The 2020 IECA Annual Conference and Expo, being held Feb. 23-26, in Raleigh, N.C., brings together the industry’s most innovative minds in the erosion and sediment control and stormwater industry. Attend this one-of-a-kind conference to take on a global perspective of the industry and connect with thousands of colleagues from more than 25 countries. Increase your knowledge from more than 100 technical sessions while earning continuing education. Access one of the largest expo halls in the industry to learn more about products and services to make your job easier and watch demos of how they’re used in the field.

Get Inspired from the opening keynote session, “The Ripple Effect: Success Strategies from Extraordinary Leaders,” to learn leadership secrets and strategies of breakthrough performance to transform your thinking about personal motivation and to achieve new levels of success. Professional speaker and author, Dr. Kevin Snyder, will inspire you to “think differently” and succeed.

Attend the IECA Annual Conference to take on a global perspective of the industry, increase your knowledge, expand your connections and make your experience personal!

Learn more and register at www.ieca.org/annual20.

Preconference Workshops

Sunday, Feb. 23

Low Impact/Green Infrastructure, Historical & Current Implementation for Project Site & Watershed Planning

Presented by Chris Estes, PLA, GC; and Bill Hunt, Ph.D.

Low impact development (LID) is defined by the EPA as “systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes that result in the infiltration, evapo-transpiration or use of stormwater in order to protect water quality and associated aquatic habitat.” The low impact development process begins with diligent planning. The goal is to match pre-development hydrology through green infrastructure techniques that incorporate infiltration and evapo-transpiration processes to the highest extent practical. With tree canopy and vegetation loss being the most salient change in the developed landscape, it is infiltration that must be the first and foremost goal of project planning. Within this goal, the ability to maintain the function of these systems in perpetuity is prerequisite. Maintaining long-term function of these green infrastructure techniques is made simpler, more environmentally rewarding and economically viable by understanding the science, design and functional limitations of each technique relative to the physical limitations of the site.  This workshop investigates LID/Green infrastructure, the history and the research with example case studies of practical planning, design and implementation for long-term function. Examples of maintenance success, blunders and their causes will be discussed.

Erosion Control on the Transition: What’s Done Between Phases

Presented by Karyn Pageau, EI, CPESC; and Ashley Rodgers, PE, CFM

Calling all engineers, developers, contractors, and regulators … Are your mass grading erosion and sediment control plans/SWPPPs comprehensive enough to be implemented in a wide range of soil/site conditions and storm events? Does your approved erosion and sediment control plan/SWPPP include everything a contractor/responsible party needs to minimize erosion, contain sedimentation within the project limits of disturbance and prevent offsite sedimentation? If you said “yes” to both questions with confidence, then this presentation isn’t for you, because you must have “perfect” plan submittals and “perfect site conditions.” If you said “no” to at least one of the questions, let’s talk.

Green Infrastructure Performance, Construction and Maintenance

Presented by Ryan Winston, Ph.D., PE

This course will focus on best practices for construction (including case studies) and maintenance of post-construction stormwater BMPs, including bioretention, permeable pavement, and other green infrastructure practices. Specific examples of principles of construction will be covered, including common construction errors. Methods to maximize infiltration and ensure long-term hydraulic performance (maintenance) will also be covered. Discussion of how design affects green infrastructure performance will be weaved into the discussion.

Erosion, Sediment and Turbidity Control on Linear Projects

Presented by Ted Sherrod, PE, CPESC, CPSWQ, CPMSM; and Richard McLaughlin, Ph.D.

Review innovative design features for erosion, sediment and turbidity control for linear pipeline applications. Pick up new technologies as a plan designer that you can incorporate into your next SWPPP that provide additional margin in your plan. Obtain tips as a project manager to deliver additional environmental protection components of your job on budget and on time. Learn how to properly install and maintain innovative BMPs on linear projects as a site superintendent or lead foreman. Discover methods to address containment, recovery and restoration for horizontal directional drilling inadvertent returns.

