White Papers

Here you will find a collection of articles relating to the erosion and sediment control industry. IECA has also amassed hundreds of abstracts and papers that chronicle the development of top-notch research in the erosion and sediment control field. The abstracts can be found in the Members Only section under Proceedings.

Why We Care: Article discusses erosion problems accelerated by a variety of human activities & why IECA is concerned.
PAM Protects Against Pollutants and Pathogens: (This article was published in the July 2002 issue of Agricultural Research magazine) An environmentally friendly compound nabs nutrients and troublesome microbes before they can escape from farmers' fields and make their way to ponds, lakes, streams, or rivers.
SWASH: A New Method for Quantifying Coastal Change Surveying Wide Area Shorelines: Article by Jeffrey H. List. Coastal erosion is a serious national problem with long-term economic and social consequences. Developed areas are threatened with billions of dollars in property damage as a result of storm impacts and long-term erosion.
Georgia Concludes There's No Reason to Tolerate Mud: Article by By Jeri Gray. The State of Georgia has been examining the impacts of sedimentation on its waterways and conducting studies to determine if it is technically feasible to protect its waterways from sediment pollution in a cost effective manner.
Silt Fence Installation Efficacy: Definitive Research Calls for Toughening Specifications and Introducing New Technology: Article by Joel Sprague and Tom Carpenter.
IECA Member’s Insight on Perimeter Berms: Article by Steve Gucciardi, CPESC. In an effort to help the development community in Charlotte comply with provisions of NPDES Phase 2 and increased regulatory requirements at the state and local levels, Charlotte Erosion Control Team members have been experimenting with sediment basin configurations.
Restoration of Woodiebrook: Article by Steve Phillips CPESC. An innovative and adaptive approach to stream restoration in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, USA has shown how design-build literally saved one strain of Ohio’s rare brook trout populations.
Site Adjustment is Mandatory: Article by Tom Carpenter. Proper sediment and erosion controls are a matter of knowing what needs to be done and then taking action.
The Integration of Geosynthetics, Mechanical Structures & Vegetation for Slope and Embankment Stabilization>: Article by Jerry B. Sanders, CPESC. The integration of the correct products and installation procedures can provide a successful recipe for the remediation of major slope failure.
A Shear Demonstration: Article by Andrew Johnston, PE, CPESC PBS&J discussing what is shear (charts available).
Laser Scanner Helps Prevent Soil Erosion: Two agricultural engineers in Manhattan, Kansas are working with farmers in erosion-prone areas of the state to improve this situation.
Judge Sets National Precedent with Non-Point Source Pollution Ruling: The federal government has the authority to quantify the amount of pollution into rivers from such non-point sources as logging and agricultural runoff.
Furthering the Cause of Erosion Control: Article by Dan Waldman. What we don’t know what has not yet been clearly articulated is the financial benefit to reducing accelerated soil erosion. Is it worth doing?
A Big Effort is Underway to Save A Big Lake: Article by Greg Northcutt. Over the last three or four decades, the remarkable clarity of Lake Tahoe’s waters have declined by one-third.
>Erosion Control Products Find Work on the Farm: Article by Greg Northcutt. Farmers are finding that erosion control products and other materials used on constructions sites can also help hold soil in place around the farm.
International Environmental Standards Offer Benefits to Companies Large and Small: Article by Lotfollah Haji. You're likely to be seeing more of the term ISO 14000—alpha-numeric shorthand for Environmental Management System (EMS) International Standards.
Effective Erosion Control Starts with Effective Training: Proper training trumps designs and materials when contractors and workers tackle the job of controlling erosion and sediment for the first time on construction sites.
Earth-Friendly Rice-Straw Product Offers a Natural Solution to Slope Erosion and Sediment Problems
Is It Time to Banish Bales from Construction Sites?: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency doesn't even recognize straw bales as an appropriate structural measure for reducing sediment in runoff waters.
USDA Technical Service Providers (TSP’s): (05/2003) John Peterson (Chair of IECA’s Government Relations Committee), discusses the 2002 Farm Bill and the use of private sector Technical Service Providers (TSP’s) to assist the U.S, Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s)
The United States Experience in Controlling Erosion: The Involvement of Government, Rural vs Urban Controls, and the Blurring of Those Differences: (05/2002) IECA Board Member John Peterson presented a paper at the 12th International Soil Conservation Organization (ISCO) Conference in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Read John's paper in its entirety » (.pdf format – 11 pages)
China Losing War With Advancing Deserts: Article from Lester R. Brown (August/2003)
Water Deficits Growing in Many Countries: Article from Lester R. Brown (08/06/2002)
Dust Bowl Threatening China's Future: Article from Lester R. Brown
World's Rangelands Deteriorating Under Mounting Pressure: Article from Lester R. Brown (02/02/2002)