11th Annual Photo Contest

Huge gully endangering and destroying homes.
Submitted by: Luiz Lucena, Deflor Bioengineering
Photographer: Luiz Lucena, Deflor Bioengineering
Location: Camacari, Bahia, Brazil
Date/Year taken: June 2007

This beautiful area is an eroded bank of an irrigation canal in Petchaburi Province, Thailand, that is caused by tropical rains from year to year.
Submitted by: Chainimit Navart, Eternal Fibre Industry Co. Ltd.
Photographer: M.L. Chainimit
Location: Petchaburi Province, Thailand
Date/Year taken: June 2007

Inadequate erosion control contributed to this slope failure.
Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Photographer: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Location: Stevens Point, WI
Date/Year taken: August 2007

A typical situation in which the farmer clear cut the initial forest and overgrazed. The result is erosion and desertification.
Submitted by: Pablo Garcia, University of Arizona
Photographer: Pablo Garcia, University of Arizona
Location: Northern Chile
Date/Year taken: July 2006

Dust (silt erosion) generated from a 275 ton fully loaded gold ore haul truck on a heavy haul road in Africa.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Location: Goldfields Ghana Mine, Tarkwa, Ghana, Africa
Date/Year taken: July 2006

Dust storm (silt/sand erosion) in Gilbert, AZ.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Date/Year taken: August 2006

Several miles of Diamond Bar Road (the only road) leading to the Grand Canyon Skywalk are washed away during a flash flood, stranding thousands of tourists.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Location: Chandler, AZ
Date/Year taken: August 2007

Erosion exposed this plant's root, which will likely cause the plant to perish. Proper erosion control is needed to anchor soil and vegetation until adequate cover is established.
Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Photographer: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Location: Stevens Point, WI
Date/Year taken: August 2007

No erosion control measures were taken after this culvert and ditch were constructed. Temporary erosion controls could have helped prevent this expensive, counter-productive mess.
Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Photographer: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Location: Stevens Point, WI
Date/Year taken: August 2007

Mining deposits encroach on town's public parking lot.
Submitted by: Suzanne Wright, Trout Headwaters, Inc.
Photographer: Jim Muth
Location: Central City, CO
Date/Year taken: April 2006

Protection of hydroelectric power plant pipeline through erosion control product installation and the construction of structures to reduce the speed of water during severe tropical rains. The site is located in the Amazon Rain Forest region with over 2500 mm annual rains.
Submitted by: Luiz Lucena, Deflor Bioengineering
Photographer: Luiz Lucena, Deflor Bioengineering
Location: Vilhena, Rondonia, Brazil
Date/Year taken: November 2007

In the spring of 2007, flood waters washed away a pair of fish passage culverts located 30 feet under the Sterling Highway. This cut the only north-south route onthe peninsula. The solution was to install a new bridge. An essential component of the project was rehabilitation of this fish passage stream that supports several important salmon runs as well as fresh water species. This corridor is also utilized by moose, bear, wolf, otter, mink, porcupine, eagles, various duck and geese species, kingfishers, migratory song birds and more. Note that a variety of erosion and sediment controls ranging from coir logs to rip rap have been utilized, including both hard armor and green armor for a successful bank stabilization.
Submitted by: Sam Lamont, Alaska DOT & PF
Photographer: Gary Walklin
Location: Stariski Creek, Sterling Highway, Kenai Peninsula, AK
Date/Year taken: September 2007

Best Management Practices (BMPs) at a residential construction site.
Submitted by: Kory Kammeier, Western Exelsior
Photographer: Kory Kammeier,Western Exelsior
Location: Temecula, CA
Date/Year taken: October 2007

Gabions and corrugated metal pipes complete this bridge over the Lake Ilopango outflow channel. Construction also included gabion mattresses.
Submitted by: George Ragazzo, Modular Gabion Systems
Photographer: George Ragazzo,Modular Gabion Systems
Location: Mobile, AL
Date/Year taken: November 2007

