Submit an Article to Environmental Connection

Environmental Connection is the official publication of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA). Manuscripts submitted for publication must be original and not published elsewhere unless prior permission has been obtained from the editor. Manuscripts are subjected to peer review by at least one reviewer who is an expert in the field. Editorial decisions will be based on the quality, clarity, style and importance of the submission relative to the goals and objectives of IECA and Environmental Connection.

Article Deadlines

• January issue – must be submitted by October 1
• April issue – must be submitted by January 10
• July issue – must be submitted by April 4
• October issue – must be submitted by June 25

Submit your Article Idea
for Review by Editorial Committee

Editorial Guidelines

Environmental Connection publishes both columns and full-length articles. The publication's goal is to present industry and association news, highlight member contributions to society and promote the exchange of scientific and technical information. Our readers want serious, in-depth information about erosion and sediment control and stormwater management accompanied by examples of technology in action and tips on how to apply the information.

Our goal is to publish articles that report both the practical applications of research findings and the knowledge gained by experienced professionals. This mission includes, whenever possible, integrating these two sources of knowledge, providing practitioners with the most accurate information available, and providing a forum for the exchange of information between the many disciplines involved in erosion and sediment control and stormwater management.

Types of Articles

Articles are generally written in third person and in a formal versus casual or conversational style. Avoid use of “you," "we," "I," etc.” Direct quotes are rarely used unless the article is a personal profile, if the quote substantially adds value to the article or if it is exact wording from a guideline or other research publication.

Articles are peer reviewed by a panel of experts in the industry. The expected word count for feature articles ranges from 800 to 1,250 words.

Case Studies

A case study should include a description of the issue, the steps taken to address the situation and a conclusion. A case study should clearly define the problem or situation and concisely document the objectives of the project. It should also reveal the organization of the project and the logic that led to the recommendations or solution within the case study. It should provide as much information as possible on the conditions under which you operated to help others who might choose to copy your procedures and take advantage of your work. Photos and figures are highly recommended in the article to add realism and life to the case study.

Technical Articles

Technical articles should include technology-in-action examples showing the reader how to apply the concepts discussed in the article. Authors should add value for the reader by including charts, sidebars (case studies, checklists, etc.), illustrations and other similar elements. Short technical articles should include a preface summary paragraph that provides an overview of the article. Longer technical articles (more than 1,250 words) will be considered but may need to be featured in segments over subsequent issues due to space limitations.

Feature Articles

Feature articles should include photographs, charts and illustrations. A feature article is an in-depth look at people, places and programs of interest to the IECA membership.

Columns

Columns that regularly appear in Environmental Connection include Research Briefs and Business Matters. Perspective columns also are encouraged, where the author writes first person and expresses an opinion on a relevant issue facing the industry. Columns should be approximately 600 words with appropriate references (generally no more than five references). If tables or figures are used, the number of words can be reduced accordingly. Columns do not undergo the peer review process but must meet editorial guidelines and support the goals of the publication and the association.

Manuscript Submission Guidelines

• A copyright agreement is due with each article found here. 
• Authors should submit their original manuscripts in Microsoft Word format via email to the editor with a copy to education@ieca.org 
• A cover letter signed by the author(s) must accompany the manuscript and state the following (unless prior authorization is received to waive this requirement): "This manuscript contains material that is original and not previously published elsewhere in text or on the Internet, nor is it being considered elsewhere until a decision is made as to its acceptability by IECA for inclusion in Environmental Connection."
• The International Erosion Control Association must also receive in writing the exclusive assignment of copyright from all authors at the time of manuscript submission. This form can be found at www.ieca.org/membership/getinvolved/newstouse/copyrightrelease.pdf. If only one author signs the copyright assignment form, such author warrants that he/she is the duly authorized agent of all other co-authors. Submit your signed copyright assignment form to the editor at the same time you submit your manuscript. Please also keep a copy for your records.
• All authors should be aware of the publication and be able to defend the manuscript.
• Measurements –
  1. Features stories, columns and case studies: Due to the magazine’s international audience, feature stories, columns and case studies must use both Systeme International d'Unites (SI) and United States customary units, with the author providing conversion of the initial system of measurement to the other in parentheses directly following the measurement within the article. Example: “….with nearly 39,000 cubic yards (29,818 cubic meters) of sand lost.”
  2. Academic, research and technical articles: Authors must use terminology based upon the Systeme International d'Unites (SI) and provide conversions to U.S. customary units if appropriate and possible. If U.S. customary units are used in the research, the author must provide metric equivalents.
  3. A full list of SI units can be accessed online at http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/index.html.As a general rule, only standardized abbreviations and symbols should be used. If unfamiliar abbreviations are employed, they should be defined when they first appear in the text.
  4. Dates – Dates must appear in the following format: day, month (spelled out) and year. Example: 29 March 2025.
  5. Environmental Connection is an English-language publication. Authors who speak English as a second language are encouraged to seek the assistance of a colleague experienced in writing for English language journals. Authors are encouraged to use nonsexist language as defined in the American Psychologist 30:682-684, 1975.

