Erosion Control and the Landscape Architect

by Russell Adsit, FASLA, Executive Director, International Erosion Control Association

Russell Adsit, FASLA, is the executive director of the International Erosion Control Association.

Why would a landscape architect become the director for the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) and what does that have to do with the practice of landscape architecture?

The rain garden at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, N.C. was another site visit for the International Erosion Control Association. Rain gardens, of course, are an excellent storm water solutions for low-lying areas. Native wetland edge vegetation, wildflowers, sedges, rushes, ferns, shrubs and small trees absorb excess water flowing into the rain garden. The remaining water filters through the soil layers before entering the groundwater.

As a landscape architect with almost 35 years in the business, from design/build and teaching to consulting and working with private, public and governmental agencies, I have seen an opportunity to work in a specialty area that landscape architecture has a rich history of addressing, albeit from an indirect and not a prominent arena.

As I approached a change in my professional emphasis, the question arose as to what my interests were and where my skills might lie. I can only assume that many landscape architects have had these questions in the past two years as well. The opportunity arose to take the helm of the International Erosion Control Association and further the mission of this nonprofit organization focusing on education and best management practices for the erosion, sediment and storm water profession. As a landscape architect, I feel uniquely qualified to bring an historic perspective to what we do as specialists in this area.

Landscape architecture has historically been involved with the site impacts of rainwater, storm water, vegetation, slope stabilization and construction activities. When the U.S. government began to regulate storm water and construction site activities, landscape architects should have noticed a unique position regarding low-impact development, sustainable site and post-construction practices that fit quite well into the education and practice of landscape architects. The contribution that the profession can make to this effort could be enormous. Some of you have taken advantage of this, but most have not.

This is an invasive species and stream restoration project at Town Creek Park in Auburn, Alabama. A series of workshops on natural channel design techniques were held during this stream restoration project. Representatives of the International Erosion Control Association made a site visit, along with members of the Alabama Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

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I have seen many capable landscape architects who do not seem to be interested in this aspect of practice. One of my goals is to change this.

Just as a landscape architect may decide to subcontract the site grading or drainage, planting design, irrigation design or other ?EUR??,,????'?????<