Author: Audrey Strelzoff

New Engineering Practice Guide Advances Oyster Reefs as Natural Infrastructure

Cover of ERDC Technical Report 26-16, Engineering Practice Guide for Oyster Reefs: A Natural Infrastructure Approach for Coastal Systems, from the Engineering With Nature® Program, dated June 2026. U.S. Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and ERDC logos appear across the top. The cover features two close-up photographs of oyster clusters and small circular illustrations representing different oyster reef materials and structures. A red vertical sidebar identifies the Engineer Research and Development Center and report number ERDC TR-26-16. The bottom states that the report is approved for public release with unlimited distribution.

The Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) program is pleased to announce the release of the Engineering Practice Guide for Oyster Reefs: A Natural Infrastructure Approach for Coastal Systems, the second publication in a growing series of Engineering Practice Guides for Natural Infrastructure. Engineering Practice Guide for Oyster Reefs — currently available The new guide supports engineers, […]

Engineering With Nature® Releases New Proving Grounds Innovation Handbook

The cover of the "Engineering With Nature Proving Grounds Innovation Handbook." The image shows a vibrant coastal marsh with a city skyline in the distance, under a clear blue sky. The title is at the top, with a series of six colorful icons below it. At the bottom are the logos of the U.S. Army, ERDC, and other partners, with the text "Produced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2026."

The Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) program has released a new special report, Engineering With Nature® Proving Grounds Innovation Handbook, showcasing innovative natural and nature-based solutions being explored across EWN Proving Grounds throughout the United States. Produced by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), the handbook highlights how engineering, science, and collaboration can […]

Research Update: New Framework for Evaluating Nature-Based Solutions Using Remote Sensing Data

First page of a research letter titled “Coastal nature-based solutions and remote sensing data: Selecting performance metrics and evaluating data availability.” Authors include Scott L. Spurgeon, Justin L. Shawler, Kathryn J. Smith, Loderay I.M. Bracero Marrero, and Samuel S. Jackson, with affiliations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and partner organizations. The page includes an abstract describing the use of coastal imagery and lidar from the National Coastal Mapping Program (NCMP) to assess performance metrics for nature-based solutions such as dunes, beaches, and barrier islands. A keywords box lists terms like aerial imagery, lidar, shoreline change, vegetation, and volume change. The lower portion begins the article text discussing the growing need for nature-based solutions in coastal engineering and the importance of standardized performance metrics. Footer shows “Shore & Beach, Vol. 94, No. 1, Winter 2026,” page 28.

Measuring the Success of Nature-Based Solutions Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are becoming increasingly vital for protecting our coastlines from storm damage while also providing significant environmental and socio-economic benefits. However, a major hurdle has been the absence of standardized and scalable methods to measure whether these projects are achieving their desired outcomes. Without clear performance metrics, […]

From Dredged Material to Thriving Mangroves: Florida Study Releases Key Restoration Data

Four people stand in shallow water among dead mangrove trees, wearing field gear and rubber boots while using surveying equipment and measuring poles; one person in an orange safety vest holds a tablet and smiles at the camera.

A new collection of datasets produced for the “Beneficial Use of Dredge Material in Mangrove Restoration Projects” research initiative is now available, offering crucial insights for coastal restoration efforts. This release includes five datasets that provide multi-faceted indicators to assess coastal wetland conditions and inform the design of Nature-based Solutions. Restoring a Vital Ecosystem Mangrove […]

Engineering With Nature® Announces New Publication on Advancing Environmental Management Practices

Multi-panel figure showing 3D-printed structures and their application as underwater habitat supporting fish aggregation.

The Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) initiative is proud to share a new publication led by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) that explores how emerging technologies can reshape the future of coastal infrastructure. Developed by ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory (EL) and Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL), in collaboration with partners across the U.S. […]

Great Lakes Coastal Resilience Study – Lake Superior Visit

Purpose The Engineering With Nature® Playbook Project Development Team traveled to Lake Superior to view locations that offer opportunities or serve as examples of nature-based solutions to enhance coastal resiliency throughout the Great Lakes. Objectives Activities Key Take-Aways

New Engineering Practice Guides for Natural Infrastructure Now Available

Photograph of a dark water river with a bank lined with tree trunks laid down along the shoreline which has a bank of green grass and shrubs and trees.

The Engineering With Nature® program is excited to introduce a new collection of Engineering Practice Guides for Natural Infrastructure—developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in coordination with the Engineering & Construction Directorate. These guides offer technical direction for incorporating nature-based and hybrid (green, blue and gray) solutions […]

New Publication: Adaptive Management Framework for Nature-Based Coastal Resiliency

Map of Boston area with a legend marking Transit Stations, Transit Lines, Major Roads, Beaches, Shellfish, Biodiversity Conservation Areas of Interest, Eel Grass, Rare Species Habitats, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, and Flood Hazard.

We’re excited to share the publication of a new research article titled “Application of a nature-based solution adaptive management framework for improving coastal resiliency in a highly urbanized environment” in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. About the Study This paper introduces and applies an adaptive management framework tailored to nature-based solutions (NBS) in densely developed […]

ERDC Showcases Coastal Innovations at USACE South Atlantic Division Summit

A large group of attendees at the USACE South Atlantic Division (SAD) Coastal Summit in 2025, posing for a group photograph outdoors on a sunny day. The diverse group is arranged on steps in a modern plaza, smiling for the camera.

13-17 January 2025 | Gulf Shores, AL Advancing Coastal Engineering through Technology Transfer Ensuring that the latest research and development (R&D) in coastal engineering reaches field practitioners is essential for addressing our nation’s most pressing coastal challenges. Technology transfer—the process of moving innovation from the lab to the field—is a critical component of the R&D […]