USACE, NOAA and the Value of Partnership EWN - Engineering With Nature

Nature-based solutions – or NBS – are front and center in major policy changes in the US  (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/02/01/2021-02177/tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrastructure_Investment_and_Jobs_Act) that emphasize the urgent need to take action to build climate resiliency and significantly renew and upgrade the country's infrastructure. In this episode, host Sarah Thorne and Todd Bridges, Senior Research Scientist for Environmental Science with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Lead of the Engineering With Nature® Program, are joined by Steve Thur, Director of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NCCOS is the marine science entity of the National Ocean Service, and its role is to serve the science needs of NOAA, other federal and state government partners, and decision makers. We discuss how the practice of Engineering With Nature and the application of NBS are evolving, and the importance of protecting critical coastal ecosystems. We're also telling the story of a powerful collaboration and partnership between the USACE and the NOAA.   Todd and Steve begin by talking about the challenges and opportunities in working jointly across the boundaries of organizations in a “whole-of-government” approach. Their collaboration started with a workshop in 2016 to discuss the shared interests and synergies between USACE and NOAA on using natural and nature-based features to improve coastal resilience and increase environmental value and social benefits. Six years later the collaboration is still paying dividends.   Steve’s initial interest in EWN was the opportunity to apply his personal passion – to wisely use marine resources to make society better – by using science to inform coastal management. His unusual academic background – degrees in biology and economics – come together in his focus on the wise use of marine resources.  As he explains, “EWN solutions offer us the potential for win-win-win solutions – mitigating flood risks, restoring habitats, helping with fisheries, protecting threatened and endangered species, and providing many social benefits, such as recreation. When one application or project can touch on so many societal benefits, I see that as a huge win for efficiency and it’s something we should be involved in.”   Todd relates the challenges along the coasts, home to 40% of the American population, to a previous EWN Podcast episode (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dreamt-land-rebalancing-the-system/id1528233207?i=1000552624812) where we discussed the need to rebalance California’s inland water system. “Because of the development that's occurred along our coasts in the last 150 years, we also need to rebalance coastlines and find opportunities to harmonize engineering with natural systems to make our coasts more resilient. To create that kind of integration requires USACE and NOAA, with their respective mission sets, to find the complementarity needed to pursue these kinds of integrated solutions.  NOAA-NCCOS is leaning into this with us and it's producing great outcomes.”   The first two projects that the USACE and NOAA-NCCOS collaborated on were located at Mordecai Island, NJ and Swan Island, MD, a part of the Martin National Wildlife Refuge at Smith Island in the Chesapeake Bay. In both cases, dredged material was used to rebuild eroding islands, providing coastal protection and wildlife habitat, along with social benefits. Steve notes that the Swan Island Project...