Overview - http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ Institute for for Water Water Resources Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Critical Infrastructure Resiliency Seminar Marriah S. Abellera George W. Domurat 13 October 2016 US Army Corps of Engineers BUILDING STRONG
Force Multiplier: Highly Leveraged: ~ 65% work contracted or involving external teams, IPA s, visiting scholars or thru Interagency Agreements About IWR Established: in 1969 to assist USACE in identifying emerging issues & adapting to the Nation s changing water resources needs. FOA Physically & functionally distanced from HQUSACE by design Business model a CW asset - purpose is to facilitate execution of CW mission ie. ultimately to serve the field practitioner Offices at five locations, including: o Main Office NCR, in Alexandria, VA, including International Center for IWRM, Conflict Resolution & Public Participation CX, and the Navigation & CW Decision Support Center (NDC) o Waterborne Commerce Statistics Ctr (part of NDC) New Orleans o Hydrologic Engineering Center Davis, CA o Risk Management Center Western Office in Golden, CO and Eastern office in Pittsburgh, PA People: ~ 270 FTE (FY15) - Permanent staff generally with specialized technical skills, most with advanced degrees.
IWR MISSION To support USACE by: anticipating changes in national & international water resources conditions, and to develop, apply & infuse new CW planning evaluation, investment decision, conflict resolution, hydrologic engineering and water management, risk engineering, navigation and CW data, and program management policies, methods, tools and systems to address these needs. In alignment with: CIVIL WORKS STRATEGIC PLAN focused on sustainability & integrated water resources mgt Civil Works Transformation USACE Campaign Plan PROBLEM SOLVING Planning & Program Analysis, Hydrologic & Risk Methods & Models PROGRAM DIRECTION Future Water and Marine Transportation Challenges Practice IWR Niche Policy Research PARTNERING Information, Collaboration & Communication
Emerging Issues & Challenges Ocean Policy Task Force Revision of P&G Next Global WRDA Climate Change Dam Safety USACE Campaign Plan Corps CMTS Reform G2G What s Next? Civil Works Strategic Plan Levee Safety Overseas Contingency Operations International Water Resources Water Security Army Campaign Plan USACE Infrastructure Strategy Asset Civil Works Mgt. Transformation Panama Canal Expansion Future Of USACE CW Program!
USACE CW s Response to Climate Change Program Developing and implementing nationally consistent, practical, and cost-effective approaches that reduce vulnerabilities to water infrastructure resulting from climate change and variability. Program designed as intergovernmental collaboration w/other Federal agencies, other levels of government, academia, and stakeholders.
IWR Coastal Initiatives Reduce coastal flood risks due to urbanization, erosion, sea-level rise, and severe storms Use a systems approach to build coastal resilience Increase regional collaboration Share expertise across disciplines Maximize environmental and economic benefits Activities include: National Shoreline Management Study Systems Approach to Geomorphic Engineering (SAGE)
http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/
Systems Approach to Geomorphic Engineering (SAGE) USACE-Institute for Water Resources
Building Resilience Resilience Requires: Understand shoreline changes in the broad, regional context of natural systems Integrate green and gray solutions for coastal protection Multi-sector partnership to develop a systems approach to resilient shorelines Systems Approach to Geomorphic Engineering
Multiple Lines of Defense
SAGE Concepts SAGE adapts the coastal landscape to address a wide array of changing conditions SAGE understands shoreline changes in the broad, regional context of natural systems SAGE builds partnerships among multiple sectors to research, plan, design, and fund projects that increase the resilience of coastal communities
Who is SAGE SAGE is a Community of Practice: Collaborative effort between Federal and State agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and private business & engineering firms
SAGE Pilot Regions Build a Community of Practice Bringing together knowledge and expertise across all sectors Establish a regional plan Applying knowledge from Community of Practice to set regional goals Identifying priority areas Implement plans Identifying funding sources (public and private)
SAGE Organization Sectors represented in COP Advisors and oversight Workgroups Example activities Regional pilots
Engineering With Nature Dr. Todd S. Bridges Senior Research Scientist, Environmental Science U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers todd.s.bridges@usace.army.mil USACE Operations & Regulatory Chiefs April 19, 2015
Engineering With Nature the intentional alignment of natural and engineering processes to efficiently and sustainably deliver economic, environmental and social benefits through collaborative processes. Key Elements: Science and engineering that produces operational efficiencies Using natural process to maximum benefit Broaden and extend the benefits provided by projects Science-based collaborative processes to organize and focus interests, stakeholders, and partners www.engineeringwithnature.org 16
EWN Status Engineering With Nature initiative started within USACE Civil Works program in 2010. Over that period we have: Engaged across USACE Districts (23), Divisions, HQ; other agencies, NGOs, academia, private sector, international collaborators Workshops (>20), dialogue sessions, project development teams, etc. Implementing strategic plan Focused research projects on EWN Field demonstration projects Communication plan District EWN Proving Grounds established Awards 2013 Chief of Engineers Environmental Award in Natural Resources Conservation 2014 USACE National Award-Green Innovation www.engineeringwithnature.org 17
EWN Across USACE Mission Navigation Strategic placement of dredged material supporting habitat development Habitat integrated into structures Flood Risk Management Natural and Nature-Based Features to support coastal resilience Levee setbacks Ecosystem Restoration Ecosystem services supporting engineering function Natural development of designed features Water Operations Shoreline stabilization using native plants Environmental flows and connectivity 18
The North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study 19 http://www.nad.usace.army.mil/compstudy
Engineering Performance: Nature-Based Features Work in Different Ways 20
USACE NOAA Collaboration Workshop on Natural and Nature-Based Features Charleston, SC; 1-3 March 2016
Questions Marriah Abellera- IWR 703-428-6667 George Domurat- IWR 415-307-4840 Website: http://sagecoast.org/index.html