NCMP PROGRAM
Only federal coastal mapping program producing regional operational data along the coast of the U.S. on a reoccurring basis to support regional engineering activities like regional sediment management, comprehensive coastal studies, remote inspection of coastal structures, post-storm coastal impact assessment, and mapping of threatened and endangered species and habitats
PROBLEM
NCMP was originally formulated for CONUS Alaska has more coastline than CONUS and has critical need for coastal mapping data to manage risk due to hazards including coastal erosion, storm flooding, landslides, tsunamis and earthquakes
May 2021
APPROPRIATION
Agreement includes $3.8M for Arctic coastal mapping needs not met by existing mapping programs due to gaps caused when mapping agencies distinguish between land mapping and water charting USACE shall use these funds to prioritize, coordinate and conduct Arctic coastal mapping operations, data processing, product development and data dissemination to identify and meet priorities in the Arctic region USACE works closely with the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee, Alaska state, and relevant federal agencies to ensure that mapping efforts are coodinated and adhere to the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy
NATIONAL COASTAL MAPPING PROGRAM (NCMP): ARTIC MAPPING
FY18 NATIONAL COASTAL MAPPING PROGRAM (NCMP): ARTIC MAPPING
NCMP surveyed a pilot project in Homer, Alaska, in 2018 using an aircraft equipped with a Coastal Zone Mapping and Imaging LiDAR that was transiting through the state
FY19
NCMP coordinated with USACE's Alaska District, Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategist to identify areas in critical need of topobathy data for navigation project management, coastal erosion studies, and storm and tsunami flood modeling NCMP was able to use an aircraft transiting through Alaska on its way back from work in the Pacific, eliminating mobilization costs The long-range aircraft was able to survey 12 projects throughout Alaska in three weeks
May 2021
FY21 PLANS
NCMP will perform coastal mapping operations in Alaska for approximately two months NCMP is coordinating mapping requirements with USACE Alaska District, the Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategist, and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Coastal Hazards program manager Requirements are driven by USACE project needs, a statewide prioritization and emerging data needs related to landslides in the southeast Establish a coastal mapping collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (see image to the left)
PROBLEM Regional Sediment Management requires USACE to manage sediment across projects and business lines Comprehensive coastal studies require USACE to develop plans to engineer entire coastlines for resilience to acute and longterm coastal hazards like storms and sealevel change Both of these applications require regional data sets collected on a repeat basis
SOLUTION National Coastal Mapping Program (NCMP) provides technologies to produce regional, repeat, 3D coastal data and imagery along with tools to analyze it
April 2021
IMPACT
Technology and data on-the-shelf is available for the coast of the United States to support USACE: Regional Sediment Management Coastal comprehensive studies Remote inspection of coastal structures Post-storm coastal mapping Mapping of threatened and endangered species/habitats
NATIONAL COASTAL MAPPING PROGRAM
Bluff Elevation
Sandbar Groups
APPLICATIONS NATIONAL COASTAL MAPPING PROGRAM
Pre-storm and post-storm data Derive coastal resistance, geomorphology and vegetation metrics Develop digital elevation models Map wetlands and submerged aquatic vegetation Quantify dredge placement capacity Quantify impacts to navigation channel adjacent shorelines USGS coastal hazards studies, NOAA nautical charts, FEMA flood hazard maps and modeling Coastal surveys for 3D coastal data Supports remote inspection of coastal structures
STATUS
Currently working on our third survey of the CONUS FY2021 surveys will complete the West Coast and begin work in Texas. A Congressional add will fund two months of survey in Alaska
April 2021
BENEFITS
Broadened spectrum of benefits Improved product quality Reduced risk with known project conditions and change data Data and analysis “on-the-shelf” Reduced levels of effort Shortened timeframes to delivery Significantly lower costs and manpower hours
PROBLEM
