Landscape Architects have many glamorous jobs, from large projects to spectacular designed multi-family residences, shopping centers, resorts, commercial complexes, city streetscapes, playgrounds, parks, and more. Sometimes the art of the landscape seems to be the most important. At least that is what the public sees. What they don't see are some of the core elements of the project, like erosion control, slope management, and stormwater control. Maybe that's why, since 2011, the call for articles about erosion control and stormwater management has become less desired by PLAs, at least according to the Annual LASN surveys.

In 2011, 27% of LASN readers wanted to see more erosion control articles and 36% wanted more articles on stormwater. In contrast, in 2024 that number has dropped to 13% for erosion control and 24% for stormwater management. Before 2011, erosion control was steadily in the mid to upper 20% range. By 2017 it had dropped to 13% and has been riding there ever since.

We all know EC/SWM is at the foundation of every project. As University of California - Davis lecturer and licensed contractor, Gabino Marquez III told LASN, "Landscape architecture has a huge role in helping with erosion control. Especially as urban areas continue to grow into hillsides and continue to cause soil disruption with all the community developments. Our landscape architecture career requires a variety of technical experience from grading and drainage to plant material knowledge. When it comes to erosion control, having knowledge in grading/drainage and plants allows landscape architects to contribute with designs that meet engineering needs but at the same time it allows the design to make that connection between humans and the environment."

 
According to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), results of a second national survey on client demand for landscape architecture solutions found that 70% of landscape architects and designers saw at least a 10% increase in client demand for erosion control. The survey, which asked over 500 landscape architects, designers, and landscape architecture educators in the U.S., suggests that erosion control is an invaluable part of the industry and something that landscape architects need to
be attuned to.

It's great to be recognized by the associations and agencies as well. The California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) website states that landscape architects work with the Project Development Team to best "develop strategies to implement permanent and temporary erosion control treatments into all construction projects." Even the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) had Russell Adsit, PLA, FASLA as its Executive Director from 2007 - 2015.

With only about 13% of you hiring erosion control consultants, there must be a good deal of the work being done in-house, and rightfully so. For the average project, there aren't that many options that need to be explored, yet the variations are endless. Some are structural. There needs to be a wall built of something concrete, but the shape and texture of the concrete is where it gets creative.

For example, in 2022, Landscape Architect and Specifier News (LASN) published the article "Retaining Walls in National Parks." The article discussed issues like safety and erosion control at Dante's View in Death Valley National Park and the importance of stabilization at the parking lot, a new paved road, observation platform wall, and sidewalks through a mosaic wall system, grid stabilization, and weep holes in the wall for drainage.

Examples of creating natural-looking structures are found throughout the National Park system, where the intrusion of developed is masked as much as possible. Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks have many twists and turns, designed by Landscape Architects, that blend materials to hide the structure as much as possible. This is where design meets structural slope management. You might need an engineer on these projects, but you don't want to leave it to the engineers. This is a PLA's territory.

A solid understanding of all the principals involved is necessary for a strong practice. Orlando Comas, PLA of Comas Design Group Inc. of Coral Gables, Florida, has provided another example by dealing with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations. Comas explained that stormwater runoff can have a significant impact on the state's diverse ecosystems, influencing water quality degradation, habitat destruction, wildlife loss, and the resulting economic impacts.

Being able to mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff and implement effective erosion management strategies, while integrating the solution so the elements are consumed in the design will not only protect valuable ecosystems and help ensure a sustainable future but also help broaden the profession, bringing your creativity and influence to otherwise purely structural builds.

The Landscape Architects with the various DOTs and at parks like Yellowstone and Glacier National Park have been leading the industry in blending stormwater and slope stabilization structures with the landscape since before the 1980s. As their influence continues to spread to all corners of the profession, geo-diversity is beginning to gain the same attention as biodiversity. Stopping the scaring from happening, but surgically fixing those that occur to minimalize the scar is what makes Landscape Architects the plastic surgeons of land development.