This document discusses the evolving partnership between the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) and Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC). It describes how the Alabama chapter of SWCS increased its membership in the 1990s by supporting CPESC certification. The chapter now provides continuing education for over 100 CPESCs in the state. It also partners with the state agency to administer an erosion control program and supports student chapters and water festivals. Overall, the partnership between SWCS and CPESC has grown the CPESC program from 500 registrants in 1988 to nearly 5,000 currently.

1. SWCS AND CPESC:
An Evolving and Productive
Partnership
69th SWCS International Annual Conference
July 29, 2014
Lombard, IL
Earl Norton, CPESC, Auburn, AL
SWCS -AL Chapter, CPESC Committee Chair
SWCS Liaison to CPESC Division, EnviroCert Int., Inc.
earl_norton@yahoo.com 334.728.4107

2. SWCS – AL Chapter Current Activities
Provides continuing education for credentialed
professionals (CPESCs, PEs, PGs, CCAs)
Supports state-wide erosion and sediment
control program with state agency and partners
Supports CPESCs – exam review course & exams
Supports water festivals – judges & cash prizes
Sponsors 2 student chapters

3. Looking back at Chapter Membership
1982
Downward trend in membership
during l970’s and early 1980’s
Merged North AL and South AL
Chapters in 1982 - trend continued
Trend changed after mid-90’s
Why??

4. Membership increased in 1990’s
Momentum began in 1995
Chapter began support of Certified
Professional in Erosion and Sediment
Control (CPESC)
• Provided CPESC exam tutorial and
CPESC exam at annual meeting
(4 CPESCs before meeting and added 4)
• Established CPESC Committee

5. 1996
Began Continuing
Education For CPESCs
(½ day study trip before Annual Meeting)
1997
Added Continuing Education
For Certified Crop Advisors
(½ day seminar before Annual Meeting)

6. 2001 Spin-offs from Expanding
Continuing Ed
1. Chapter developed strategic plan
2. Extended annual meeting from 1 day to
Wed 1/2 day, Th all day, Fri 1/2 day, only
2 hours non-technical (business meeting)
3. Developed vision plan for state-wide erosion
and sediment control program with state
natural resources agency – more info later
4. Sponsored Auburn University student
chapter

7. More Spin-offs from Expanding
Continuing Ed
2002
Began supporting water festivals
2003
Sponsored Alabama A&M student chapter
2011
Sponsored Tuskegee student chapter

8. The Chapter in 2014
• About 105 members
• Annual meeting – 50 + -
- supported annually by IECA SE Chapter
- PDHs for CCAs, CPESCs, PEs, PG
• Supporting
- state-wide ESC program
- CCAs
- CPESCs (100+)
- Water festivals
- Student chapters

9. A Typical Chapter Annual Meeting Program
“Managing Our Landscapes for Multiple Uses”
Wednesday afternoon program
- Keynote (on meeting title)
- The Municipal Approach
- The Ag Approach
- The Forestry Approach
- Wetlands – Functions and Values
- Wetlands – Regulations
- Mitigation Banking
- Constructed Wetlands
Thursday field day and Friday technical
session followed the theme

10. Chapter Support of Statewide Erosion
and Sediment Control Program
• Chapter developed vision plan
• Signed MOU with AL Soil and Water
Conservation Committee - funded in
September 2001
• Chapter provides Coordinator
• Chapter Administers funds
- 319 grant funds since 2001-2011 = $455,500
- State funding currently $50,000/year
- Revolving funds for Field Days, Handbooks,
and Field Guides

11. • Handbook for Erosion Control, Sediment
Control and Stormwater Management
• Field Guide for Erosion and Sediment
Control on Construction Sites
• Clear Water AL Seminars and Field Days
• Brochure “Let’s Look at Sediment”
Significant Activities
Chapter and AL Soil and Water Conservation
Committee and partners
All activities important to CPESCs

12. Chapter hosts CPESC Exam Review Course
and Exam twice a year
Chapter has 3 “CPESC Approved Instructors”
One member is CPESC Regional Rep., also
CPESC Area Rep. for AL
Over 100 CPESCs in Alabama - most came
through the Chapter Course and Exam
AL Chapter’s
direct
support to
CPESCs

13. CPESC recognized
by AL environmental regulatory agency
as “Qualified Professional”
This gives high value to CPESCs in
Nonpoint Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) stormwater
construction work
Importance
of
CPESC
Certification in
Alabama

14. Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee and Partners provide
Field Guide for Erosion and Sediment Control on
Construction Sites, August 2004
• Contains most of
Handbook Volume 2
• A few available free at
local soil and water
conservation district
offices or
• Available for purchased
from AL Chapter Soil and
Water Conservation
Society: order form at
www.swcc.state.al.us

15. Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee
and Partners provide
Seminars – 36 since November 2003
Over 2,600 participants
24 through
Auburn University
Engineering
continuing
education program
1 through
Tuskegee University
9 through Clear Water
Alabama
2 with other partners

16. Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee and
Partners provide Clear Water Alabama Field Days
2004 – 2013
Conservation district
co-sponsors
Autauga (3), Baldwin (3),
Coffee (2), Cullman,
Jefferson (5), Lee (2),
Madison (2), Mobile,
Morgan, and Tuscaloosa
Soil & Water Conservation
Districts
22 events, over 3200 participants

17. CPESC : The past 32 years (1982 – 2014)
1982 - SWCS leadership blessed formation
of CPESC
• Central Coast Section of the CA Chapter
started development of the program
• Supported by the CA Association of
Conservation Districts
• CPESC Program announced by SWCS in
Dec-Jan 1981 issue of ConservaGram
1994 – IECA (International Erosion Control
Association) became official co-sponsor

18. CPESC : The past 32 years: 1982 – 2014
2000 – CPESC Council voted to incorporate
as CPESC, Inc.
2001 – SWCS transferred program to CPESC ,
Inc.
2001 – Office of CPESC, Inc. relocated to
Marion, NC
2013 – CPESC, Inc. became a Division
of EnviroCert International, Inc.

19. CPESC : The past 32 years: 1982 – 2014
Growth of CPESC registrants – U.S.
1988 – 500
2000 – 850
2005 – 1,800
2010 – 3,700
2014 – 4,900

20. Opportunities for SWCS Chapters
• Offer CPESC Exam Review Course
• Proctor CPESC Exams
• Offer continuing education programs for
CPESCs and others
• Establish CPESC Erosion and Sediment
Control Committee
• Market SWCS to CPESCs in their state
• = new members & better annual meetings

21. SWCS AND CPESC:
An Evolving and Productive
Partnership
Thank you!
Questions?
Earl Norton, CPESC, Auburn, AL July 29, 2014
CPESC Committee Chair, SWCS -AL Chapter
SWCS Liaison to CPESC Division, EnviroCert Int., Inc.
earl_norton@yahoo.com 334.728.4107
Healthy Land
Clean Water
For Life