featured research publications

Evaluation of diamond grinding slurry solids separation strategies and reuse as a soil amendment

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Compost incorporation & wildflowers introduction for stormwater infiltration & erosion-control vegetation cover establishment in post-construction landscapes

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Wildflowers and compost amendment can improve infiltration in soils impacted by construction

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Browse Research Publications

Erosion Prevention & Surface Stabilization

• Runoff water quality and vegetative establishment for groundcovers on steep slopes
  Babcock, D. L., & McLaughlin, R. A. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2011.
  Evaluated how different groundcovers affected runoff water quality and vegetation establishment on steep slopes.
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• Granular and dissolved polyacrylamide effects on erosion and runoff under simulated rainfall
  Kang, J., Amoozegar, A., Heitman, J. L., & McLaughlin, R. A. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2014.
  Examined how granular and dissolved polyacrylamide applications influenced soil erosion and runoff under simulated rainfall.
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• Evaluation of seven mulch treatments for erosion control and vegetation establishment on steep slopes
  Lee, G., McLaughlin, R. A., Whitely, K. D., & Brown, V. K. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2018.
  Compared mulch treatments for reducing erosion and supporting vegetation establishment on steep slopes.
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• Evaluation of erosion control products with and without added polyacrylamide
  McLaughlin, R. A., & Brown, T. T. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 2006.
  Evaluated erosion control products with and without polyacrylamide to determine their effects on erosion and sediment loss.
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Sediment Capture & Basin Performance

• Hydrodynamic and sediment capture assessment of various baffles in a sediment retention pond
  Thaxton, C. S., & McLaughlin, R. A. ASAE/CSAE Annual International Meeting, 2004.
  Assessed how different baffle configurations influenced hydraulics and sediment capture within sediment retention ponds.
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• Impacts of flocculation on sediment basin performance and design
  Kang, J., King, S. E., & McLaughlin, R. A. Transactions of the ASABE, 2014.
  Evaluated how flocculation affects sediment removal and the performance and design requirements of sediment basins.
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• Water quality improvements using modified sediment control systems on construction sites
  McLaughlin, R. A., Hayes, S. A., Clinton, D. L., McCaleb, M. S., & Jennings, G. D. Transactions of the ASABE, 2009.
  Evaluated modifications to construction site sediment control systems intended to improve runoff water quality.
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• Improving construction site runoff quality with fiber check dams and polyacrylamide
  McLaughlin, R. A., King, S. E., & Jennings, G. D. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2009.
  Tested fiber check dams combined with polyacrylamide as an approach for reducing sediment and improving construction site runoff quality.
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• Hydrodynamic assessment of various types of baffles in a sediment retention pond
  Thaxton, C. S., Calantoni, J., & McLaughlin, R. A. Transactions of the ASAE, 2004.
  Examined how different baffle designs altered flow patterns within sediment retention ponds.
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• Sediment capture effectiveness of various baffle types in a sediment retention pond
  Thaxton, C. S., & McLaughlin, R. A. Transactions of the ASAE, 2005.
  Compared the effectiveness of different baffle configurations for improving sediment capture in retention ponds.
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• The cost effectiveness of standard and alternative sediment and turbidity control systems on construction sites in North Carolina
  Wossink, A., Mitasova, H., & McLaughlin, R. Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina, 2005.
  Compared the performance and cost effectiveness of conventional and alternative sediment and turbidity control systems used on North Carolina construction sites.
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Flocculation & Turbidity Treatment

• Acute toxicity of polyacrylamide flocculants to early life stages of freshwater mussels
  Buczek, S. B., Cope, W. G., McLaughlin, R. A., & Kwak, T. J. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2017.
  Evaluated the acute toxicity of different polyacrylamide flocculants to sensitive early life stages of freshwater mussels.
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• Simple systems for treating pumped, turbid water with flocculants and a geotextile dewatering bag
  Kang, J., & McLaughlin, R. A. Journal of Environmental Management, 2016.
  Evaluated practical flocculant-assisted systems for treating pumped turbid water using geotextile dewatering bags.
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• Polyacrylamide and chitosan biopolymer for flocculation and turbidity reduction in soil suspensions
  Kang, J., & McLaughlin, R. A. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 2020.
  Compared polyacrylamide and chitosan for flocculating suspended soil particles and reducing turbidity.
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• Transport of dissolved polyacrylamide through a clay loam soil
  Kang, J., McLaughlin, R. A., Amoozegar, A., Heitman, J. L., & Duckworth, O. W. Geoderma, 2015.
  Investigated the movement and retention of dissolved polyacrylamide through clay loam soil.
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• Turbidimetric determination of anionic polyacrylamide in low carbon soil extracts
  Kang, J., Sowers, T. D., Duckworth, O. W., Amoozegar, A., Heitman, J. L., & McLaughlin, R. A. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2013.
  Developed a turbidimetric method for measuring anionic polyacrylamide in low-carbon soil extracts.
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• Soil factors influencing suspended sediment flocculation by polyacrylamide
  McLaughlin, R. A., & Bartholomew, N. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2007.
  Examined how soil properties influence the effectiveness of polyacrylamide for flocculating suspended sediment.
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• Erosion, sediment, and turbidity control and monitoring research to meet water quality goals
  McLaughlin, R. A., & Cope, W. G. North Carolina Department of Transportation, 2014.
  Synthesized NCDOT-supported research addressing erosion, sediment, turbidity control, monitoring, and water quality protection during highway construction..
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Disturbed Soil Restoration & Vegetation Establishment