Atmospheric rivers drop up to half of California’s rainfall and cause 84% of floods, costing over $1B annually California prone to floods and drought with the highest variability in rainfall in continental U.S. Water supply/ecologic concerns are driving issues in the region Increased wildfire activity in western states drives need to better predict heavy rainfall events to anticipate debris flows
FORECAST INFORMED RESERVOIR OPERATIONS (FIRO) Russian River Watershed
April 2021
SOLUTION
FIRO uses next-generation weather and watershed modeling/monitoring to improve water level forecasts in reservoirs and waterways Informs managers in time to release/hold water in advance of storms or prolonged dry periods Funded through congressional directives under WOTS*
IMPACT
FIRO operations at initial pilot at Lake Mendocino provided water for 22K additional homes in spring 2020 (Third driest year on record) Improves water availability and reduces flooding Resilience of water management infrastructure Better balance between flood risk, water supply and ecological benefits
Lake Mendocino
*Water Operations Technical Support (WOTS)
April 2021
APPLICATIONS Conducting viability assessments at four pilot sites Developing screening-level assessment tool for broader application to entire dam portfolio of dams Increasing understanding of atmospheric rivers, improving weather forecast skill for water managers and emergency management agencies
FORECAST INFORMED RESERVOIR OPERATIONS (FIRO)
STATUS
First pilot at Lake Mendocino (northern California) completed final viability assessment Joint effort with state, local and federal partners Peer-reviewed FVA report released Additional pilots Prado Dam (southern California) New Bullards Bar and Lake Oroville (central California) Howard Hanson Dam (Seattle area) Atmospheric river data collection by Hurricane Hunter aircraft provides vital data for global weather models
BENEFITS
Increased flood risk management capacity using existing infrastructure Increased water availability and ecosystem benefits during drought periods Frequent collaborative interaction between stakeholder agencies builds institutional trust
WHAT'S NEXT With an additional $4M over 4 years, forecasting of atmospheric rivers, coastal storms and post-wildfire mudslide hazards can be unified New Bullards Bar Dam
POST-WILDFIRE FLOOD RISK
PROBLEM
MANAGEMENT
In 2020, more than 43,000 fires burned 7M+ acres Wildfires increase potential for post-wildfire floods, erosion, reduced channel capacity, and massive debris flows In Santa Barbara, post-wildfire debris flows and flooding caused 23 deaths and $1.3B in damages
SOLUTION
Novel modeling methods accurately predict post-wildfire sedimentation, flooding, and debris flow Funded through Flood & Coastal Systems and congressional directives under General Investigations R&D
April 2021
IMPACT Identify regions highly vulnerable to post-wildfire impacts Increase local, state and national resilience via web-based clearing house for knowledge During wildfire: Near real-time emergency management tools for evacuations 8:1 ROI for pre-hazard mitigation capability investment
Las Conchas, New Mexico, Post-Wildfire Debris Flood
Post-Wildfire Flood/Debris Modeling
APPLICATIONS POST-WILDFIRE FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT
Applications will focus on improving predictions of flood risk and uncertainty for: Inundation from debris flows and other nonNewtonian phenomena Management of risk to infrastructure and military instillations Updated debris basin design and mitigation methods Understanding of long-term evolution of post-wildfire recovery
STATUS
WHAT'S NEXT
April 2021
With additional $16M and 4 years, an integrated fire dynamic and hydrologic numerical modeling framework to rapidly assess wildfire risk to communities can be developed
R&D is being conducted in partnership with the USACE South Pacific and Northwestern Divisions for continuous knowledge transfer and training To date multiple H&H code releases for post-wildfire flood risk prediction New non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, which means it moves like honey instead of water, software library developed will allow USACE models to address debris flows and extreme flooding following wildfires
BENEFITS
Save lives and reduce impacts to infrastructure Improved emergency management and flood risk management Capabilities to address non-Newtonian and post-wildfire flood conditions Better understanding of long-term post-wildfire recovery
PROBLEM Storm damage increase: $5B to $50B/year over past 40 years Fatalities increased tenfold Reactive risk assessment Sea level rise, aging infrastructure, population growth demand flood/coastal risk resilience
