Back-to-Back Years – Gaines Receives 2026 Conservation Stewardship Award
Gaines is responsible for grading (mass grading, sediment control), pipeline (water, sewer, storm drain, sewage pump station), and curb and paving for Lennar’s Warrington project, in Harbeson, Delaware.
Back-to-back wins for Gaines and Company. It feels good, and it’s great for the environment, too!
Earlier this month, Gaines’s General Superintendent Keith Eagle and Project Manager Eric Yandrofski attended an awards banquet at Plantation Lakes in Millsboro, Delaware, to once again accept the 2026 Site Contractor (Residential) Conservation Stewardship Award (CSA). This is the second consecutive year Gaines received this award from Sussex Conservation District (SCD).
The presenter of the award, SCD, works with agriculture, stormwater, and heavy equipment organizations to ensure soil conservation strategies are effectively being implemented on project sites. The CSA recognizes organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to not only meet, but exceed, regulatory requirements regarding environmental conservation while working in Sussex County, Delaware.
“We have sustained and continued the same soil conservation practices that they recognized us for last year, because those are the practices we always follow at Gaines,” said Keith. “We don’t do anything different here that we don’t do in any other jurisdiction.”
We proactively take conservation measures to protect natural resources, including matting, reinforced fencing, dust control with a water truck or temporary dust suppression well (which also promotes rapid germination and stabilization), and routine inspections of installed controls.
“It is so important when working in and around the shore and Chesapeake Bay watershed areas to maintain environmental integrity,” said Eric. “All our crews and foremen understand that and consistently manage projects accordingly.”
Gaines was awarded the 2025 CSA while working on the Somerton Chase project in Millsboro, Delaware.
It’s not just implementing conservation practices that makes a difference, though. We are also a team of forward-thinkers. We anticipate potential issues and innovatively come up with long-term solutions, even if that means more cost upfront.
“We try to be a little proactive when it comes to spending $500 so that it may not cost us $5,000 down the line,” said Keith.
For instance, on the Somerton Chase project, we had both foremen and supervisors get certified as qualified individuals to address potential soil erosion or destabilization issues. That way, if an erosion-related issues arose, we were fully prepared to respond quickly and efficiently, ensuring compliance and minimizing environmental impact.
We are currently working on two projects in Sussex County, both for Lennar: Somerton Chase and Warrington. Our goal is to establish a strong presence in Delaware and the Eastern Shore through steady growth and recognition of our quality work delivered to meet customer schedules and goals.
“It’s a team effort for sure,” said Eric. “From our laborers to our foremen and superintendents to the administrative staff, it really takes everyone to make sure everything runs smoothly.”
Great job to the entire Gaines team who played a role in these Delaware projects, earning our organization CSA’s Conservation Stewardship Award for back-to-back years! Keep up the good work!
Gaines and Company is a full-service grading and excavation company with offices in Maryland and North Carolina. The organization has over 70 years of experience in underground utilities, grading and excavating, sediment and erosion controls, and road work. Gaines and Company delivers safe, reliable, turnkey site development services in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. on time and within budget.
