During 2-3 February 2023, ERDC researchers joined colleagues from the University of Florida (UF) at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR) for a workshop to initiate their interdisciplinary research effort focused on using Thin Layer Placement (TLP) methods in salt marsh restoration. Understanding the physical and ecological drivers that cause the degradation and fragmentation in salt marsh ecosystems is of essential importance in developing potential thin-layer placement Engineering With Nature_®(EWN_®) solutions.  The workshop served as an opportunity for the team to discuss the development of a multiscale monitoring and model framework that will quantify the ecological-physical coupling of wetland-oyster reef systems and the interactions between waves, flow, vegetation, reefs, and sediment. Additionally, researchers made a site visit to potential dredge material placement sites in the St. Augustine area and engaged with stakeholders from the USACE Jacksonville District (SAJ), GTM NERR, the State of Florida, the City of St. Augustine, and private industry.

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