SOLUTION Coastal Storm Technologies Rigorous evaluation of storm risk High-fidelity coastal hazards Accurate storm impacts Quantitative results Costs/benefits tradespace analytics Long-term forecasting of impacts
Feb 2021
IMPACT Saved approximately $300M for Sabine to Galveston study Accurate risk-informed decision making Comprehensive simulations and hazard analysis
COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES
COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES
APPLICATIONS Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study Coastal Texas Study South Atlantic Coast Study
STATUS Major execution milestones and delivery schedule Product development status Completed products ready for and/or in technology transfer phase
WHAT'S NEXT
Feb 2021
With additional $4M and 2 years, a Pacific Coast Storm Hazard database could be developed
BENEFITS Broadened spectrum of benefits Improved product quality Reduced levels of effort Shortened timeframes to delivery Lowered costs Link to CW Strategic Focus Areas Tie to CG’s Priorities and Campaign Plan
PROBLEM
Public, partner, and sponsor expectations for nature-based solutions are increasing rapidly Loss of natural features represents $Bs in lost economic, environmental and social value <30% of dredged sediment is beneficially used Robust science, tools, and engineering guidance needed to inform future practice
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ENGINEERING WITH NATURE
SOLUTION Revolutionize natural infrastructure development Expand EWN partnerships across all sectors Accelerate development of technical capability
April 2021
IMPACT
Increase beneficial use of dredged sediment to 70% by 2030 Create >$10B nature-based value by 2035 Enable USACE readiness to develop sustainable 21st century infrastructure
To learn more about EWN, visit https://ewn.el.erdc.dren.mil/
APPLICATIONS ®
ENGINEERING WITH NATURE
USACE Districts and partners using EWN concepts, tools to inform nature-based solutions to achieve multi-objective/benefit projects EWN partnerships are accelerating use of natural infrastructure in the U.S. and around the world Delivering innovation solutions to create diverse value through beneficial use of dredged material
STATUS
Network for EWN (N-EWN) established 2020 EWN Podcast Series launched 2020 International Guidelines for Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBF), summer 2021 EWN Atlas Volume 2 expected, spring 2021
WHAT'S NEXT
April 2021
Additional resources could be applied to demonstrate EWN in field-scale projects and document diversified benefits to inform improved, expanded benefit-cost analysis
BENEFITS Produce $Bs in additional economic, environmental and social benefits More resilient and sustainable systems and communities Reduced conflict between engineering and environmental interests for accelerated project delivery To learn more about EWN, visit https://ewn.el.erdc.dren.mil/
PROBLEM
Increased risk of flooding due to convergent events Historically events analyzed individually to estimate flooding Coastal compound flooding caused ~$75B in damages Lack of guidance for resilient and socially equitable engineering
SOLUTION Coastal Compound Flood Framework Rigorous numerical models Enhanced understanding of co-incident event probabilities
IMPACT
April 2021
Community resilience Better engineering and management tools Reduce costs through resilient engineering Accurate flood inundation mapping
ROI is achieved through life and cost savings by improvements in the design of flood protection structures, socio-economic considerations in communication of risk and advancement of knowledge
COASTAL COMPOUND FLOODING
APPLICATIONS COASTAL COMPOUND FLOODING
North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS) Coastal Texas South Atlantic Coast Study Model Linkage Demonstration for Hurricane Harvey Regional sediment management effects of coastal compound flood events
SOLUTION NACCS: Complete Model Linkage Demonstration: End FY21 Risk Based Compound Flooding Guidance: End FY23 Demonstration of regional sediment impacts of Hurricane Harvey: End FY22
WHAT'S NEXT
April 2021
With $10M over the next 3 years, a comprehensive framework to enable efficient and accurate decision making for impacts on engineered and natural systems could be developed
BENEFITS Robust and resilient engineered systems Updated USACE guidance for coastal compound flooding Shortened project timelines Improved community communication Accurate flood inundation mapping for compound floods Advancement of scientific and engineering knowledge
