The Network for Engineering With Nature® invites you to the N-EWN Knowledge Series: A Continuing Education Series about Engineering with Nature…

 

Blue Carbon Storage Potential in USACE Beneficial Use Projects, with Nia Hurst and Jacob Berkowitz

Thursday, April 20, 2023

12:30-1:30pm ET on Zoom

Register in advance for this webinar:

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Apr 20, 2023 12:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: The N-EWN Knowledge Series

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://limno.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fe7hnfnSS5CvbiTpADWmXA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Continuing Education Credit (1-hr) will be available to attendees.

See more about this webinar series here: https://ewn.erdc.dren.mil/knowledge-series/

Nia Hurst is a Research Biologist in the Wetlands and Coastal Ecology Branch at the USACE-Engineer Research and Development Center. Utilizing Engineering With Nature principles, her research broadly focuses on using wetland restoration, creation, and management to develop applied solutions to emerging environmental problems. 

Dr. Jacob Berkowitz is a Senior Research Soil Scientist and the Team Leader for wetlands research at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center. He also holds faculty appointments at Louisiana State University and several other universities. 

Wetlands provide a variety of valuable ecosystem services such as storm surge reduction, floodwater attenuation, and water quality improvement. Additionally, coastal ecosystems play an important role in global climate regulation via carbon (C) sequestration and storage. “Blue Carbon” is defined as C stored in coastal environments such as tidal marshes, mangroves, and seagrass meadows. Coastal ecosystems play a significant role in climate regulation because they store a disproportionately large amount of C relative to their area and are naturally resilient to perturbations, providing a capacity to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. In fact, wetlands, mangroves, and seagrasses store carbon 10x faster than mature tropical forests such as the Amazon. 

Engineering With Nature (EWN) projects that beneficially use dredged sediment have the potential to improve Blue Carbon storage through the 1) restoration and creation of coastal landforms and 2) formation of mineral associated organic matter (MAOM), which is protected from chemical and physical degradation, resulting in long-term C storage. Partnering with the University of Central Florida, NOAA, and four USACE districts (Mobile, Baltimore, Detroit, and San Francisco), study sites are being evaluated to assess C dynamics in dredged sediment beneficial use projects to document C stocks and the capacity of dredged sediments to “protect” and store C. Results will help estimate the C value and positive climate regulation outcomes of USACE beneficial use projects and increase our capacity to maximize C sequestration and storage through the design, implementation, and adaptive management of future EWN initiatives. 

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We hope you can join us for this exciting EWN event!
 
Honna B. Steissberg, MSW
Environmental Social Scientist and Writer
N-EWN Knowledge Series Coordinator

hsteissberg@limno.com