Minnesota Erosion Control Association EROSION MATTERS Advancing Effective Stormwater Management and Erosion Control V O L U M E 2 5, I S S U E 7 SPRING 2015 The Minnesota Erosion Control Association 2015 annual conference was held in Duluth Minnesota on March 10th-12th. We were proud to be able to bring people together from across the state to share ideas, solutions and success stories! The MECA Annual Conference gave everyone the unique opportunity to interact with colleagues who have also dedicated their professional lives to erosion control, stormwater management and natural resource protection. Over 200 people attended. The overall evaluations from those that attended the annual conference can be summed up in one word GREAT! Attendees said that the workshops, networking, trade show and food was wonderful! I N SID E TH I S Thanks to all the members, attendees and sponsors for their support of MECA and helping create another excellent conference! I SSUE: Conference Recap 1 We look forward to next year Mark Your Calendars! Message 2 Double Tree Park Place, 1500 Park Place Blvd, Minneapolis Minnesota New Board Member 3 Scholarship 3 2015 Awards 5 Product Info 6 Photo Contest Winners 7
P A G E 2 V O L U M E 2 5, I S S U E 7 Message from the MECA President John Chapman First of all I want to thank everyone who attended and sponsored the 2015 MECA Annual Conference in Duluth last March. It was great to catch up with so many of you who have supported the organization over the years and also to see so many new faces. The conference was a great success and the weather in Duluth really was great. The MECA membership continues to grow and the organization remains strong as we head into another spring season. The snow and ice didn t linger too long into the spring this year and most of us are already thinking about digging into the ground. MECA staff and board are working to get the training events scheduled for the summer to make sure you have the information you need to keep the soil in place and the waters clean. Look for a summer schedule of events soon. With the new January 26 to 28, 2016 date for the next conference in St. Louis Park, we will have a shorter time for planning that usual, so if you have ideas on how to make the next conference even better, we need to hear from you on May 19. We will be holding a planning meeting and welcome all ideas and suggestions. The MECA staff and board look forward to seeing you at the next event! Take care. John Chapman MECA President MECA Board Members Vice President Rick Baird, Board Member Greg Berg, President John Chapman, Board Member Vicky Dosdall, Treasurer Rick Kruger, Secretary April Ryan Board Member Brad Vierkant MARKETING OPPORTUNITY If you are reading this newsletter, so are hundreds of others! MECA is accepting ads for it s newsletter. Rate: 1/4 Page $50 / issue 1/2 Page $75 / issue Full Page $100 / issue If you would like to place an ad, Just contact the MECA office. Contact info: meac@mnerosion.org, (320) 685-5444 Distributed by: Lawn & Driveway Service, Inc. Supplier of Erosion Control Products 44725 175th Street Morris MN 56267 Ph: (320) 795-2412 Cell: (320) 760-9112 Email: lawnanddriveway@runestone.net
P A G E 3 New MECA Board Member Brad Vierkant joined the MECA Board in March of 2015 Brad has an AAS Degree in Natural Resource Technology from Central Lakes College, Brainerd MN and a BS degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of MN- Crookston MN. He has been an employee at Prairie Restorations, INC. since 1998, a company that focuses on restoring and maintaining native plant landscapes. Brad is the Services Site Manager for the Princeton location and his general responsibilities include: crew supervision, client communications, sales, design, and implementation of restoration projects. Most often Brad can be found in the field completing project related tasks such as site preparation, seeding, erosion control and bio-engineering activities. Brad s true enjoyment is fishing and holds water quality and sediment control very close to heart. He has a great passion and concern for the health of our environment. Minnesota Erosion Control ASSOCIATON Charlie Parnell Memorial Scholarship 2015 AWARD The Charlie Parnell Memorial Scholarship was established by the Minnesota Erosion Control Association (MECA) in 2007 to recognize the outstanding work and enthusiasm Charlie Parnell contributed to the erosion and sediment control and stormwater field. ME- CA wishes to award this $500 scholarship to an individual who wants to pursue an engineering or science degree with an emphasis on erosion and sediment control or stormwater management. Cody Ritt is this year s