PROBLEM 85-year-old legacy method of constructing physical models of waterways from molded concrete is laborintensive, expensive (~$85-$150/square foot) and can’t be disassembled for long-term storage
SOLUTION Waterways Lightweight Modeling System (WeLMoS) uses 4-foot by 8-foot EPS foam blocks to represent scaled bathymetry and topography of prototype site LiDAR data and CNC router are used to precisely cut foam blocks, which are assembled and covered with a hard coat, providing strength and waterproofing Foam blocks can be individually replaced for testing project alternatives or completely disassembled for economical long-term storage
April 2021
IMPACT Construction time for WeLMoS is over 60% faster and cheaper (~$50-$100/square foot) WeLMoS models are more flexible, allowing for more testing scenarios and have 10X greater vertical accuracy Digitally created models are repeatable and modular
WATERWAYS LIGHTWEIGHT MODELING SYSTEM (WELMOS)
APPLICATIONS WATERWAYS LIGHTWEIGHT MODELING SYSTEM (WELMOS)
WHAT'S NEXT
With additional $500K over 2 years, application for wave and coastal modeling environment can be added
Red River Structure (MVP) – key element of $2.8B Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Study First USACE public-private partnership project Rough River Dam outlet works (LRL) Low Sill Control Structure gate loading and rating curve (MVN) Montgomery Lock filling and emptying system (LRP)
STATUS
All new ERDC physical model studies to be constructed using WeLMoS Has been applied to both traditional hydraulic and navigation models at 10X greater vertical accuracy over previous method
April 2021
BENEFITS
30-60% construction cost and 60% construction time savings realized in applications to date Model elements can be cost-effectively replaced to allow for multiple scenario testing – something that was prohibitively expensive with legacy concrete construction method Disassembly for long-term storage and exact re-creation from digital files solves model preservation conundrum
PROBLEM
Coastal DC contains a critical convergence of infrastructure (water, energy, communications, transportations, historical buildings, monuments, military installations and national security facilities) Coastal and compound flooding exacerbated by climate change, increasing coastal population density, and aging/critical infrastructure demand flooding/coastal resilience
SOLUTION
Coastal Storm Technologies High fidelity numerical modeling Accurate, quantitative impacts High fidelity coastal hazards Long-term forecasting applicability
May 2021
IMPACT
Accurate risk-informed decision making Comprehensive simulations Comprehensive hazard analysis and coastal hazards database
COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT: DC METRO COASTAL STUDY
COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT: DC METRO COASTAL STUDY
APPLICATIONS
Coastal Storm Risk Management technologies applied in the DC Metro study have been successfully applied to: Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study Coastal Texas Study South Atlantic Coast Study
STATUS WHAT'S NEXT
May 2021
With an additional $6M over 3 years, compound flooding in the DC Metro area could be addressed in the hazards database With an additional $4M over 2 years, a Pacific Coast Storm Hazard database could be developed
Numerical model simulations and coastal hazard analysis to be completed in 2021 Completed products and technology transfer
BENEFITS
Improved product quality applicable for a decade or more Reduced time, cost and effort for follow-on studies Linked to Civil Work Strategic Focus areas Tied to USACE Priorities and Campaign Plan
PROBLEM
Joint Logistics Over The Shore (JLOTS) exercises/missions access to the shore at the prescribed draft PDR, Port Damage Repairs, removing material in and around wharfs and piers to accommodate vessel traffic Navigation hazard removal in channel shoals to accommodate the necessary vessel traffic
SOLUTION
Tracked Version, MRS-D system, deployed from beach or transport vessel to dredge the necessary channel to the shore Track Hoe version, MRS-D system, deployed from barge or pier to remove material from port facility Track Hoe or Tracked version used for shoal removal
Feb 2021
IMPACT
MRS-D enables improbable beach landings Enables port repairs from accretions of sediment in and around piers Versatility of the two platforms enables a broader application to common navigation problems in the channel Enables material removal around critical infrastructure in the theater of operation
