7th Annual Photo Contest

2004 Contest Winners

We would like to thank everyone who submitted photos this year and congratulations to the winners! These photos were on display at EC04, IECA's 35th Conference and Expo, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA February 16-20, 2004

Click on the thumbnail to see the photo in a larger size.

Impacts of Erosion & Sediment Control
		Tom Collier, Ercon, Inc., Houston, TX Bed degradation in this channel and scour at the toe of this abutment caused this bridge to fail.
		Tom Collier, Ercon, Inc., Houston, TX Rapid lateral migration of this creek bank exposed 70' of a petroleum fuel pipeline. If the line had ruptured, hundreds of gallons of fuel would be spilled into the creek.
	Honorable Mention	Jeff deGraffenried, Degraffenried Environmental Consulting, Birmingham, Al. This photo illustrates the massive gully system developed by soil loss due to wind and surface erosion in the Kerio Valley, western Kenya. The severe soil loss is due to a combination of overgrazing by goats and sheep, unabated deforestation, semiarid conditions, high intensity rainfall events and low cohesive strength soils.
	Honorable Mention	Lloyd Falgout, Submar Inc. Houma, LA This wash has exposed and suspended a 36-inch pipeline for approximately 25 feet. This was caused by over bank storm water flow from the adjacent and wooded area. Photo taken July 2003 Mississippi River Levee, Eudora, Arkansas.
Technology in Action
		Richard Maile, Sequoia Pacific Research Co., Province, UT Aero Tech's AT 802 aircraft dropping its 800-gallon payload of SoilVEG on the Encebado Mountain, Taos, NM (August 2003). The skill, safety, attention to detail and overall professionalism from Aero Tech provided the project with excellent results in the aerial operation.
		Carolyn Roan, Muller Engineering Co., Lakewood, CO “Willow logs “ are constructed using erosion control blankets (this particular example is coir mat). The blanket is laid out flat with topsoil and cuttings placed on top. The blanket is then rolled up tightly from one side (shown in photo) and bound with twine. The final step (not shown) is to secure the finished log into the channel edge (next to a perennial supply of water that can support the willows). The long wood stakes are driven through the log approximately every 12 inches.
	Honorable Mention	Harry Tate, Ercon Inc., Houston, TX This picture illustrates the use of toe armoring in conjunction with a revetment to stabilize an eroding bank.
	Honorable Mention	Tom Collier, Ercon, Inc., Houston, TX The crew is pumping grout into a fabric form mat to protect this pipeline crossing in Lafayette, Louisiana.
The Challenge of Erosion Control
		Tom Collier, Ercon, Inc., Houston, TX Bridge abutment was failing with no room to establish a stable slope
		Richard Maile, Sequoia Pacific Research Co., Province, UT "The Aircraft Against the Mountain" application of SoilVEG on the Encebado Mountain Slope in Taos, NM (August 2003). Light colored areas show application runs deployed by the fixed wing aircraft. Several thousand sorties were flown to apply SoilVEG on almost 2000 acres during the month long project. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was concerned about protection of the 1000-year-old Pueblos' assets and funded the project in record time.
Before and After
		Tom Collier, Ercon, Inc., Houston, TX
This bend was migrating 40' to 60' per year until these permeable spur jetties were installed. Now the bank is stable and new vegetation is established.
		Harry Tate, Ercon Inc., Houston, TX
Before: A particularly nasty head-cut in open pasture in Collins, TX After: Problem Solved with a drop structure made of Flexible Concrete Revetment with a floor of Articulating Block Mat. Note the PVC pipes penetrating the wall at intervals. These are connected to a drain system incorporated into the design to prevent hydrostatic pressure fro accumulating behind the structure.
	Honorable Mention	Kwok Wing Leong, CHT Natural Solutions SDN BHD, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia With the assistance of the landscape consultants, the developer was convinced that "Green Sells" from having road access during the rainy season resulting with added savings from minimal project delays.
Before: The 8 benches high cut slope suffers from severe erosion on its slopes with heavy sedimentation downslope causing clogging of drainage system and construction delays due to very "muddy access" in the rainy season. After: Vigormat V360 Erosion Control Mattress was used to cover the bare slopes as soon as they were hydroseeded. This provided immediate weatherization of slope from severe erosion due to heavy rainfall.
	Honorable Mention	Submitted by Submar, Inc. Houma, LA Before photo taken by Lloyd Falgout July 2003 After photo taken by John Lewis October 2003
Before: Two pipelines were exposed by lateral bank migration on the Hickahala Creek, Senatobia, Mississippi. After: Submar concrete Revetment Mats were installed to provide and maintain cover over the pipeline.