Powder polymer and jute used to prevent erosion along the shoreline of a small pond.
Submitted by: James Griffin, Bio-Mass Tech, Inc
Photographer: James Griffin, Bio-Mass Tech, Inc
Location: Oakstead Community, Odessa, FL
Date/Year taken: December 2007

Several sediment and soil erosion control products in use protecting the Angora fire site near Lake Tahoe. Submitted by:
Submitted by: Kory Kammeier, Western Exelsior
Photographer: Kory Kammeier, Western Exelsior
Location: Lake Tahoe, CA
Date/Year taken: October 2007

Haul road being treated with an ultrapure synthetic-organic dust control fluid from a computerized rate controlled sprayer.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Location: Chandler, AZ
Date/Year taken: May 2005

300 acre master planned community being capped with a copolymer dust palliative for compliance with California's air quality standards.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Location: Palm Desert, CA
Date/Year taken: March 2004

Stabilizing a model home parking lot from dust and erosion for a master planned housing development.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Date/Year taken: August 2003

Heavy duty excelsior erosion control blankets protect pristine mountain stream.
Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Photographer: Howard Wagner
Location: Reno, NV
Date/Year taken: February 2007

Port-a-potty placed directly over storm drain inlet, which drains to the lake in the background.
Submitted by: Max Sestili, City of Hot Springs, Engineering
Photographer: Max Sestili, City of Hot Springs, Engineering
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Date/Year taken: June 2007

"Smoke on the Water" - Embers from the contractor’s burn pile have set fire to his erosion control blanket stockpile. Not knowing what else to do, the contractor rolled the burning blanket rolls into the river.
Submitted by: Ed Ubben, Lower Platte South Natural Resources District
Photographer: Ed Ubben, Lower Platte South Natural Resources District
Location: Lincoln, NE
Date/Year taken: November 2003

Reason why not to tow a fully loaded hydroseeder into a military desert sand environment even when being towed by a 14 ton, 6 wheel drive (un-stuckable) military transport. The hydroseeder is utilized for treating and stabilizing helipads from wind erosion with synthetic-organic dust control agent.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Location: US Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona
Date/Year taken: October 2005

Frozen silts and clays are not acceptable backfill materials.
Submitted by: William J. Graham, Geo Insight, Inc.
Photographer: William J. Graham, Geo Insight, Inc.
Location: New Hampshire
Date/Year taken: June 2007

WVDEP employee tries to finish stormwater pond with no help and gets stuck in the mud.
Submitted by: Twila Carr, WVDEP
Photographer: Twila Carr, WVDEP
Location: National Conservation Training Center, Martinsburg, WV
Date/Year taken: September 2007

Water flows much faster when it does not have to go through a silt fence.
Submitted by: Mark Bonovetz, Howard Immel, Inc.
Photographer: Mark Bonovetz, Howard Immel, Inc.
Location: Northern Illinois
Date/Year taken: June 2007

Private ranch manager's attempt at a hydraulic structure - "J" hook.
Submitted by: Suzanne Wright, Trout Headquarters, Inc.
Photographer: Jim Muth
Location: Chaffee County, CO
Date/Year taken: April 2006

Silt fence installed around this residential perimeter probably would not pass inspections.
Submitted by: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Photographer: Kurt Kelsey, American Excelsior
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Date/Year taken: May 2007

Before: Erosion on the right margin of the Velhas River. After: River treated with soil reinforced by rolled erosion control product and live stakes prepared from local vegetation. Treatment of 100 meters of river bank had to be done in a record time of 1 week as requested by the State's Governor for the International Environment's Day ceremony.
Submitted by: Luiz Lucena, Deflor Bioengineering
Photographer: Luiz Lucena, Deflor Bioengineering
Location: Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Date/Year taken: June 2007