Technical Training Sessions

Monday, Feb. 24

Preparing and Implementing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans for Construction Projects Involving Multiple Scopes of Work: Do’s and Don’ts

Presented by Michael Hogan, CPESC; and Sarah Gilstrap, CPESC

Construction projects can be hectic and complicated, even before considering stormwater permitting requirements. This presentation will focus on Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) development and implementation for complicated construction projects involving multiple contractors and scopes of work being completed separately from one another that are covered under the same SWPPP. Example projects will be discussed to demonstrate “Do’s and Don’ts” and lessons learned with regard to SWPPP management over the lifespan of such projects.

Tuesday, Feb. 25

When Waters Are Muddy: A Case Study for Bridging the Divide Between Application and Research

Presented by J.P. Johns, PE; Jacqueline Williams, PE; Calvin Sawyer, Ph.D.; and Jacob Burkey, PE

This presentation is a case study on how the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) took the initiative to implement a research project with Clemson University to proactively be prepared to meet proposed numeric effluent standards for turbidity. Participants will learn about the research partnership and the research results to enhance BMPs to reduce turbidity in stormwater runoff from SCDOT construction projects.

The Way to Keep Your Post-Construction BMPs Compliant Is to Stop Doing Things That Don’t Work

Presented by Steven Polk, PE, EMBA

One of the most expensive line items in a land development budget today can be stormwater management and compliance with the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and its NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) regulations. This session will address the current state of these regulations and some of the unintended—yet often avoidable—cost consequences that can leave a customers’ budget in shambles. Join us for what promises to be an eye-opening and perhaps thought-provoking dialog on issues inherent in our stormwater management regulations.

Urban Stormwater Retrofits in Hawai‘i

Presented by Jay Stone, PE, BCEE, CFM, CPESC, CPSWQ, CWPPP, LEED AP

This presentation will discuss the stormwater retrofit program on Oahu, Hawai‘i. Participants will learn how to implement stormwater BMPs in an urban setting with Hawai‘i’s unique environmental, physical and cultural characteristics, and how we addressed green and gray infrastructure challenges, including site selection and maintenance requirements that fit the resources of the local municipality. Participants will learn a holistic approach that incorporates traditional civil engineering design and landscape architecture techniques to maximize the success of stormwater retrofits.

Playing Catch-Up: Modernizing Durham County’s Erosion Control Inspections and Data Collection

Presented by Ryan Eaves, PE, CFM, CPESC

Inspection reports, file folders, erosion control plans, applications, deeds, project checklists and so on … A local erosion control program creates a lot of paper, and keeping track of it all and producing documents can be cumbersome. Durham County has moved to a GIS-based application to keep all project information in one geolocated place and allow staff to access it from their office computers, iPads and even their cell phones. This presentation will discuss the county’s transition to an electronic approach to erosion control inspection and documentation. It will highlight both the successes and the failures, and provide advice to other regulatory bodies considering a similar approach.

Outside the Flood Zone: A Different Perspective of Coastal Flood Risk

Presented by Jared Bramblett, PE; and Ryne Phillips, PE

In many coastal areas, FEMA currently produces regulatory flood maps based on surge risk. This approach does not provide mapping for coastal communities outside of the surge zone but subject to flood risk from rainfall-driven events. The presentation will cover how Charleston, S.C., developed a planning level tool to identify these risk areas and how they are using it to assist with development plan review.

Wednesday, Feb. 26

East Gypsum Stack Closure at Mississippi Phosphates Corporation

Presented by Craig Zeller

The Mississippi Phosphates Corporation (MPC) manufactured Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer at its Pascagoula facility from the late 1950s through December 2014 when it declared bankruptcy. The EPA Region 4 Superfund Division assumed financial responsibility of daily operations in February 2017. The East Gypsum Stack (EGS) contained > 750 Million Gallons (MGs) of water with acidic pH (≈2-3) and high levels of nutrients (phosphorus/nitrogen) that was contained in a series of ponds and ditches with very poor structural integrity. Because of the large footprint (350 acres) of acid-generating material exposed in the EGS, 1 inch of rainfall produces about 9 MGs of impacted water that must be stored and subsequently treated before discharge to the bayou. An average of 2 to 4 million gallons per day (MGD) of water is treated via lime precipitation to prevent an uncontrolled release of untreated water to the adjacent Grand Bay Estuary Reserve on the east and Bayou Casotte on the west. In April 2018, the EPA Administrator signed an Action Memo that approved a three-phase, $72 million closure plan for the EGS designed to improve the quality and reduce the quantity of contact water and leachate that requires treatment. Construction funding will be provided by EPA’s Remedial Action Priority Panel. A Value Engineering (VE) study was conducted to compare traditional closure methods using liner and 2 feet of cover soil vs. an innovative strategy that employs an engineered geosynthetic turf cover system. EPA selected geosynthetic turf in its final design because it is expected to save an estimated $6 million, including $4.6 million on construction costs and $1.4 million in operations and maintenance costs (since it does not need to be mowed, fertilized, etc.). Lastly, the geosynthetic turf can be installed more quickly, resulting in fewer days of ongoing wastewater treatment at the site (which currently averages $50,000 per day, but will be reduced as each phase of stack closure is completed).

