As we begin a new year, it’s important you begin by having the best resources possible. The greatest resource of all is people. In my last column I wrote about the about the power of you, as an individual. In this column I’ll address the importance of and power in building a community.
Think of it as the equation of...
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.”1 Environmental justice emerged as a concept in the early 1980s as studies revealed that certain disadvantaged groups...
Soil forms over great periods of time under the influence of parent material, climate, topography and biology. The biological component is comprised of a vast number of soil organisms and responsible for mobilizing and sharing nutrients, degrading organic residues and fueling carbon exchange at the root interface. Much of North America was partially glaciated or ice-covered 15,000 to 50,000...
Since 1992, the Clean Water Act has required construction sites to obtain a permit that includes the development and implementation of stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) to identify and mitigate potential pollutants prior to offsite discharge.1
During earthwork construction, bare soil is continually exposed and manipulated, leaving sites susceptible to rainfall-induced erosion. Consequently, sediment is the primary potential pollutant of...
There is a fair amount of uncertainty in our industry regarding proper sampling techniques for construction sites that require turbidity monitoring. This uncertainty comes from a lack of knowledge that can leave those that are required to handle this task confused or unaware of the proper methods.
Due to this lack of understanding, surface water monitoring for turbidity is one...
Improving our landscape and land management practices to protect against climate change impacts requires an exhaustive list of ingredients: partnerships, dollars, public policy and landowner willingness.
The one thing connecting all those needs is sound data.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a research effort in 2021 to study how ecosystems restored under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contribute to...
Saying, “I'm sorry” is the same as saying, “I apologize” … Except at a funeral.— Demetri Martin.
Comedian Demitri Martin is highlighting the fact that our words matter. In fact, our words — the ones we choose, and how we say them, can significantly influence the effectiveness of our stormwater management efforts.
We have plenty of words at our disposal, many...
As we turn the corner that gets us closer to year-end, hard to believe I know, it’s time to take a good look at YOU!
Ask yourself, “Do I like what I see?” It is one of the most important, difficult and valuable questions we can ask ourselves. It is a difficult question because we must be objective for it...
Humans have attempted to “tame” streams through channelization and bank hardening for centuries. More recently, a better understanding of stream processes and ecosystem services has led to efforts to return them to a more natural state when possible. Two recent studies have taken very different approaches to gain further insights into stream dynamics as affected by potential or actual...
The new Duwamish River People’s Park and Shoreline Habitat, a 14-acre (5.6-ha) public space and habitat site with over 3,000 linear feet (914 m) of shoreline habitat, is the largest habitat restoration project in a generation on Seattle’s only river. The Port of Seattle, which owns and operates maritime facilities and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, is committed to becoming...
