For our May event we decided to tackle one subject that has been requested frequently.
Water features.
What are they, how do they work, what goes into their construction, how are they put together, what is needed for a long lasting feature, and what are the options out there?
We will have John Fulford from Turnstone Construction.
John has been building water features and zoological exhibits since 1989, focusing on highly naturalistic streams and ponds in the landscape. Projects also include architectural water features with complex mechanical systems and "hot spring"-style natural spas. His works are incredibly sophisticated in its methods as well as easthetics. He can speak the language of an architect, be an artist, and hold his ground amongst rock guys.
Fulford's team has been honored four times with the Best Exhibit Award from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, most recently for their work on the Humboldt Penguin Exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.
Fulford founded Turnstone Construction in 1997 and since then the company has built hundreds of projects combining rock and water for residential, commercial, and government clients.
We will also have Ed Berkey from Filtrific. He will share with us his experience and knowledge of an extremely important factor in a water feature, the filtration of the water in the system of the feature.
In the afternoon, we will look at two water 
containment methods.
Shotcrete and polyurea.
Scott White from The Gunite Company will talk to us about shooting concrete from a hose at a high speed to form a shell for the water containment. Scott is known in the industry as an expert at this demanding discipline.
Adam Zuber will also be here to talk to us about polyurea. Polyurea is a spray applied polymer with a synergistic balance between wonderful elastic properties, tensile strength that far outdoes that of other manufactured plastics, and its inherent resistance
to abrasion and puncturing. It is safe for projects ranging from fish ponds to food processing plants.
Zuber began working with polymers over ten years ago, and has an extensive knowledge of the industry, coating design, application and equipment. He has taken polymer technologies all over the world, including the Middle East, Europe, Mexico and the United States.
