Dave Derrick - Duck Creek Bank Stabilization Video in Davenport

IECA Instructor Dave Derrick of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, MS talks about the different techniques employed on a particularly tough stretch of Duck Creek on some parks ground in Davenport, IA. This particular phase of construction was done in the summer of 2008.

Highlighted stream restoration techniques/BMP's in this video include:

• Longitudinal Peakedstone Toe Protection
• Self-Launching Stone
• Locked Logs
• Bendway Weirs
• Live Staking
• Keyways/Living Dikes

Speaking from a non-engineer's perspective, geomorphology and stream restoration really need to be experienced in the field for a quality learning experience. Seeing different techniques in action is really where the learning begins. If you've never had the opportunity to hear David give a presentation, or participated in one of his many in-field learning opportunities, you definitely want to try and catch one. He's one of the very best!

(Video courtesy of BlinkWorks, and the City of Davenport, IA)

David Derrick - Duck Creek Bank Stabilization from BlinkWorks -James Swirsky on Vimeo.

BlinkWorks Creates Great Training Videos for Minnesota

Although not within the Great Rivers Chapter boundaries, there are some great IECA friends and colleagues "Up North" in Minnesota. Many of those IECA brethren were instrumental in putting together a great set of training & educational videos targeting various state and municipal parks & recreation departments focusing on stormwater-related issues. Created by James Swirsky and his BlinkWorks company (DirtTime TV ring a bell, anyone?), with help from a ton of Minnesota folks, they created some really smart, light-hearted, and funny stuff that hits the mark perfectly.

Here's the prestigious (and quite fictitious) "Minnesota Parks & Recreation Training Academy" video on Rain Garden Maintenance, made for the Washington County, MN Soil & Water Conservation District in Stillwater (Catch District manager/IECA Instructor Jay Riggs in his on-screen debut, robbed of his hot dog!). Pure Genius.

I've always marveled at how difficult it can be sometimes to make this kind of stuff fresh and exciting to the layperson. This is as close as I've seen to hitting that mark. Kudos to all involved!

Parks & Recreation - Raingarden Maintenance from BlinkWorks -James Swirsky on Vimeo.