Nicholas Muzia, Sea & Shoreline
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), including freshwater macrophytes and saltwater seagrasses, is a valuable natural infrastructure tool for improving water quality and biodiversity. This presentation examines how SAV can be integrated into hybrid green/gray infrastructure and restoration projects to stabilize sediment, reduce wave energy, and enhance water clarity, fostering resilient habitats for aquatic species. Examples span constructed wetlands, resilient coastal systems, and urban waterfront restorations in both freshwater and saltwater settings. By combining SAV plantings with structural elements like breakwaters, these systems optimize ecological and engineering benefits. The session will outline SAV’s biomechanical and ecological functions, offer implementation guidance, and highlight its role in the Engineering With Nature (EWN) framework to address climate-driven challenges such as flooding and habitat loss.
The N-EWN Knowledge Series offers 1 Continuing Education Credit (CEC) per seminar. This Series is presented by N-EWN, Limnotech, the University of Georgia, and USACE ERDC.