MRS-D: MINI ROBOTIC SUBMERSIBLE-DREDGE
APPLICATIONS MRS-D: MINI ROBOTIC SUBMERSIBLE-DREDGE
WHAT'S NEXT An additional $4M over the next 4 years would facilitate demonstrations of the MRS-D system for Civil Works applications
Civil works: removal of material around critical infrastructure, navigation locks, riverine landing sites and river navigation channels MRS-D technologies/techniques applied to the nation's Capital Water treatment dewatering ponds to remove sediment and return the system back to capacity Dredging the Pearl Harbor Admiral’s boat house channel, allowing new vessel dockage capability To perform PDR and basic maintenance between normal maintenance dredging cycles
STATUS
Under development and testing to include visualizations techniques for black water applications Navy is funding testing/demonstration events of the system for PDR and JLOTS exercises Civil works demonstrations are planned to show applicability for infrastructure needs
Feb 2021
BENEFITS
Broadened spectrum: economic, environmental, social and climate change Implementing EWN in practice Ecosystem services quantified, exemplifying both present and future value Lowered dredging costs ($4.3M annually) Addresses CW Environmental Strategic Focus Area
PROBLEM
Shoaling in federal channel requires annual dredging Lack of beneficial use placement options Unsustainable dredging practices
BENEFICIAL USE OF DREDGED MATERIAL IN A RIVERINE ENVIRONMENT:
SOLUTION Innovative sediment placement midriver Use nature’s energy to do the work Monitor and quantify multiple climate change and other cobenefits
April 2021
IMPACT
Reduces dredging requirements, refocuses efforts on other pressing navigation issues Innovative beneficial use consistent with EWN producing multiple benefits Reduces dredging costs
HORSESHOE BEND ISLAND
BENEFICIAL USE OF DREDGED MATERIAL IN A RIVERINE ENVIRONMENT: HORSESHOE BEND ISLAND
WHAT'S NEXT
April 2021
Riverine island formation initiated for BUDM placement at other river locations similar to Horseshoe Bend can save millions of dollars per location in dredging disposal costs
APPLICATIONS Reduced long-term dredging requirements and channel length, improved navigation safety EWN application meets USACE sustainability goals Sediment beneficial use best practice broadly applicable across dredging projects
STATUS Project completed Internationally recognized and awarded, PIANC Working with Nature certified
BENEFITS
Broadened spectrum: economic, environmental, social and climate change Implementing EWN in practice Ecosystem services quantified, exemplifying both present and future value Lowered dredging costs ($4.3M annually) Addresses CW Environmental Strategic Focus Area
May 2021
PROBLEM
OMAR study evaluates the current operating plan for the Old River Control Structure (ORCS) All OMAR rivers have geomorphic instabilities, ranging from aggradation to bank failures Changing the flow of water and sediment through the ORCS may exacerbate or introduce new geomorphic instabilities
SOLUTION
Geomorphic assessment of the OMAR rivers will identify the current instabilities and trends Assessment includes examining water surface slopes, stream power, stage and flow duration trends, in addition to available sediment data
IMPACT
Geomorphic assessment will serve as a foundation for understanding the entire OMAR system Geomorphology provides framework for interpreting model results
GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE OLD, MISSISSIPPI, ATCHAFALAYA AND RED (OMAR)
GEOMORPHOLOGY OF THE OLD, MISSISSIPPI, ATCHAFALAYA AND RED (OMAR)
APPLICATIONS
Geomorphology study informed the model-based bank stability analysis being carried out by ERDC as part of the OMAR Study Results of the geomorphology study will be integrated into the final OMAR Study report Identified aggradational and degradational trends can be projected into the future to determine impacts of current ORCS operations
STATUS
Field work conducted in November 2020 Preliminary slope, stream power and specific gage calculations have been produced based on available data Geomorphic assessment is on track to conclude at the end of FY21
May 2021
BENEFITS
Task has digitized and georeferenced numerous historic geomorphic maps that can be used in future projects Geomorphology provides a larger spatial and temporal picture of the OMAR system than any of the numerical models used and provides a framework for understanding the model results Examining all of the OMAR rivers as a system will provide insights that can't be found by studying the rivers separately
