I hope everyone is off to a busy and productive spring season. Throughout our Chapter, significant snowfall and unprecedented flooding has challenged the beginning of the 2019 construction season. In Nebraska, this has led to probably the largest single erosional event in history. Now that many roads are back open to traffic, we are challenged with the task of re-stabilizing and re-vegetating the areas that were damaged by flood waters. While many of these projects are small in nature, cumulatively they have strained resources; from designers that prepare the plans, to contractors that need to complete the work, to material suppliers trying to provide necessary products to these sites. This has been a monumental effort, but working together all industries are rising to the challenge and working to make the necessary repairs to restore properties within our states.
As you may have noticed, IECA Great Rivers Chapter has launched a new chapter website. With the new site, our goals are for this to be a location on the internet where users can find information about stormwater related training happening within our Chapter. We encourage members to contact anyone on the Board if they become aware of an event that would be of interest to our membership.
This past February, the IECA Annual Conference and Expo was held in Denver, CO. As always the conference and trade show brought together colleagues from around the world to learn about the latest stormwater and erosion control topics and products. While the trade show is always an exciting part of the conference, the educational sessions were excellent. The sessions were full (many with standing room only) and the topics were fresh and exciting. In 2020, the conference will be in Raleigh, NC and in 2021 the Great Rivers Chapter will host the event in Kansas City!
As for the Great Rivers Chapter, we will be hosting two events in Omaha in 2019. On May 15 from 4-6 PM, we will host a Chapter Meet & Greet at Cunningham’s in Omaha where our membership can get together, meet the Board of Directors and chat about the state of the industry in our area. Planning is underway for our fall conference, which will be held November 4 th and 5 that the Scott Conference Center in Omaha. After having the event in Kansas City for the past several years, we’re excited to bring the event back in Omaha. Watch for details on both of these events in your email! Have a great spring season and 2019!
Ronald Poe, PLA, CPESC