Defining Natural Infrastructure
Natural infrastructure (NI) uses natural processes and ecosystem services to support engineering objectives. This innovative approach to infrastructure planning has the potential to provide co-benefits to communities, ecosystems, and economies, and N-EWN partners are leading the charge on implementing NI to achieve these benefits.
Selected Publications:
Life cycle management of natural infrastructure: assessment of state of practice and current tools, Kurth et. al. 2024, Frontiers in Built Environment.
Jointly advancing infrastructure and biodiversity conservation, McKay et. al. 2023. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.
Improving Natural Infrastructure Practice
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are a relatively new field of study and applications. N-EWN researchers are dedicated to figuring out the best way to implement NbS in engineering, environmental, and community settings.
Selected Publications:
Nature-based solutions as buffers against coastal compound flooding: Exploring potential framework for process-based modeling of hazard mitigation, Radfar et. al. 2024, Science of the Total Environment.
Evaluating thin-layer sediment placement as a tool for enhancing tidal marsh resilience: A coordinated experiment across eight US National Estuarine Research Reserves, Raposa et. al. 2023, Estuaries and Coasts.
Integrating People and Policy
We’re better together. N-EWN partners are working to make sure everyone has a seat at the table when we talk about nature-based solutions.
Infrastructure managers bear a responsibility for ensuring all members of a community are being fairly serves by infrastructure choices. To support sustainable solutions, managers need a clear and concise set of guidelines for incorporating social equity into project decision making.
Selected Publications:
Human well-being and natural infrastructure: assessing opportunities for equitable project planning and implementation, Kalaidijan et. al. 2024, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
Operationalizing equity for integrated water resources management, Seigerman et. al. 2022, Journal of the American Water Resources Association.
Bringing People Together
Nature-based Solutions Policy & Practice Forums
These annual in-person forums have been co-hosted with partners across the country, aiming to identify the policy and practice needs of the growing field of nature-based solutions. More information about each year’s forum below:
Knowledge Series
This monthly, public-facing webinar series features topics from across the field of engineering with nature knowledge. Continuing Education Credits (1-hr) are available to all attendees who join live. More information & registration link below:
More N-EWN Events
Special Topics
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March 2026 Knowledge Series: Dutch experience with beaches and dunes as coastal Natural and Nature Based Features for Flood Risk Management
An overview of 30 years of nature-basedcoastline management Quirijn Lodder & Evelien Brand, Rijkswaterstaat Coastal erosion threatens beaches and dunes globally. In the Netherlands, a coastline maintenance policy was implemented in the 1990’s to combat this erosion, with sand nourishments as the primary means. As a result, the Dutch coast is one of the most heavily…
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SWCA Environmental Consultants on Clean Beaches
When it comes to clean beaches, it’s about more than just picking up trash (though that’s important too!). SWCA Environmental Consultants specializes in ecological restoration, erosion control, and habitat protection that help maintain clean, resilient beaches and coastal ecosystems. For example, SWCA is supporting the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s (CPRA) Chandeleur Island Restoration…
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LimnoTech: Enhancing Coastal Resilience in Great Lakes Communities
LimnoTech is collaborating with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the Coastal States Organization, NOAA, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and project partners Dewberry and Smith Group to enhance coastal resilience in Great Lakes communities. The team’s work has focused on: Engineering With Nature principles and nature-based solutions are integral to our…
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Communicating Solutions at UC Santa Cruz
In September, the CCCR co-hosted a symposium on Communicating Climate Solutions at UC Santa Cruz alongside our colleagues in the UCSC Science Communications program. Over three days, scientists, journalists, government officials, Indigenous leaders, community members, and more were able to learn and share expertise, build community, and identify new opportunities in communicating climate solutions. From…
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September 2026 Knowledge Series: EWN Practice Guide for Floodplain Benching Projects
Eddie Brauer & Joanna Curran, PhD, US Army Corps of Engineers Research & Development Center Restoration and nature-based solutions are increasingly recognized as sustainable infrastructure, yet practitioners charged with delivering them often lack the design criteria and procedures that are routine for conventional “gray” infrastructure. Technical guidance for natural infrastructure (NI) remains limited in both…
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SWCA: Restoring the Plainwell Channel
Once a driving force of industrial growth in the early 1900s, the Plainwell Dam on Michigan’s Kalamazoo River had, over time, become an obstacle to ecological health. Its aging structure trapped sediment, blocked fish passage, and disrupted the river’s natural flow. Today, through the Plainwell Dam Removal and Channel Restoration project, SWCA Environmental Consultants is…
