Streambank Stabilization - Planning to avoid problems, Projects to Address Concerns, Providing Education Along the Way

Round Table Discussion Leaders: Eve Brantley, PhD
Secondary Presenters: Calvin B. Sawyer, PhD, Jason Polakow, PE, Wendi Hartup, CSM & Chris Benedict

The importance of managing streamside corridors has been well documented for the protection and maintenance of water quality, in-stream biota, wildlife corridors, and stabilization of streambanks. Avoiding impacts to streamside buffers through planning is preferred. Addressing streambank instability from past impacts is a common need. It is also critical to work with landowners and stakeholders to increase their knowledge on why managing streamsides is critical and how their actions may influence stream health. Each of these topics (planning, projects, people) can be complicated and requires input from an interdisciplinary team. The Streambank Stabilization Roundtable will present perspectives from around the country on successful strategies for planning to minimize impacts to streams, small scale projects to address stream instability, and the integration of stakeholder education to improve understanding of soil and water resources. The event will be both interactive synchronous and asynchronous with case studies, research results, and a Q&A session with presenters.

• Describe the importance of streamside corridor management for overall protection and maintenance of stream health.
• Outline planning steps for minimizing surface water impacts.
• Recognize opportunities and challenges for small scale stream stabilization projects.

Eve Brantley, Ph.D.


Calvin B. Sawyer, Ph.D.


Jason Polakow, PE

Round Table Discussion Leaders: Eve Brantley, PhD – Professor, Auburn University / Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Secondary Presenters: Calvin B. Sawyer, PhD – Associate Professor / Extension Specialist, Clemson University, Jason Polakow, PE – Director of Land Development, M/I Homes - Chicago Division, Wendi Hartup, CSM – Stormwater Manager, Town of Kernersville & Chris Benedict

Eve Brantley is Professor with the Auburn University Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences. She also serves as the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Water Resource Specialist. Dr. Brantley has worked on watershed planning and implementation that include elements such as stream restoration, stormwater management, water conservation and education at the watershed, river basin, and regional scales. Eve received a BS from Berry College, MS from Clemson University and PhD in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University.

Calvin B. Sawyer, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Clemson University and the Associate Director of Clemson’s Center for Watershed Excellence. He coordinates development and implementation of numerous Extension projects, including South Carolina's Certified Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Inspector program. Sawyer routinely provides water quality and stormwater-related information to various clientele groups, including homeowners, community and government officials, public works and planning staffs, engineers, landscape architects, developers, contractors, and other professional decision-makers.

Jason A. Polakow, P.E. is the Director of Land Development at M/I Homes–Chicago Division since March 2020. He brings 20 years of expertise in civil and environmental engineering, land development, and regulatory compliance as a Project Engineer for STS Consultants, Land Development Manager for Pulte Homes, and the Director of Land Development for K. Hovnanian Homes. Currently, Mr. Polakow leads planning and management of a $190 million residential project portfolio, overseeing all aspects of engineering design, budget analysis, contractual negotiations, project scheduling, on-site construction, client relations, and project turnover. Mr. Polakow also has an extensive background in environmental engineering. He was responsible for business development of civil engineering design and regulatory compliance for the Midwest Region at Cornerstone Environmental Group, LLC. Here, he designed and managed construction of on-site transmission pipelines and distribution systems from processing facilities to on-site electric power clients and developed storm water management plans utilizing hydraulic and hydrologic models. As the Environmental Permitting Manager at Enerkem Inc., Mr. Polakow led the development of environmental standards and risk management programming that supported business development in the U.S. and Canada for the siting of a 330-ton-per-day biorefinery. Mr. Polakow is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois, with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering (soil and water) from the University of Illinois. He also holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering (bio-environmental) from the University of Illinois with a focus on biological and environmentally conscious pollution control systems.