Get to know N-EWN

A community of researchers, practitioners, and educators working together to advance the practice of natural infrastructure.

We work across four main branches

In order to help facilitate the widespread adoption of natural infrastructure practices across the United States, we’ve identified four main areas that need additional work:

Developing methods and standards

New tools, techniques and guidance are needed to effectively plan, design, construct and operate natural infrastructure at different scales

Assessing benefits and costs

Natural infrastructure provides communities with a broad array of economic, environmental and social benefits. Improved approaches are needed to evaluate, quantify and forecast these benefits to support planning and decision making

Monitoring performance and outcomes

Technically sound, efficient and applicable methods are needed to track natural infrastructure performance over time, develop the evidence base for future designs, ensure compliance with policy and inform project operations and adaptive management

Integrating people and policy

Providing infrastructure that supports human wellbeing and equitably meets the needs of diverse communities requires integration of human values, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and policies with modern communication and collaboration practices


Combining a diversity of on-the-ground experience with interdisciplinary teams.

The N-EWN community is made up of over 30 partners from industry, academia and the non-profit sector.

What N-EWN’s been up to:

  • Partner Takeover: Sea and Shoreline’s Environmental Dredging

    Partner Takeover: Sea and Shoreline’s Environmental Dredging

    What is Environmental dredging? Environmental dredging involves carefully removing contaminated or accumulated harmful sediments from water bodies—like lakes, rivers, and coastal areas—and is important for creating and maintaining healthy habitats (for manatees and other sea life) and for ensuring navigable access for boats & ships. At Sea & Shoreline, we use hydraulic ‘suction’ dredging to…

  • SARA at AFS 2025

    SARA at AFS 2025

    San Antonio River Authority staff had the pleasure of helping coordinate the 155th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society in early August. The meeting was a huge success with over 1,100 attendees! Attendees presented hundreds of papers and posters, took part in the Black Bass 2025 symposium, removed 342 adult apple snails and more…

  • Partner Takeover: San Antonio River Authority

    Partner Takeover: San Antonio River Authority

    What if infrastructure looked like art? At the confluence of two creeks in downtown San Antonio, the San Antonio River Authority has unveiled Falling Water, a striking new installation by nationally recognized artist Mark Reigelman. More than just a sculpture, the project is actively working to protect the San Antonio River. Installed along San Pedro…

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