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:

  • Students of N-EWN: Apply now for the AnchorQEA Scholarship!

    Students of N-EWN: Apply now for the AnchorQEA Scholarship!

    N-EWN partner Anchor QEA’s 2024 scholarship is now accepting applicants! Eligible students can apply through November 20, 2024, and recipients will be announced in January 2025. Our scholarship awards funding to individuals who fit the following criteria: Since 1999, Anchor has QEA presented more than 170 scholarships to graduate students across the country, and we…

  • October 2024 Knowledge Series: The Evolution of a Resilient Coastal Community

    October 2024 Knowledge Series: The Evolution of a Resilient Coastal Community

    Over 20 Years of Beaches, Back Bays, Rivers and Stormwater in Norfolk, Virginia Brian Joyner, Moffatt & Nichol, and Kelli Cunningham, Waggonner & Ball Since 2003, the City of Norfolk, Virginia has been investigating coastal/estuarine/river erosion issues, compound urban coastal floodingissues, developing long-range resilience plans, and constructing infrastructure projects to improve its diverse communities’ resilience…

  • Meeting Notes: October N-EWN Partners Meeting

    Meeting Notes: October N-EWN Partners Meeting

    Each month, the N-EWN partners gather together to share updates on their work in and outside the Network. Meetings begin with a speaker or two from one of our partners to discuss their ongoing work, and then we hold a discussion period to ask questions about the presentation and share ideas with each other. This…

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