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Planning Guidance: Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
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Engineer Regulations (ERs) This regulation describes the Coastal Field Data Collection (CFDC) Program Institute for Water Resources This work unit focuses on investigating the issues, problems and techniques relevant to conducting incremental cost analysis for mitigating fish and wildlife losses resulting from Corps water resources projects. Engineer Regulations (ERs) This regulation provides policy guidance regarding Corps interests in civil works projects that would directly serve a single entity. Institute for Water Resources The purpose of this study is to provide conceptual underpinning and preliminary guidance on the development of an evaluation framework and measurement techniques that will contribute to a practical partnership between ecology and economics. The work reviews, evaluates, and draws conclusions about research needs from the published and unpublished literatures bearing on the relation between ecological systems and economic notions of effectiveness and evaluation. The Bussey Lake demonstration illustrates the application of incremental cost analysis for environmental planning in a real world planning situation. The objective of this study was to review and evaluate programs that are currently establishing environmental resource priorities and the methods by which these priorities are being derived. This study was undertaken to begin examining ways to determine the significance of environmental resources or to establish resource priorities as federal agencies, including the Corps of Engineers, pursue increased numbers of programs and projects with objectives of environmental mitigation, protection, and restoration. Federal Infrastructure Strategy Program This study reports on economic development and employment effects of non-structural stream (riparian) restoration. Policy and Special Studies Program This document was developed to help USACE planners conduct cost effectiveness and incremental cost analyses in planning for environmental restoration and mitigation. It presents step-by-step instructions about how to conduct the analyses, using an example to illustrate their application to a planning problem. Engineer Pamphlets (EPs) Engineer Pamphlet describes activities necessary to design and prepare a Hydrologic Engineering Study for a Corps water resource investigation. Institute for Water Resources This report encourages Corps planners to rethink their approach to the issue of the "significance" of environmental resources with respect to environmental project planning within the Corps Civil Works Program. The report summarizes the results of a previous study (Review and Evaluation of Programs for Determining Significance and Prioritization of Environmental Resources) that reviewed and evaluated programs that are currently establishing environmental resource priorities and the methods by which those priorities are being derived. The intent of this work unit is to develop a framework that allows for the appropriate combination of interagency input, analytical processes, and technical data considered during the evaluation activities of a given project. Volume II of the Compilation and Review of Completed Restoration and Mitigation Studies in Developing an Evaluation Framework for Environmental Resources work unit provides important supplements to the comparative analysis presented in Volume I. The purpose of this manual is to serve as a guide for conducting cost effectiveness analysis and incremental cost analysis for the evaluation of alternative environmental restoration and mitigation plans. The objective of this report is to compile management measures, engineering features, monitoring techniques, and detailed costs for a representative sample of non-Corps environmental projects or engineering projects with environmental features. This study is a companion study to National Review of Corps Environmental Restoration Projects. This study, under the Monetary and Other Valuation Techniques work unit, is critical to meeting the Corps aim to consider the socioeconomic impacts of environmental efforts. Its specific objectives are to describe services provided by environmental resources and systems and methods for their measurement or valuation; review existing research programs and products; and evaluation the resource constraints on field applications of measurement and valuation tools. This study explores the literature for analytical techniques that can support the complex decision-making process surrounding Corps environmental projects. Specifically, this literature review focuses on opportunities for using trade-off methodologies in the plan formulation process. This study investigates how understanding the perspectives of stakeholders in USACE environmental projects might improve the identification and communication of project benefits. The purpose of this report is to support Corps planners by identifying Evaluation of Environmental Investments Research Program (EEIRP) products that can be used in applying the six-step planning process to environmental projects. This report introduces Corps personnel involved in the planning of environmental restoration projects to the basics of risk and uncertainty analysis. In addition, it presents a sample incorporation of risk analysis in the application of a habitat evaluation procedure, through a habitat suitability index model. This report provides descriptive information for water resource planners and managers concerning the engineering features of recently completed or on-going Corps environmental restoration projects. This report provides a short, easy-to-use guide, or protocol, for identifying and describing resource significance in environmental project planning. The protocol provides an iterative procedure for identifying and describing resource significance in environmental plan formulation and evaluation. Four phases of the protocol are identified: scoping, analyzing, evaluating, and communicating. One or more iterations of these four phases will guide a planning team through the process of identifying and describing resource significance. Engineer Regulations (ERs) This regulation prescribes the policy and procedure for approval and technical supervision of coastal, hydraulic, and hydrologic studies related to planning, design, construction, and operation of projects. This regulation provides policy guidance for scheduled monitoring, inspection, evaluation, maintenance and rehabilitation of relief wells at civil works projects. Engineer Pamphlets (EPs) Engineer Pamphlet discusses federal stream bank erosion policy. Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities Engineer Pamphlet discusses federal recreation policy and philosophy, different types of recreation projects, project evaluation, and project finance. Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities Engineer Pamphlet discusses ecosystem restoration, environmental authorities within WRDA, wetland policy, other applicable federal policies, and project management. Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities Aquatic plant control program management. Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities Engineer Pamphlet provides information on environmental programs, natural lands, hydroelectric power, and legislation outside Corps authority. Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities Engineer Pamphlet provides policy information in support of ER 1165-2-501 to guide Corps of Engineers involvement in ecosystem restoration and protection through Civil Works programs and activities. Engineer Regulations (ERs) This regulation provides policy on Corps of Engineers involvement in ecosystem restoration and protection through CW programs and activities. Institute for Water Resources This report compiles information on 28 Section 1135 projects completed as of October 1998. The projects occur in 21 different Corps Districts and in 22 different states. The information is descriptive, and intended to be useful to water resources planners and managers in formulating and evaluating Section 1135 and other Corps ecosystem restoration projects. Engineer Regulations (ERs) This appendix provides policy and planning guidance for project purposes of navigation, flood damage reduction, hurricane and storm damage reduction (shore protection), ecosystem restoration, hydroelectric power, recreation, water supply and multiple purpose projects. Institute for Water Resources This report examines some of the cost effectiveness and incremental cost analyses done to date and to determine how the regulations are being interpreted and applied, whether recurring problems exist, and if further guidance or instruction (in the form of new procedures, manuals or training, for example) is needed to streamline or simplify the process. Policy and Special Studies Program This study examined ecological and economic concepts relevant to improving environmental benefits analysis, and recommends a strategy for improving related tools, application capabilities, policy and guidance. Institute for Water Resources This report provides a framework for incorporating risk analysis into the USACE six-step planning process for ecosystem restoration projects. This report is part of a larger research and development effort to develop procedures and guidelines for risk analysis in USACE ecosystem restoration planning. Policy and Special Studies Program In response to a request by leaders of the civil works environmental sub-community of the Environmental Community of Practice, IWR reviewed current Corps guidance for ecosystem restoration projects. Current guidance was reviewed in regard to the preparation of OMRR&R or, more commonly, "O&M" manuals, and the inspection of completed projects by the Corps. IWR also surveyed Corps Districts to identify common problems and needs related to the preparation of OMRR&R manuals for ecosystem restoration projects. This paper presents the findings of IWR's review and survey. Engineer Regulations (ERs) This regulation provides guidance for proper and accurately referenced materials for flood forecasting, inundation modeling, flood insurance rate maps, navigation charting, and topographic mapping. This ER was later supplemented by Engineer Manual 1110-2-6056: Standards and Procedures for Referencing Project Elevation Grades to Nationwide Vertical Datums (2010). Lessons Learned Mr. Leigh Skaggs, HQ Office of Water Project Review, presented this webinar focusing on Planning Step #3 of the six-step planning process Formulation of Alternative Plans, and specifically, developing initial plan formulation strategies. Leigh discussed tools and helpful tips for this step, engaging the audience with polls, feedback via chat, etc Recent reviews of Civil Works ecosystem restoration feasibility studies by planning and policy reviewers at HQUSACE have uncovered several recurring policy and technical issues. This article highlights lessons learned from these reviews and suggested best practices to help address them. Guidance Memos This memorandum from the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) (ASA(CW)) articulates Army policy: "It is the policy of the Army to encourage floodplain restoration, as it encourages community resilience and provides benefits to both the ecosystem and human wellbeing. The use of levee set-backs, along with other measures to increase and enhance floodplains, is encouraged in aquatic ecosystem restoration projects. It is also the policy of the Army not to increase flood risks or decrease life safety without sufficient justification. When formulating restoration projects that propose restoring floodplains, the Corps should use the existing level of flood risk as the formulation baseline. If any changes to the baseline are recommended, then the Corps should demonstrate the rationale for the increase or decrease in the level of flood risk management. If the level of flood risk associated with an ecosystem restoration project is decreased, then the risk reduction increment above the baseline must be cost effective and incrementally justified. If the level of flood risk is increased as a result of ecosystem restoration, then the Corps must mitigate any induced damages as part of the restoration project." In the memo, the ASA(CW) concurs with the recommendation that the implementation of setback levees are a necessary project feature of the recommended plan to mitigate for induced flooding, and without moving the levees, minimal to no restoration benefits are achievable that meet the planning objective. Lessons Learned Using strategies to guide and organize the formulation of alternative plans is a sound method of conducting key parts of a civil works planning study. Strategies can be employed to help group or combine measures, define alternatives, identify different ways to solve problems, and provide a logical, transparent process to more quickly develop an initial array of distinctly different alternatives.  This presentation was developed by members of our Plan Formulation sub-CoP to provide a stand-alone set of slides and accompanying notes that can help an individual or a group learn the basic concepts of plan formulation strategies, as well as their utility. The presentation answers such questions as, What are plan formulation strategies? How do they fit into the Corps' planning process? How are they useful? Why are they important? Where do they come from? What are some examples of strategies for ecosystem restoration projects? USACE Engineer Research and Development Center This technical guide, developed by the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), presents an operational definition of adaptive management and describes a scalable approach to developing and implementing adaptive management plans for USACE ecosystem restoration programs and projects. This guide is intended for USACE program and project managers, project delivery team (PDT) members, and technical staff involved in efforts related to managing ecosystem restoration, fish, wildlife, and wetland mitigation. Guidance Memos Section 125(a)(2)(C) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 amends Section 204(d) of WRDA 1992 (33 U.S.C. 2326(d)) to authorize the Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to use funds appropriated for construction or operation and maintenance of a project involving the disposal of dredged material when selecting a disposal method that is not the least cost option based on a determination that the incremental costs of the disposal method are reasonable in relation to the environmental benefits or the hurricane and storm or flood risk reduction benefits. This memorandum provides guidance and direction on implementation of Section 125(a)(2)(C) and rescinds and replaces the implementation guidance for Section 1038 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014. This memorandum directs the Corps to use applicable authorities and available resources to engage in specific actions to protect, restore, and enhance the Nation's waters and wetlands, especially those no longer protected under the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) per the 2023 Sackett vs. EPA decision, in addition to implementing the Regulatory Program in compliance with all laws and regulations. This memorandum also contains specific examples of how to carry-out this directive to appropriately respond to the limited interpretation of WOTUS.
Webinars
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