America’s Engineers are Engineering With Nature
The recent feature in “America’s Engineers: The People, Programs, and Projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers” highlights the powerful impact of Engineering With Nature (EWN). While the concepts of Engineering With Nature have existed for some time, the deliberate integration of natural features into engineering solutions became a focused pursuit for USACE in […]
Collaborative Development of Natural and Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Resiliency in the Arctic and Adjacent Regions: A Workshop
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Engineering With Nature® (EWN) program and the National Research Council of Canada convened partners from across the circum-Arctic region in a hybrid workshop on October 24 and 25, 2023 to focus on applying natural and nature-based solutions (NNBS) in […]
Growing Resilience: A Planting Event in Collins Cove, Massachusetts
Background Coastal salt marshes are crucial ecosystems, offering flood management, carbon sequestration, nutrient retention, and biodiversity. Threatened by rising sea levels, nutrient runoff, extreme weather, and urban development, salt marsh restoration is increasingly critical. However, practitioners often face limitations in accessing locally sourced plant materials, which can better withstand diverse conditions and support coastal resiliency. […]
Assessing Shoreline Protection: A Step Forward in Nature-Based Solutions at Nolan River Lake
EWN researchers, Chris Haring and Autumn Murray, from ERDC Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) and the USACE Louisville District (LRL) engaged in site visits during the week of November 13, 2023. Their focus: evaluating existing shoreline protection methods, discussing adaptive management, and planning new projects. This initiative aims to explore alternative designs for shoreline protection, […]
Advancing Coastal Monitoring and Shaping Future SAR Satellite Systems
Coastal stakeholders need monitoring solutions to evaluate the effectiveness of dredged material for combating sea level rise in back-bay environments. In response, EWN researchers have partnered with Syracuse University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department to explore the viability of employing satellite-derived data for studying back-bay sediment nourishment, linking USACE needs with NASA’s working group tasked […]
Innovative Nearshore Data Collection for EWN Research
August 2023. An Engineering with Nature research team is field testing a novel approach to gathering geological data in the challenging nearshore environment. The team utilized the Coastal Research Amphibious Buggy (CRAB) at CHL’s Field Research Facility in Duck, NC. The CRAB provided stability in this dynamic zone, enabling the successful collection of geologic data […]
Wrackcycling Research in Mobile District Leverages Natural Materials and Natural Processes
A recent article by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center features EWN research on wrackcycling to build stronger dune systems. “Wrack” is the term for seaweed, driftwood, and other organic materials produced by coastal ecosystems that wash ashore on the beach. EWN Researchers are partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District […]
Shoreline Stabilization and Habitat Enhancement at Nolan River Lake
EWN researchers alongside personnel from the USACE Louisville District (LRL) Nolan River Lake, embarked on a series of site visits during the week of January 30, 2023. The objective was to conduct comprehensive assessments of existing shoreline protection strategies, discuss adaptive management approaches, and lay the groundwork for future EWN applications. One of the central […]
EWN Researchers Conduct Full-Scale Investigation to Characterize Dune Geophysical Properties
Dunes are one of many natural features that provide a critical line of defense from coastal storms while also providing habitat and often recreation possibilities. This research project is characterizing the diverse range of geomorphic and geotechnical properties associated with natural, restored, and highly engineered dunes in Northeast Florida. The 5-site field study conducted in […]
Federal Construction: Holding the Line
US Army Corps of Engineers heads natural solutions for coastal flooding in New York and New Jersey Read the article by Dr. JoAnne Castagna, Ed.D. Learn how USACE is using nature-based solutions (NBS) informed by The International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management in the New York District—TheFire Island Inlet to […]
