Ditch 2.0 | Rethinking Ditch Design with Mark Myrowich from ECBVerdyol

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Key Points Discussed

[00:00:00]
• “Erosion control is like insurance. The thief who's going to come rob your house is that storm...” — Mark Myrowich

[00:02:00]
• Introduction to guest Mark Myrowich and his background in erosion control innovation.
• Creator of several industry firsts, including the hydraulic biotic soil amendment category.

[00:04:30]
• What is Ditch 2.0? Reimagining the ditch as more than a drainage channel.
• “Let’s not just make it a conveyance of water… what else can we build into a ditch?” — Mark Myrowich

[00:08:00]
• Building soils that retain water and support long-term vegetation health.
• “You’re not just protecting structure—you’re protecting value.”

[00:10:30]
• “How much carbon can we store in a ditch, and should we be designing infrastructure with that in mind?” — Mark Myrowich

[00:12:30]
• Origins of biotic soil amendments from Northern Canada’s moss-based ecosystems.
• Using hydroseeding to deliver life directly into poor soils.

[00:16:00]
• Challenging the "we’ve always done it that way" mentality.
• Cost comparisons between traditional topsoil hauling and using biotic amendments.

[00:18:00]
• “The cost of what you want to spend on erosion control should be proportionate to what you're trying to protect.” — Mark Myrowich

[00:25:30]
• Understanding plant growth basics: food, air, light, and temperature—not necessarily soil.

[00:27:30]
• “Mother Nature takes 50 to 100 years… we can do it in weeks.” — Mark Myrowich
• Mimicking natural processes for faster soil health and vegetation success.

[00:30:00]
• The story behind industrial hemp as an alternative to coconut fiber in erosion control.
• Hemp as a sustainable, North American-grown material for erosion blankets.

[00:32:00]
• Mark’s upcoming innovation: a 100% natural, netless, stapleless hemp blanket.

[00:34:00]
• The Rifle Staple Gun: Designed for contractors who want speed and comfort on the job.
• Also used in landscaping, farming, and film production.

[00:35:30]
• Community connection: Facebook group “Hydroseeding/Erosion Control Professionals” with over 4,000 members.

[00:37:30]
• Final thoughts: “Think quantum, not linear. You're not just building ditches, you're building the future.” — Mark Myrowich

 

Key Quotes

• “Erosion control is like insurance. The thief who's going to come rob your house is that storm—and you don’t know when he’s going to hit, or how hard.” ~ Mark Myrowich

• “Let’s not just make it a conveyance of water. What else can we do? What else can we build into a ditch to provide more benefit?” ~ Mark Myrowich

• “If we can hold water in the soil, we can reduce downstream flooding, grow stronger vegetation, and even store carbon. That’s Ditch 2.0.” ~ Mark Myrowich

• “Mother Nature takes 50 to 100 years to build healthy soil. We can now do that in weeks by mimicking her biology.” ~ Mark Myrowich

• “If you're young in this industry, don't think everything's been invented. Think quantum, not linear—you're not just building ditches, you're building the future.” ~ Mark Myrowich

In this episode of the Stormwater World Podcast, host Ty Garmon talks with Mark Myrowich from ECBVerdyol introduces “Ditch 2.0”—a new way to think about ditch design that goes far beyond moving water. Mark shares how erosion control can become a tool for building healthier soils, reducing downstream flooding, and storing carbon. He explains the science behind biotic soil amendments, the value of biomimicry, and how small shifts in design can lead to big environmental gains. The conversation blends practical insights with innovative thinking, encouraging engineers and contractors to rethink the purpose and potential of the humble ditch.

The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.

Connect with Mark Myrowich:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bioticearth/

Email: mark@ecb.ca

Website: https://ecb.ca/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/BioticEarth

 

Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 

Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/

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