Did You Expect That? Perspectives on Flooding

Presented by Eve Brantley, Ph.D.; Calvin Sawyer, Ph.D.; Shana Jones; Juris Doctor; John Moss; and Jill Stewart, PE

Extreme flood events are occurring more frequently and with more intensity. This session brings together expert panelists to describe their approach to flood planning, stakeholder awareness, recovery efforts and regulatory updates.

Field Tour | North Carolina State University—Green Infrastructure, Low Impact Development and Stream Restoration

Presented by Bill Hunt, Ph.D.; and Mike Santowasso, PE, CPESC, CPSWQ

This tour will begin at the North Carolina State University Tally Student Union for a visit to a green roof and nicely landscaped bioretention. Next up will be the Weisiger-Brown Athletics Facility for inspection of a failed bioretention and a well-designed wet pond. From there, the tour continues to a view of landscape-architect student-designed stormwater treating landscapes. The group will next visit the Witherspoon Student Center for a view of a permeable pavement and then to several retrofitted bioretention basins near dorms. As the tour enters a more “industrialized” part of campus, participants will look at failed permeable pavement, a stream-restoration project and a rainwater harvesting system.

Networking Events

Monday, Feb. 24

Awards Luncheon

After a busy morning of attending top-notch technical sessions, enjoy a tasty lunch and recognize industry professionals. IECA will recognize industry achievements through the 2020 Environmental Excellence, Sustained Contributor, and Outstanding Professional awards. Young professionals will be recognized for their achievement in the industry and IECA as well as the 2020 Technical Paper of the Year, the 2019 Presenter of the Year, and 2019 Photo Contest recipients. Sponsors will be recognized for their support to the conference and other activities throughout the year.

Expo Hall Welcome Reception

Join us for the IECA Expo Hall Opening Reception. Be one of the first 200 people into the hall, and you will be greeted with champagne to kick off the opening of the Expo Hall. Stroll the hall to view the latest innovations in the industry. Say hello to old friends and meet new friends in this high-energy kick off to the 2020 IECA Annual Conference.

Tuesday, Feb. 25

Contractors’ Corner—IECA Learning Lab

IECA Contractor Corner will be inside the IECA Annual Conference Expo Hall this year. All conference attendees, including Expo Hall-only attendees, are invited to join us for presentations geared toward you, the contractor. Listen and comment on what works and what doesn’t. Too often we attend classes or jobsite meetings where all the blame goes on the contractor. As a contractor, you are tasked with managing many moving parts on a jobsite, one of which is clean water. Several topics have been selected to address some of those moving parts. When registering, please indicate if you plan to attend this special session. 

Poster Presentations

IECA University Partner students will present research and case studies in these fast-paced 5-minute presentations inside the IECA Town Hall. University Partner students participate throughout the conference as session moderators. 

Vendor Showcase—IECA Learning Lab

Attend the vendor showcase for a short 20-minute product demonstration/discussion of supporting vendors.

Wednesday, Feb. 26

Vendor Showcase—IECA Learning Lab

Attend the vendor showcase for a short 20-minute product demonstration/discussion of supporting vendors.

Taste of Raleigh & Lunch Closing Event

Join us as we say farewell to IECA 2020 Annual Conference exhibitors. Supporting partners will be hosting food kiosks sampling Raleigh’s favorite food at their booths. Grab a bite of food before taking off on the afternoon’s field tours.

To learn more about the topics,

speakers and to register, visit

www.ieca.org/annual20.