recipient! Cody is from Medina Minnesota and is attending North Dakota State University (NDSU). He is majoring in Civil & Environmental Engineering and is planning to graduate in May of 2016. Cody currently works as an undergraduate research assistant. With the 2016 Conference happening in January, planning will start soon for the 2016 Annual Conference! We are looking for MECA members that would like to help plan the 2016 event! It s an exciting couple of days, and your input will be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in helping, please contact the MECA office at meca@mnerosion.org Double Tree Park Place, 1500 Park Place Blvd., Minneapolis Minnesota Pre-Conference Tuesday January 26, 2016 Conference Wednesday January 27, 2016 Conference Thursday January 28, 2016
P A G E 4 V O L U M E 2 5, I S S U E 7
P A G E 5 Minnesota Erosion Control Association 2015 Awards Each year MECA recognizes outstanding individuals and projects. We are honored to present this year s awards to the following people/companies! Industry Leadership Award John phillips Awarded to an individual, company, government agency or organization that has demonstrated leadership in the erosion and sediment control, or stormwater management field. Presented to John Phillips, Braun Intertec (left) by Dwayne Stenlund, MN Dot ENVIRONMENTAL Leadership Award rick baird Awarded to an individual, company, government agency or organization that has demonstrated leadership in the erosion and sediment control, or stormwater management field. Presented to Rick Baird, City of Mankato (left) by John Chapman, U of M Environmental Excellence Award NEVA WIDNER Awarded to an individual, company, government agency or organization for a project that is deemed excellent based on many factors including, but not limited to; innovation, partnership, water quality and quantity protection, and project success. Presented to Neva Widner, Carlton Cty SWCD (left) by Greg Berg, Stearns Cty SWCD Environmental Excellence Award Technical service area #3 Awarded to an individual, company, government agency or organization for a project that is deemed excellent based on many factors including, but not limited to; innovation, partnership, water quality and quantity protection, and project success. Presented to Keith Anderson, Ann Thompson & Ben Larson Technical Service Area #3, Lake Cty SWCD by Greg Berg, Stearns Cty SWCD (Right) MECA Recognition Award steve klein Awarded to an individual, company, government agency or organization that provides continued support to MECA. Presented to Steve Klein, Barr Engineering (left) by Rick Baird, City of Mankato Congratulations to all the MECA 2015 Award Recipients!
P A G E 6 PRODUCT INFORMATION 9# Density Rolanka Coir Log Location is the Upper Hay Lake in Crow Wing County. The picture was taken by Crow Wing County SWCD. Many lakes in our area had shoreline damage over this winter and spring. Do you have ideas for educational workshops? Ideas for conference educational sessions? Ideas for ways MECA can help you gain knowledge in your career? Ideas are welcome! Just contact the MECA office at meca@mnerosion.org We look forward to hearing from you!
MECA S 1st Annual Photo Contest P A G E 7 We were are excited to add a Photo Contest to this year s annual MECA conference! Conference attendees voted on photos in each category. Here are the 1st Place winners, who each received a $50 award! Technology in Action Submitted by: Roger Worm, S.E.H., Inc. SEH resident project representative Roger Worm took this picture, during construction of the MNDOT, Stearns County, City of St Cloud, and City of Waite Park Trunk Highway & 33rd Street South Interchange Improvements Project located just south of St Cloud along Highway 15, capturing silt curtain successfully at work. Bloopers! Submitted by: J&R Larson Grounds Maintenance Lesson learned... they don't float!
P A G E 8 Before & After! Submitted by: Ron Faust, Gull Chain of Lakes Association Board of Directors The photos depict a shoreline project at Bar Harbor Supper Club on the Gull Chain of Lakes. The supper club was required to install a buffer when it applied for a variance on a large remodeling project. 375 feet of shoreline was replanted with native species. This was done to protect Gull Lake form runoff from manicured lawns. Impacts of Erosion & Sediment! Submitted by: Samantha Kreibich, District Technician Rice Creek Watershed District A major thumbs down to this impact! The same site in Northern Ramsey County. Note the dried and cracked sediment in the bottom of the picture is clogging the pervious pavers that were installed as part of this project. I am happy to say that they have vacuumed it since!