PROBLEM
Storm events in coastal Texas have resulted in losses of $Bs in life and property Disruptions and impacts to Texas energy corridor affects entire U.S. and elevates the risk to national security Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) solutions can be used to create future resilience and address public interest in expanded/diversified project value
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ENGINEERING WITH NATURE GALVESTON DISTRICT
SOLUTION
USACE-SWG used EWN to develop innovative nature-based designs to inform coastal projects like Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay CSRM Project USACE-SWG applied EWN to develop ‘multiple lines of defense’ strategy for the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study
Feb 2021
IMPACT
Expand long-term ROI from $4B Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay CSRM Project Broaden coastal resilience through natural infrastructure Increase value to the nation through expanded beneficial use within 30-40 million cubic yards of annual dredging
To learn more about EWN, visit https://ewn.el.erdc.dren.mil/
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ENGINEERING WITH NATURE GALVESTON DISTRICT
APPLICATIONS
USACE-SWG and partners using EWN concepts, tools to inform nature-based solutions to achieve multiobjective/benefit projects Delivering innovative EWN techniques and natural infrastructure designs to accelerate use in coastal Texas Creating diverse value and increased resilience through beneficial use of dredged material
STATUS
EWN assimilated into Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay CSRM Project progressing with inclusion of natural infrastructure EWN techniques identified in USACE-SWG are informing practice in other USACE Districts
Feb 2021
BENEFITS
To learn more about EWN, visit https://ewn.el.erdc.dren.mil/
USACE-SWG’s Implementation of ‘multiple lines of defense’ strategy broadens resilience for Texas energy corridor Supports $Bs in additional economic, environmental and social benefits for the Texas coast Reduced conflict between engineering and environmental interests for accelerated project delivery
PROBLEM
HABs occur in lakes and waterways nationwide 6x increase in HAB events since 2010 $3 billion/year cost to recreation, real estate and commerce
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HABS)
SOLUTION
Develop prevention, detection and management technologies to solve HAB issues HAB Interception, Treatment and Transformation System = HABITATS Funded through congressional directives under ANCRP*
May 2021
IMPACT
HABITATS treated 700K gallons of water and collected 4k gallons of algae slurry during three pilot demonstrations HABITATS has additional benefits over ALGAL SLURRY BIOFUEL HABITATS UNIT conventional (physical/chemical) treatment methods in that it: Removes HAB biomass, associated nutrients and potential toxins, returning only clean water Achieves 95% removal of algae and phosphorous from treated water Converts waste to resources (fuel and fertilizer) Energy neutral *Aquatic Nuisance Control Research Program (ANCRP)
APPLICATIONS HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HAB S)
HABITATS is a mobile, rapidly deployable HABs mitigation system applicable to freshwater lakes and waterways nationwide HABITATS is focused on technology transfer, R&D refinements and upscaling in FY21 following multiple successful FY20 pilot demonstrations in Lake Okeechobee, FL and Lake Chautauqua, NY
STATUS
WHAT'S NEXT
May 2021
With $2.5M in FY21 funding, ERDC and collaborators could design and build a deployable HABITATS module that is 10-fold larger than previous prototypes, and ERDC could perform research on in situ flotation and energy-efficient dewatering technologies to optimize economic scalability
Efforts for HABITATS in FY21 will focus on controlled pilot scale studies in New York to improve algae harvesting rates, energy efficiency, and associated economic scalability with the goal of a 10-fold larger HABITATS prototype for testing in FL and Great Lakes region in FY22
IMPACTS
HABITATS can be scaled to treat 100M gallons of water per day at similar long-term costs to chemical treatments Permanently removes algae and nutrients Estimated to be 72% less costly than conventional treatments Sustainable Species Management includes a developing a “Cradle to Grave” solution for reducing the number, duration and severity of HAB events Maintaining clear, navigable waterways to support mission readiness