This presentation was delivered by Dr. Christopher Haring, Research Physical Scientist and Lead for the Fluvial Chapters of the Engineering With Nature (EWN) initiative at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Research and Development Center, Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. It was part of the May 2025 workshop titled “EWN Natural and Nature-Based Features Playbook for the Arid Southwest.”
Over the past two centuries, human activities have dramatically altered natural landscapes—through widespread vegetation clearing, reduced groundwater discharge, wetland drainage, stream channelization, floodplain confinement via levees, and urban development dominated by impervious surfaces. These changes have led to numerous ecological and geomorphological challenges, including channel instability, streambank erosion, and the degradation of tributary systems.
This presentation explores strategies to mitigate these human-induced impacts by reestablishing and enhancing natural processes. Through case studies and practical examples, Dr. Haring outlines approaches that integrate engineering principles with ecological restoration to promote sustainable, resilient landscapes in arid environments.
