14th Annual Photo Contest

2011 Contest Winners

We would like to thank everyone who submitted photos this year and congratulations to the winners! These photos were on display at EC11, IECA's 42nd Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida, USA, February 20-23, 2011. Click here to enter the contest.

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

Impacts of Erosion & Sediment Control
Judging Criteria Degree of environmental impact - what is the effect on water or air quality? Degree of social impact - what is the effect on property, human life, infrastructure, etc.?
			This hillside began with Rill erosion which became gully erosion resulting from water moving through the Rills then concentrated to form larger channels. Submitted by: Kory Kammeier, Western Excelsior Photographer: Kory Kammeier Location: Ajo, AZ Date/Year taken: December, 2010
			Picture is looking down on forest road that failed and slid down to river and washed away. Note road edge on left of picture. Submitted by: John Evans, NDC Timber, Inc. Photographer: John Evans Location: Raymond, WA Date/Year taken: December, 2007
			Massive gully! Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: August, 2010
			The outfall structure was poorly designed and the BMPs used for energy dissipation are ineffective at minimizing erosion. Submitted by: Gregory Ewanitz, Orange County Environmental Protection Division Photographer: Gregory Ewanitz Location: Orange County, FL Date/Year taken: March, 2009
			Large sections of the hydraulically applied mulch applied to this tracked slope washed away after rainfall events. Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior Company Photographer: John Slupecki Location:Birmingham, AL Date/Year taken: February, 2010
			Severe erosion process for over ten years in an iron ore mine. Traces of the former berms can still be observed. At the time treatment had been just begun. Submitted by: Luiz Lucena, DEFLOR Bioengenharia Photographer: Aloisio Pereira Location: Gandarela Mine, Minas Gerais State, Brazil Date/Year taken: September, 2005
			An over dependence on perimeter controls resulting in a release of storm infrastructure. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: July, 2010
			Release of sediment laden water to storm infrastructure from a partially complete construction project. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: July, 2010
			Last line of defense failed. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: August, 2010
			Lack of controls and storage capacity leads to failure. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: June, 2005
			Sediment release can have a dramatic impact on water quality. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: August, 2010
			Rills and a failed erosion control products can cause sediment releases in to the storm infrastructure. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: August, 2010
			Sediment deposition around the fire hydrant. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: August, 2010

Technology in Action
Judging Criteria Identification of Technology - is it obvious what technology is being used? Degree of Action - does the photo show a process or merely a completed installation?
		Bioengineering being used to protect soil and build drainage system of a new factory. Submitted by: Luiz Lucena, DEFLOR Bioengenharia Photographer: Carlos Magno Location: Camacari, Bahia State, Brazil Date/Year taken: July, 2006
		Slide under house along river with no easy access created opportunity to build hand installed pin pile plank wall using driven earth anchors, drainage and geo-grid stabilized fill. Submitted by: John Evans, NDC Timber, Inc. Photographer: John Evans Location: Raymond, WA Date/Year taken: July, 2009
		Brush layering along the Adman River. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: June, 2010
		Winter ready. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: November, 2010
		Blanket, seeding and energy dissipaters lead to success on long, steep slope. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: August, 2005
		Rain garden. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: August, 2010
		Rolled erosion control product growing grass. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: October, 2009
		Early stages of vegetation growth through erosion control blanket. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: September, 2009
		Various erosion and sediment control technologies working together to prevent erosion. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: June, 2010

Erosion Control Bloopers
			An ineffective use of sediment control fencing to protect against sand and sediment erosion. Submitted by: Kory Kammeier, Western Excelsior Photographer: Kory Kammeier Location: Puerto Penasco, Mexico Date/Year taken: December, 2010
			This unique dewatering method (dumping dirty water onto the street) would most likely not pass most inspections. Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior Company Photographer: Kurt Kelsey Location: Unknown Date/Year taken: November, 2010
			Peek-a-boo! I can see under you. Blanket not connected to the ground. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: September, 2010
			Obviously, neither of these flumes got the water off the fill slope. Submitted by: John Evans, NDC Timber Inc. Photographer: John Evans Location: Raymond Area, Washington State Date/Year taken: October, 2008
			Deforestation above this slope caused extreme runoff conditions that lead to the slope blowout. Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior Company Photographer: John Slupecki Location: Columbus, GA Date/Year taken: December, 2010
			No space for stockpiles. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: August, 2005
			Inlet protection causes a flood and creates the local carwash. Submitted by: Katherine Mitchell, City of Calgary Photographer: Katherine Mitchell Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: June, 2005
			Car parked on inlet control, limits effectiveness. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: September, 2009
			Failure! Water won over these ESC measures. Submitted by: Amber Toivanen, City of Calgary Photographer: Amber Toivanen Location: Fort MacLeod, Alberta, Canada Date/Year taken: June, 2010

Before and After
Judging Criteria Photo alignment - are the photos taken from exactly the same place? How much change is shown - how dramatic is the After photo compared to the Before photo?
			River restoration with streambank erosion using a live wooden crib wall with willow stakes for bank stabilization and protection. Submitted by: Rita Santos Sousa, Wallmuro, Lda. Photographer: Rita Santos Sousa Location: Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal Date/Year taken: August, 2010/October, 2010

			This stream was severely damaged due to past practices. LWD was anchored to mud-stone bottom to provide habitat and catch sediments Submitted by: John Evans, NDC Timber, Inc. Photographer: John Evans Location: Raymond, WA Date/Year taken: September, 2008
			Impacts caused in an oil prospection area. Treatment was done to control runoff speed, and establish vegetation using coconut blankets and Vetiver Grass associated with native species. Submitted by: Luiz Lucena, DEFLOR Bioengenharia Photographer: Carlos Magno Location: Balsamo, Bahia State, Brazil Date/Year taken: May, 2010/July, 2010

			Requalification of degraded riverbank with soil bioengineering techniques (vegetated wooden grating, hydroseeding, planting of cuttings/transplant, riprap). Submitted by: Aldo Freitas Photographer: Aldo Freitas Location: Rio De Couros, Portugal Date/Year taken: March 2007, June 2007
			Successful erosion control and vegetation establishment was achieved on this project with the aid of Curlex NetFree erosion control blanket. Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior Company Photographer: Kurt Kelsey Location: Rice Lake, WI Date/Year taken: November 2006, October 2007

			Heavy storms lead to a full channel and caused severe erosion on the banks and around this pipe. Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior Company Photographer: Ken Starrett Location: Arlington, TX Date/Year taken:September, 2010


			These photos were taken within 7 days of each other. A large storm occurred 7/31/07. The photos are looking downstream. Submitted by: Scott Strosnider, City of Scottsdale Photographer: Scott Strosnider Location: Scottsdale, AZ Date/Year taken: July, 2007/August, 2007
			Culvert under 50 ft. embankment blocking fish passage with outlet, plunge pool and steep grade. Submitted by: Gary Walkin, AK DOT - Construction Photographer: Gary Walkin Location: Alaska Date/Year taken: April, 2010/July, 2010