Before: Excel Excelsior blankets and logs providing river bend and hillside soil and sediment stabilization. After: Successfully established vegetation preventing future erosion.
Submitted by: Kory Kammeier, Western Excelsior
Photographer: Kory Kammeier, Western Excelsior
Location: Big Bend City, MN
Date/Year taken: Before: October 2006, After: June 2007

Before: This forest road, built on an uplifted sandstone ridge, had slumped. After: A geotextile wall was constructed to provide support for the road on the center of the ridge.
Submitted by: John Evans, NDC Timber Inc.
Photographer: John Evans, NDC Timber Inc.
Location: Raymond, WA
Date/Year taken: Before: May 2007, After: June 2007

Before: Catch basin inlets with construction phase BMPs, shown with surrounding vegetation. After: Catch basin inlets with surrounding vegetation one year later.
Submitted by: Lynn Kubasek, Hunsaker & Associates
Photographer: Lynn Kubasek, Hunsaker & Associates
Location: Crystal Cove, Newport Beach, CA
Date/Year taken: Before: March 2006, After: March 2007

Before: Erosion at the outfall of a 48" mitred end section, creating a 25' scour hole. After: Installation of a rip-rap lined channel to the bottom of the depression.
Submitted by: James Griffin, Bio-Mass Tech, Inc
Photographer: James Griffin, Bio-Mass Tech, Inc
Location: Sterling Hills Community, Spring Hill, FL
Date/Year taken: Before: November 2007, After: December 2007

Before: .8 miles of fisheries habitat altered by private consultants. After: Many large boulders, not native to the stream, were removed.
Submitted by: Suzanne Wright, Trout Headwaters, Inc.
Photographer: Jim Muth
Location: Park County, CO
Date/Year taken: Before: April 2004, After: August 2004

Before: Eroding riverbanks of the South Platte River. After: 200 feet of continuous willow fascines, willow posts, native seed and erosion control blanket were used to stop excessive sediment deposit and increase riparian vegetation.
Submitted by: Suzanne Wright, Trout Headwaters, Inc.
Photographer: Jim Muth
Location: Park County, CO
Date/Year taken: Before: June 2004, After: September 2006

Before: Over-grown channel. After: Low impact fishery enhancement restored a defined, stable, and self-maintaining channel morphology, enhanced fish habitat, increased biodiversity and improved recreational values.
Submitted by: Suzanne Wright, Trout Headwaters, Inc.
Photographer: Jim Muth
Location: Steelville, MO
Date/Year taken: Before: September 2005, After: June 2006

Before: Photo of riverbank stabilization preventing a 60 foot bluff and 330 church cemetery grave sites from further erosion. After: Riverbank stabilized nine months later.
Submitted by: Kory Kammeier, Western Excelsior
Photographer: Kory Kammeier, Western Excelsior
Location: Chippewa River, MN
Date/Year taken: Before: October 2006, After: June 2007

Before: Gravel runway untreated. Afrer: Gravel runway treated, with an ultrapure synthetic organic dust control fluid to maintain air quality and safety.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Steve Hickman
Location: Nunamiut, Alaska
Date/Year taken: July 2007

Before: Diamond Bar Road, the only road leading to the Grand Canyon Skywalk which receives up to 7,000 visitors each day. After: Diamond Bar Road treated with ultra-pure synthetic-organic dust control fluid to eliminate dust and improve safety.
Submitted by: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Photographer: Chad Falkenberg, Soilworks, LLC
Location: Grand Canyon Skywalk, AZ
Date/Year taken: July 2007

Before: The Atlantis® Turf Cell® grass reinforcement structure allows both horizontal and vertical root growth. It is a structure which provides incredible load bearing strength while protecting vegetation root systems from deadly compaction. After: High void spaces within the entire cross-section enable excellent root development, and storage capacity for rainfall from storm events. The system was suggested for an internal road upgrade from an existing unit development in Madrid, Spain.
Submitted by: Linda Maley, Atlantis Water Management
Photographer: Pedro Lasa
Location: Madrid, Spain
Date/Year taken: Before: 2005, After 2006