• Wildflowers and compost amendment can improve infiltration in soils impacted by construction
  Alshraah, S. H., Kranz, C. N., McLaughlin, R. A., & Heitman, J. L. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 2024.
  Evaluated the effects of compost amendment and wildflower establishment on infiltration in construction-impacted soils.
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• Comparison of methods to remediate compacted soils for infiltration and vegetative establishment
  Haynes, M. A., McLaughlin, R. A., & Heitman, J. L. Open Journal of Soil Science, 2013.
  Compared approaches for restoring infiltration and vegetation establishment in soils compacted by construction.
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• Compost incorporation and wildflowers introduction for stormwater infiltration and erosion-control vegetation cover establishment in post-construction landscapes
  Islam, M. M., McLaughlin, R. A., Austin, R., Kranz, C. N., & Heitman, J. L. Journal of Environmental Management, 2024.
  Evaluated compost incorporation and wildflower establishment as strategies for improving infiltration and vegetative cover in post-construction landscapes.
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• Influence of compost amendment rate and level of compaction on the hydraulic functioning of soils
  Kranz, C. N., McLaughlin, R. A., Amoozegar, A., & Heitman, J. L. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 2023.
  Examined how compost application rate and soil compaction interact to influence soil hydraulic function.
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• Characterizing compost rate effects on stormwater runoff and vegetation establishment
  Kranz, C. N., McLaughlin, R. A., & Heitman, J. L. Water, 2022.
  Evaluated how compost application rate affects runoff generation and vegetation establishment in disturbed soils.
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• Influence of compost application rate on nutrient and heavy metal mobility: Implications for stormwater management
  Kranz, C. N., Rivers, E. N., McLaughlin, R. A., & Heitman, J. L. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2022.
  Evaluated how compost application rate influences nutrient and heavy-metal mobility and the resulting implications for stormwater quality.
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• The effects of compost incorporation on soil physical properties in urban soils – A concise review
  Kranz, C. N., McLaughlin, R. A., Johnson, A., Miller, G., & Heitman, J. L. Journal of Environmental Management, 2020.
  Reviewed the effects of compost incorporation on physical properties and hydrologic function of disturbed urban soils.
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• Effects of tillage and compost amendment on infiltration in compacted soils
  Mohammadshirazi, F., Brown, V. K., Heitman, J. L., & McLaughlin, R. A. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2016.
  Evaluated tillage and compost amendment as methods for improving infiltration in compacted soils.
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• A multi-year study of tillage and amendment effects on compacted soils
  Mohammadshirazi, F., McLaughlin, R. A., Heitman, J. L., & Brown, V. K. Journal of Environmental Management, 2017.
  Examined the persistence of tillage and soil-amendment effects on compacted soils over multiple years.
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• Reducing roadside runoff: Tillage and compost improve stormwater mitigation in urban soils
  Rivers, E. N., Heitman, J. L., McLaughlin, R. A., & Howard, A. M. Journal of Environmental Management, 2021.
  Demonstrated how tillage and compost amendment can improve infiltration and reduce runoff from compacted roadside soils.
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Construction Materials & Environmental Management

• Evaluation of diamond grinding slurry solids separation strategies and reuse as a soil amendment
  Lenko, K., Kranz, C., Howard, A., Rivers, E., McLaughlin, R., & Heitman, J. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2026.
  Evaluated PAM-assisted separation of diamond grinding slurry and the potential reuse of separated alkaline solids as a soil amendment during vegetation establishment.
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• Improved approaches to environmental compliance during highway construction
  McLaughlin, R. A., Hairston, J., Niewoehner, C., & Lucier, G. North Carolina Department of Transportation, 2019.
  Evaluated approaches for improving environmental compliance and erosion, sediment, and water quality management during highway construction.
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• Reducing the environmental impact of road construction
  McLaughlin, R. A., Heitman, J. L., Kranz, C., & Carley, D. S. North Carolina Department of Transportation, 2023.
  Investigated practices for reducing the environmental impacts of road construction, including disturbed-soil management, runoff, and vegetation establishment.
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SECREF History & Program Development

• The Sediment and Erosion Control Research and Education Facility at North Carolina State University
  McLaughlin, R. A., Rajbhandari, N., Hunt, W. F., Line, D. E., Sheffield, R. E., & White, N. M. Soil Erosion, 2001.
  Described the establishment, purpose, research infrastructure, and early activities of NC State’s Sediment and Erosion Control Research and Education Facility.
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• Sedimentation and Erosion Control Research and Education Facility fills need for controlled research
  NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Sediments, 2001.
  Documented the establishment of SECREF and the need for a dedicated facility supporting controlled erosion and sediment control research in North Carolina.