Written by Amanda Tritinger
On July 13-15, 2021, 58 representatives from USACE HQ, 2 USACE Divisions, 14 USACE Districts, and USACE ERDCs’ Environmental (EL) and Coastal Hydraulics (CHL) Laboratories came together and participated in a virtual workshop on the beneficial use (BU) of dredged material. The workshop was co-hosted by Dr. Amanda Tritinger (ERDC-CHL) and Dr. Kelsey Fall (ERDC-CHL) on behalf of the EWN®, RSM and CIRP research programs.
The overall goal was to organize the BU community across USACE and develop a path forward to increase BU practices. Talks and discussions focused on the current status of BU across USACE, including success stories on innovative BU projects, challenges related to regulatory issues, state and federal policies, technical logistics, and stakeholder engagement, as well opportunities for expanding current practices to include more regular and innovative BU applications. On the final day of the workshop an implementable list of action items for advancing BU across USACE was produced.
The workshop concluded by introducing and awarding the inaugural Timothy L. Welp Award for Advancing Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediments. The award was named in honor of Timothy L. Welp, a research hydraulic engineer with ERDC’s Coastal Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) and a leader in the field of dredging and dredged material management. The award recognizes teams (with members across and outside of USACE) that have advanced progress on beneficial use through collaboration, partnering, innovation.
The inaugural Timothy L. Welp Award for Advancing Beneficial Use of Sediment was awarded to Monica Chasten (NAP) and her team to commend the restoration efforts via beneficial use of dredged sediments at Sturgeon and Gull Island, two marsh islands located Cape May County, New Jersey (http://wetlandsinstitue.org/smiil). These projects were a results of a partnership between U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District (USACE-NAP), the State of New Jersey (NJDEP), The Wetlands Institute (TWI), and the USACE Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Honorable mentions in recognition of BU practices was given to: (1) Swann Island, MD Restoration Project, (2) Removal of Beneficial Use Impairments at Duluth Harbor, and (3) Middle Mississippi River Island Creation.
Engineering with Nature (EWN® ) is an initiative resourced through USACE Congressional Funds. POC: Dr. Amanda Tritinger amanda.s.tritinger@usace.army.mil
Regional Sediment Management (RSM) is an initiative resourced through USACE O&M funding. POC: Dr. Katie Brutsché Katherine.E.Brutsche@usace.army.mil
Coastal Inlets Research Program (CIRP) is an initiative resourced through USACE O&M funding. POC: Dr. Tanya Beck Tanya.M.Beck@usace.army.mil
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