Pragmatically Incorporating Coastal Resiliency in the Design of Ecosystem Restoration Projects

Session: 51. - Coastal Resilience

Esther Johnson, US Army Corps of Engineers - Detroit District, [email protected]

Abstract

How do design teams and stakeholders pragmatically incorporate coastal resiliency into the design and construction of ecosystem restoration projects?  This presentation looks at the methods and approaches used in the Wisconsin Point Piping Plover Habitat project located in the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC).  This project design and construction aims at increasing available Piping Plover nesting habitat within area designated critical habitat, supporting removal of Beneficial Use Impairments of the AOC.

This project's location on Lake Superior requires the design team to understand the coastal dynamics of the project area and how to balance the vulnerabilities and risks with the desired outcomes so to maximize long-term success.  The design team used field collected data, hydrodynamic modeling, and decision frameworks in consideration of a final design solution that focuses on nature based features. Presentation will highlight how stakeholders and design teams find the balance of ecosystem functionality, constructability, coastal resiliency and cost on these types of projects in the Great Lakes. 

1. Keyword
coastal engineering

2. Keyword
risks

3. Keyword
decision making

4. Additional Keyword
ecosystem restoration, plover, vulnerability, resiliency