IECA recognizes erosion control/stormwater achievers by announcing its Awards of Excellence during the IECA Annual Conference and Expo 2022.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) recognized winners of its Awards of Excellence during the IECA Annual Conference and Expo 2022, Feb. 15–19, in Minneapolis, Minn., the association said in a prepared statement.

“The winners of this year’s awards reflect the unification of our industry,” says IECA CEO, Samantha Roe, IOM. “Last year we announced the reunification of IECA regions. We’re now able to recognize efforts of our global members to help showcase their work and help peers learn more about projects around the world.”

IECA recognizes erosion control/stormwater professionals and projects with the IECA Awards of Excellence program. The program acknowledges outstanding achievements in the erosion/sediment control and stormwater industries and is a staple event at the conference.

The Outstanding Professionals Under 40 Awards recognizes practioners for their erosion/sediment control and stormwater projects, programs or academics that demonstrate excellence in natural resource conservation and environmental protection. This year’s winners are Jaime Schussler, EIT, CPESC-IT, and Stefano Rignanese, M.S. Schussler also received second place in the IECA Poster Contest for “In-Channel Sediment Basins: Innovative or Ineffective? A Large-Scale Research Study at the Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility.” This is the third year Rignanese has been selected for this award, and he will be instrumental in organizing a new chapter in Europe this year.

The Sustained Partner Award recognizes distinguished support to IECA and outstanding contributions to improve the erosion and sediment control industry for a sustained number of years. This year’s winner is IECA managing director, conferences & education Joanna Fetherolf, CMP. In addition to this award, Fetherolf received a special award that recognizes members who connect our industry, association and members.

The IECA Outstanding Professional Award recognizes an IECA member that demonstrates excellence in their work in the industry and is viewed by his/her IECA peers as an industry leader through significant engagement with IECA. This year’s winner is Daniel L. Fisk, CPESC, CESSWI. Fisk is a past president of the IECA Mid-Atlantic Chapter and has proven his leadership with increasing chapter membership, holding three successful conferences and overhauling chapter bylaws during his three years as president.

Winners in the Sustained Contributor category have demonstrated leadership by example through long-term contribution to the erosion and sediment control industry via education, government involvement, research, establishment of standards or policies or the development of technology. This year’s winner is Wally Butman. Butman has worked in the industry for more than 30 years and is a contributing member of IECA for more than 20 years. He is a frequent presenter at regional IECA events. He has written several industry articles and acted as a mentor to many IECA members over the years.

The Environmental Excellence Award is IECA’s premier award. It recognizes an outstanding stormwater and erosion/sediment control project, program or operation that demonstrates excellence in natural resource conservation and environmental protection. Recipients have executed projects, programs or operations with a high level of environmental benefit by clearly identifying the objectives, methods used, results obtained and details of the benefits to the environment. The winner is Western Sydney Airport in the Greater Western Sydney district of Sydney, Australia. Development of Western Sydney Airport involves delivery of a single 2.3-mile (3.7-km) runway, terminal and airport facilities for the use of 10 million passengers annually. This project has come with significant environmental challenges due to the scale, area and volume of material to be moved. For instance, the team shifted the way they approached erosion and sediment control methods to a scale that is considered more comparable to that of a mine site and that has resulted in advancements in the infrastructure industry. Indigenous involvement included the engagement of 138 Aboriginal site officers to assist the project’s archaeologists to complete archaeological investigations across a total of 134 areas of potential Aboriginal heritage and archaeological significance. More than 40,000 items of significance were found including flaked-stone cutting tools and barbed spearheads used by the Dharug people more than 40,000 years ago.