10 October 2024 | Crystal City, VA
The Engineering With Nature (EWN) Program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) participated in the 2024 Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE) Summit, a premier gathering dedicated to the protection and restoration of estuaries and coastal ecosystems. The summit brought together professionals, practitioners, and stakeholders to explore practical, science-based solutions for enhancing coastal resilience and protecting critical habitats across the nation.
EWN hosted a short course on the Use of Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBF) in Estuarine Systems. The course drew 65 professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, including representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Save the Sound, and The Nature Conservancy, as well as several state coastal management agencies, environmental nonprofits, and academic institutions. Attendance reflected the broad interest in advancing nature-based approaches to coastal engineering and resource management.
Short Course Objectives and Highlights
The full-day short course, led by Dr. Amanda Tritinger, Deputy National Lead of the EWN initiative and Dr. Jeff King, National Lead of the EWN initiative, was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge on implementing EWN practices. Attendees gained:
- An overview of EWN practices and real-world projects that showcase the integration of natural and nature-based features (NNBF) to promote coastal resilience, flood risk reduction, and ecosystem enhancement.
- A deeper understanding of diverse EWN solutions that use a systems approach, integrating NNBF for sustainable engineering.
- Advances in practice since the publication of the NNBF guidelines, highlighting specific features such as wetlands, dunes, and reefs.
- Efforts to quantify the “triple win” outcomes of EWN solutions, which measure benefits across engineering, environmental, and socioeconomic metrics.
The course featured expert presentations on key topics, such as:
- Coastal Wetland Restoration and Adaptive Management by Dr. Ram Mohan and Dr. Burton Suedel, which emphasized strategies for restoring wetlands and adjusting projects to evolving conditions.
- Applied Research and Case Studies, including Engineering Beach-Dune Solutions by Dr. Christine Angelini and advances at the Seven Mile Island Innovation Lab by Monica Chasten.
- Innovative Technologies and Practices such as numerical modeling tools for EWN projects, presented by Dr. Amanda Tritinger, and the integration of engineering with landscape design, discussed by Mindy Strevig.
- EWN in Estuarine Features, with sessions on island restoration by Elizabeth Godsey and reefs by Dr. Safra Altman.
The agenda allowed participants to engage with leading researchers and practitioners, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and strategies for expanding the use of EWN principles in estuarine and coastal systems.
New Partnership: EWN and Restore America’s Estuaries
A key highlight of EWN’s involvement at the summit was the announcement of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EWN and Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE). This partnership highlights a shared commitment to advancing nature-based solutions alongside resilient, sustainable coastlines through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Restore America’s Estuaries, a national nonprofit organization, has long been at the forefront of efforts to protect and restore bays, estuaries, and coastal watersheds. Through this partnership, EWN and RAE will work together to leverage their respective strengths and resources, enhancing the promotion and implementation of nature-based solutions across federal, state, and local levels.
“RAE is thrilled to be working closely with the Engineering with Nature initiative to advance nature-based solutions as a part of US Army Corp’s larger efforts,” said Daniel Hayden, President and CEO of RAE. “Healthy coasts and shorelines have the potential to provide solutions to our resiliency challenges but only if we invest in them first.”
“This partnership with Restore America’s Estuaries represents a significant step forward in our mission to advance sustainable engineering solutions that not only protect our coastlines but also enhance natural ecosystems and the communities that rely on them,” said Dr. Jeff King. “By working together, we can create sustainable solutions that meet the needs of today while building resilience for the challenges of tomorrow.”
The MOU between EWN and RAE will serve as a foundation for future collaboration, enabling both organizations to scale their impact. Through joint initiatives, continued research, and expanded training opportunities like the Short Course, EWN aims to support the development and implementation of sustainable, resilient infrastructure projects nationwide.