Keep in Mind

The "manuscript file" should contain:

• A title page including author contact information, five or six key words for indexing purposes and a leading summary of less than 100 words.
• The main body text (article).
• Brief author biography, recommended 40 words or less.
• Photo, table and figure captions (if applicable).
• References (see below for more information on formatting).

Company affiliation must be disclosed in the author information. Corporate, company, trade and brand names may not be used in the article unless the article is part of the Sustainability and Innovation Series*. All references to proper names must be generically stated, e.g. "The author provided..." or "The erosion control blanket stabilized..." When referring to specific best management practices, in lieu of brand names, please include material components (i.e., nonwoven silt fence, straw wattle, excelsior erosion control blanket, etc.).

* Sustainability and Innovation Series must focus on a single product, practice, or topic (unless a “tiered approach” is required ) based upon what was approved during the call for innovation review process. The focus cannot be on the authors or the company. The company may be discussed briefly in the introduction but only insofar as necessary to provide context regarding the information about the Innovative and Sustainable product, practice, or topic that article is discussing.

Please include all information necessary to allow readers to interpret your information in the correct geographical and physical context. Whenever possible include information about regional location (e.g., western foothills of the U.S. Rocky Mountains), watershed size, topography and elevation range (lowest and highest points in the watershed), climate, soils, vegetation, current and historic land uses, hydrologic regime, stream discharge and other factors that help the reader understand the context of the problem.

References

When quoting a source, provide the source's title and professional affiliation at first mention. When citing research, provide the source of the research. The accuracy of references used is the responsibility of the author.

In-text reference citations should contain the number of the citation in the reference list at the end of the manuscript or article. References should be listed in chronological order of their appearance in the article – superscript reference number in text, corresponding info re: source by author, etc. in a bibliography at the end of the article. Reference citations for multiple references are separated only by a comma.

Each reference listed must be cited in the text. Do not use et al. in the reference list – list all authors. Please double check all references to ensure that they contain correct information and are in the correct order. References are to follow upper/lower case format as illustrated below:

For a journal or magazine article

Franklin, H.D. 1980. “Ground Water in the Denver Basin.” Ground Water Journal, 60:80–91.

For a professional paper

Kuhndahl, D.L. and H. Smith. 1978. “Diamond Pipes of Northern Colorado.” U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 911, p.17.

For a book reference

Norma, Richard, C. Hansen and J. Mackee. 1980. Wave Theory. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico, p.67 – 68.

Electronic Figures, Tables, Illustrations and Photographs

We encourage the submission of electronic figures, illustrations and photographs to help illustrate the article. Do NOT send Word files with figures (photographs, charts, tables, graphics) embedded in the text.

Figure files MUST be separate from text files. Electronic photographs copied and pasted into Word and/or PowerPoint will NOT be accepted, as they do not reproduce in a high enough quality for print purposes. If you will be using a digital camera to capture images for print production, please use the highest resolution setting option with the least amount of compression.

Tables should be placed in a separate electronic file. Do NOT submit tables as photographs. Number tables consecutively in the order of their first citation in the text and supply a caption for each. Give each column a short or abbreviated heading.

All images, tables and illustrations must be referenced in the article’s text with the word “Figure” and “numeral” in parentheses. Number figures according to chronological order of their appearance in the article. Table references can be direct references such as “Figure 2 shows…” or indirect references. Photographs, illustrations or other images should be referenced indirectly: “…the length of the channel was 150 feet (Figure 2).”

There are two different requirements for photographic images within the magazine. Authors are encouraged to provide the highest resolution photographs (see resolution guidelines below) possible to allow the editor the option to use one as a cover photo.

Cover Photos

Photographs that can be considered for the cover highlight the project or topic of the article in a visually appealing, high-quality and relevant manner. The photograph should present a “clean” look at the site, project, technology or strategy discussed in the article. If construction photos are submitted as a cover photo, a clean, organized area is preferred over a “busy” site. When possible, photos with plants or vegetation should be green and colorful. Note that even if a photo is not selected for a cover, it may be used inside the publication to illustrate the article.

Inside Photos

Photographs used to illustrate articles should be as high a resolution as possible (see resolution guidelines below) to provide flexibility in the design process to print the photos at different sizes.

• Images that can be considered for the cover of the magazine must be 300 dpi and 2,550 x 3,300 pixels (approximately 8.5 inches by 11 inches).
• Images used to illustrate articles in the magazine must be 300 dpi in resolution and 1,800 x 1,200 pixels (at least 4” by 6” or similar, depending on the image’s orientation) in order to be considered for print.