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August 2025 Knowledge Series: Life Depends on Rivers: Building a Movement to Protect and Restore America’s Rivers
Jenny Hoffner and Eileen Shader, CFM, American Rivers Rivers are essential to all life on earth, but our rivers are at risk as never before from climate change, pollution, drought, flooding, and loss of natural habitat. American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban…
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Colorado River Connectivity Channel: Discover how AECOM’s work on the Colorado River Connectivity Channel (CRCC) is balancing water resource management with environmental conservation
The Colorado River Connectivity Channel (CRCC) is restoring the lifeline of the Southwest while balancing water supply needs and environmental health. Spanning 1,450 miles and serving over 40 million people, the river supports communities, ecosystems, and economies across seven U.S. states and two in Mexico. Built in the 1980s, the Windy Gap Reservoir met critical…
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The True Value of Nature in the Ohio River Basin
This Earth Day, the Earth Economics team has published a study coauthored with the Ohio River Basin Alliance (ORBA) on the economic value that the Ohio River Basin provides, with staggering results: at least $50 billion in annual benefits- and that’s not all. The Ohio River Basin is approximately 69 million acres of land across…
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NOAA Recognizes Best Practices for Ecosystem Service Valuation Efforts
In a recent document on Measuring the Value of Ecosystem Services, NOAA shouted out work they found particularly impactful in the quest to adequately value the contributions of nature- including one of our newest partners, Earth Economics! “It’s common to hear people say that the value of nature and its services are priceless,” the NOAA…
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September 2023 Knowledge Series: Enhancing Benefits Evaluation for Water Resources Projects: Towards a More Comprehensive Approach for Nature-Based Solutions
Jordan Fischbach, The Water Institute The economic benefits associated with water resources projects has been the focus of federal investment decisions for decades. However, the science of quantifying and evaluating the diverse environmental, social, and economic benefits and costs of water resources projects, particularly those including Nature Based Solutions (NBS), has advanced in recent years.…
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A Capstone Report: New Methods to Assess the Full Spectrum of Benefits Associated with Nature-Based Solutions
In collaboration with The Water Institute, we have conducted extensive policy research to evaluate the benefits of Engineering With Nature® (EWN) principles and nature-based solutions for USACE projects. This final report represents a significant milestone in our journey to advance nature-based solutions for navigation, flood risk management, water operations, and ecosystem restoration. Throughout the research…
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Sparking nature-positive outcomes through science at Stantec
How can engineering with nature reduce risk, restore ecosystems, and deliver community value? That’s the question at the heart of Stantec’s new Sparks story: Sparking Nature-Positive Outcomes. As climate extremes, aging infrastructure, and biodiversity loss reshape the risks facing communities, nature-based solutions are becoming an increasingly important part of the answer. By combining ecological design,…
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Biodiversity Working Group recommends eco-thoughtful planning and action for the future of nature-based solutions
Nature-based solutions (NbS) are engineering actions that address societal challenges through the creation, protection, sustainable management and/or restoration of ecosystems, benefitting both the environment and human wellbeing. One of the most frequently purported co-benefits of NbS is their ability to simultaneously benefit, and even restore, biodiversity and ecosystem health while accomplishing their infrastructure goals. However,…
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Partner Takeover: SWCA – Building Resilience Through Science-Led Ecosystem Restoration
Ecosystems are dynamic systems of balance, constantly responding to the pressures of climate, hydrology, and human influence. Restoring that balance requires more than planting trees or reshaping landforms—it demands an understanding of how ecological, cultural, and engineering factors work together to create long-term resilience. That’s where our partners at SWCA Environmental Consultants come in. For…
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October 2025 Knowledge Series: Harnessing Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) as a Natural Infrastructure Tool for Water Quality & Biodiversity
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…
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January 2026 Knowledge Series: Streamlined Success: Delivering Fish Passage in Complex Urban Systems
Jonathan Scheibly, PWS, PE, Sandra Nelson & Gwen Macdonald, Stantec Fish passage restoration is a cornerstone of aquatic ecosystem conservation and resilience. Restoring access to historic habitats supports healthy fish populations and benefits entire riverine and marine ecosystems, vital to biodiversity and the revitalization of commercial and recreational fisheries, which in turn creates jobs and…
