stormwater and erosion control topics and products. While the trade show is always an exciting part of the conference, the educational sessions were excellent. The sessions were full (many with standing room only) and the topics were fresh and exciting. In 2020, the conference will be in Raleigh, NC and 2021 the Great Rivers Chapter will host the event in Kansas City!

 

As for the Great Rivers Chapter, we will hosting two events in Omaha in 2019. On May 15 from 4-6 PM, we will host a Chapter Meet & Greet at Cunningham’s in Omaha where our membership can get together, meet the Board of Directors and chat about the state of the industry in our area. Planning is underway for our fall conference, which will be held November 4 ^th and 5 ^th at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha. After having the event in Kansas City for the past several years, we’re excited to bring the event back in Omaha. Watch for details on both of these events in your email!

 

Have a great spring season and 2019!

 

Ronald Poe, PLA, CPESC

Meet J aime Schussler, a graduate research assistant pursuing a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Iowa State University. Her research focus is in construction stormwater management and is advised by Dr. Michael Perez. Her current project evaluates temporary erosion and sediment control measures. Her project titled “Field Monitoring of Erosion and Sediment Control Practices,” funded by the Iowa DOT, combines water quality and geotechnical analysis to determine the treatment efficiency of current best management practices (BMPs). In addition, the project aims to develop implementable improvements for the Iowa DOT through enhanced design guidance. This project is ongoing though April of 2020.

Prior to her arrival at Iowa State University, Jaime graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University. Aside from her research and studies, Jaime is passionate about mobilizing young women toward STEM fields. Beginning with her membership in Alpha Omega Epsilon, a sorority for women in STEM, Jaime was heavily involved with philanthropy and outreach activities at WVU. This continued with her involvement in “The Road Less Traveled,” a series of day long conferences introducing middle and high school females to STEM career paths, at Iowa State. As she progresses in her degree, Jaime looks forward to providing useful research results to connect stormwater management within the Iowa Water Nexus and to continue mobilizing young women, like herself, to opportunities in STEM.

Project Summary:



More than 75% of Iowa’s waterbodies are listed as impaired or partially impaired limiting the ability of the water’s designated use for human contact, aquatic life, or drinking water. Impairments within the state are largely sourced from agricultural and urban pollutants, but also from construction activities, thus increasing the importance of stormwater management throughout construction phasing. Due to the nature of roadway construction, earthmoving and grading activities cause rapid disruption of stabilized lands, leaving construction sites susceptible to erosion and degrading stormwater runoff quality. Flows over unprotected land can suspend and transport sediment, which act as a vessel for several pollutants. Under the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit Number 2 requires the Iowa DOT to develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for all construction activities covered by the permit. The SWPPP must encompass the design, installation, and maintenance of erosion and sediment control (E&SCs) practices on site to reduce impacts downstream of the site.

Iowa DOT implements E&SCs throughout phasing to reduce the sediment impairments which construction may inflict from stormwater discharge, however several of these practices are implemented by traditional routine and lack field performance data. This research aims to understand the structural and treatment efficiency performance of current E&SC’s commonly used on Iowa DOT jobsites. Eight prioritized practices have been selected to monitor current installs for treatment efficiency through the sampling of stormwater runoff for total solids and turbidity. Modifications will be developed and applied to current Iowa DOT E&SC details after a thorough review of current SWPPPs, outside states’ DOT standards, and new E&SC technologies developed through novel research. Data collection employs automated water sampling to analyze for treatment efficiency through turbidity and total solids testing. In addition, LiDAR scanning is used to assess the sedimentation capabilities and structural integrity of the practices. This research will lead towards the development of implementable design guidance for the appropriate design and selection E&SC practices on Iowa DOT construction sites. 

Meet In October of 2018, Paul Mueller joined the board of the Great Rivers Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association. Where he will serve a three-year term helping in planning seminars, workshops, and conferences to promote education in the storm water field.

Mr. Mueller is an Erosion Control and Storm Water Inspector with the Department of Community Development for St. Charles County, Missouri. He conducts inspections at construction sites and storm water facilities in unincorporated St. Charles County in the rapidly growing St. Louis metropolitan area.

Paul’s experience with storm water began in the early 70’s on the family farm in northeast Iowa, where his farther, a county soil conservation district board member, was the first in the area to use conservation minimum tillage in their farming practices. The farm also implemented crop contouring, terracing, strip-farming, and waterway programs to protect the storm water leaving the farm.

His professional career in the storm water field began when he started working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in the early 90’s. He conducted inspections and enforcement activities of land disturbance and industrial storm water sites; he was also involved in water quality and fish kill investigations. During that time, he worked with EPA Region 7 inspectors on several joint inspections on land disturbance sites. In 2016, he became the chief erosion control and water quality inspector for St. Charles County.



Mr. Mueller has as a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University. He is a Certified Erosion, Sediment and Storm Water Inspector (CESSWI). Mr. Mueller was a revision team member for the third revision of the Missouri and Kansas "Protecting Water Quality Guide." He has participated on committees in the revision of several of Missouri’s land disturbance and general storm water permits.

Mr. Mueller is active in his home community. He is a Fire District Board Director and Lieutenant with the local fire district, where he is a state certified instructor in firefighting and hazardous materials. He is the local volunteer Emergency Management Director and is the county Disaster Action Team leader for the American Red Cross.