analysis and overview of existing navigation and coastal ...€¦ · analysis and overview of...

US Army Corps of EngineersBUILDING STRONG®

Analysis and Overview of Existing Navigation and Coastal Engineering With Nature ProjectsThomas J. Fredette, PhDResearch Biologist, Environmental LaboratoryEngineer Research and Development Center

andBurton C. Suedel, PhDCynthia J. BanksAustin V. Davis

DefinitionEngineering With Nature is the intentional alignment of natural and engineering processes to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental and social benefits through collaborative processes.

EWN Poster ChildThe Chevron

1899 1940s 1969

1880

Historical River TrainingMethodology

Chevrons as Alternative to Dike Extensions

Notched Chevron River Flow and Sediment Bed

Behavior

Center section of chevron at lower

elevation (e.g., notched)

Opportunities/Existing Examples?

Identify ExamplesCollect Documentation

Evaluate Against Criteria

Criteria EWNExtent to which the project produces and makes use of efficiencies to contribute to sustainable delivery of project benefits, including consideration of how the project function is sustainable in the broader systematic context (e.g., regional watershed or sediment systems).

Extent to which natural processes are used to produce benefits and outcomes.

Extent to which the project and its configuration broaden the base of benefits provided (economic, social, and environmental).• Extent to which the added benefits are incorporated in association with (but not as mitigation for) construction or maintenance of civil works infrastructure Extent to which the project makes use of collaborative processes to organize and focus interests, stakeholders, and partners.

Comparison of Environmental Projects

Reef Habitat Breakwaters, Pensacola, FL

Cobble Mounds

South Bay MarinaSouth Bay Marina, Green Bay, MI

• Spur jetties to create marsh and protected shallows. • Fish spawning stones incorporated into design.

Spur Jetties

http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/Home/Topics/HabitatsandEcosystems/Details.aspx?PostID=552

Tern Nesting HabitatNew York Power Authority – Buffalo, NY

NYPA Tern

Nesting Habitat

See http://niagara.nypa.gov/EcologicalStandingCommittee/EcoStanddefault.htm

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Num

ber o

f Ter

n N

ests

Year

Buffalo Harbor Breakwaters Tern Nests

First Large Scale Breakwater Habitat Area Developed

East River Osprey Nest Platform,

Buffalo, NY

New York Power Authority

http://niagara.nypa.gov/EcologicalStandingCommittee/EcoStanddefault.htm

Seattle, WA Seawall Studyhttps://sites.google.com/a/uw.edu/seattle-seawall-project/home

3 panel designs, each with 2 surface treatments; plus Reference and Control

Clay St.

Vine St.

Aquarium

3 Sites

EWN Data Viewer

EWN Products

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/trel11-

07.pdf

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/doerr16.

pdf

EWN-Related GLRI Products

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/dots/doer/pdf/GLGB-Booklet.pdfhttp://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/dots/doer/pdf/InlandPort-

USACEEnvSustainability.pdf