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LimnoTech: Restoring Urban Ecology in the Heart of Austin, Texas
LimnoTech is proud to partner with Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA), the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, the City of Austin, and other partners on the transformation of Waller Creek into the vibrant Waterloo Greenway—a continuous chain of parks and restored waterways through downtown Austin. This ambitious effort is more than placemaking — it’s a living example…
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N-EWN partners represent at the 2025 Urban Riparian Symposium in Texas
Last month, we said “Hi, N-EWN” in Texas 👋🤠 N-EWN partners City of Austin, San Antonio River Authority and Simfero teamed up to deliver a panel session on nature-based solutions at different scales as part of the 2025 Urban Riparian Symposium in Texas. Hosted by the Texas Riparian Association and the Texas Water Resources Institute,…
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June 2024 Knowledge Series: Design for Biodiversity: Nature-Inclusive Applications in Urban Waterfronts & Coastal Infrastructure
Dr. Ido Sella, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at ECOncrete Tech When it comes to planning and constructing coastal and marine infrastructure, promoting nature-inclusive design has multiple financial, structural and ecological benefits. Through project casestudies, we’ll explore different applications of science-driven, nature-inclusive construction and gain a deeper understanding of ecosystem services in urban and working waterfronts, as…
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Stantec Delivers Engineering with Nature Across the Globe
This week, we’re highlighting our partner, Stantec, and their work in nature-based solutions (NbS). Stantec combines natural systems with engineering to help reduce risk and build resilience. Using strategies such as bioswales, wetlands, coastal restoration, and green infrastructure, NbS can help address biodiversity loss, flood and drought mitigation, water quality and scarcity while supporting carbon…
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Limnotech: Honoring History Through Nature at the Historic Congressional Cemetery
LimnoTech is proud to collaborate with the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), the Historic Congressional Cemetery, and the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) to advance green infrastructure planning and design at one of Washington, DC’s most cherished landmarks. This innovative project embodies Engineering With Nature (EWN) principles — blending natural systems with science and…
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Communicating Solutions at UC Santa Cruz
In September, the CCCR co-hosted a symposium on Communicating Climate Solutions at UC Santa Cruz alongside our colleagues in the UCSC Science Communications program. Over three days, scientists, journalists, government officials, Indigenous leaders, community members, and more were able to learn and share expertise, build community, and identify new opportunities in communicating climate solutions. From…
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UCSC Center for Coastal Climate Resilience: Elevating Indigenous Solutions
At the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, we’re committed to elevating local and Indigenous knowledge as essential to shaping coastal solutions. We’re honored to help convene and support conversations led by Indigenous leaders across the globe: Indigenous Climate Leaders Convening (2024-2025)We have been working with local leaders from the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and bringing…
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Center for Coastal Climate Resilience: Going Global
From Brazil to France to California, the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) is advancing global conversations on climate and coastal resilience via innovative communications: COP30 (Belém, Brazil) In November, CCCR leaders will attend the UN Climate Change Conference COP30, a conference that will spotlight Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Nature-based Solutions (NbS). These strategies will…
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Live from New York, it’s NYC Climate Week: NYC Mayor’s Office and Arcadis host Climate Resilience Plan Pop-Up
In town for NYC Climate Week? Check out this pop-up on the FiDi & Seaport Climate Resilience Plan, co-hosted by some of our partners at NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice and Arcadis! The Financial District and Seaport Climate Resilience Plan aims to protect NYC from climate change while enhancing the waterfront, creating…
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N-EWN at Climate Week NYC: Resilience in Action
We’re thrilled to see resilience taking stage at Climate Week NYC, thanks to our awesome partners in attendance! Check out links to register for each of these events below. Monday, September 22:8:00am – Field Session: Nature-Inclusive Design for Constructability & Climate Resiliency (In person), hosted by ECOncretehttps://econcretetech.com/blogcat/ny-climate-week-waterfront-field-sessions/ Tuesday, September 23:2:30pm – Built to Last: Designing…
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Restoring Peace: RES on enhancing the resilience of the Peace River
Florida faces a $136 billion challenge: building the water infrastructure needed to manage flooding, restore wetlands, protect the water supply, and adapt to sea level rise. Public-private partnerships (P3s) are emerging as vital tools in meeting these environmental goals, with restoration efforts in Polk County leading the way. On 400 acres of historic ranchland at…