International NNBF

Guidelines

Guidelines on the Use of Natural and Nature-Based Features for Sustainable

Coastal and Fluvial Systems

March 22, 2018

Jonathan SimmChief Technical Director (Resilience), HR Wallingford

Todd BridgesSenior Research Scientist, Environmental Science, US Army Corps of Engineers

Jo GuyNEAS / TEAM2100 Environment Manager, Environment Agency

Nigel PonteeGlobal Practice Leader, Coastal Planning and Engineering, Jacobs

International NNBF

Guidelines

Nature-Based Features Perform During Hurricane Sandy

http://www.nyc.gov/html/sirr/html/report/report.shtml

International NNBF

Guidelines

Value and Use of Natural Systems

Following Hurricane Sandy:• Risk industry-based tools used to quantify

the economic benefits of coastal wetlands • Temperate coastal wetlands saved more than $625

million in flood damages.

• In Ocean County, New Jersey, salt marsh conservation can significantly reduce average annual flood losses by more than 20%.

International NNBF

Guidelines

NNBF for Coastal and Fluvial Systems

Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBF) refers to those features that define natural coastal and fluviallandscapes and are either naturallyoccurring or engineered to mimic natural conditions. Some examples of coastal NNBF are beaches and dunes, salt marshes, oyster reefs and barrier islands. For fluvial systems examples - apart from floodplain restoration in rivers and streams – include a range of features to detain and retain flood waters or otherwise create space for water.

International NNBF

Guidelines International Guidelines on the Use of Natural and Nature-Based Features for Sustainable Coastal and Fluvial Systems

Multi-author: government, academia, NGOs, engineering firms, construction companies, etc.

Addresses full NNBF life cycle

Guidelines in 3 main Parts► Overarching

► Coastal Applications

► Fluvial Applications

Purpose: Develop guidelines for using NNBF to provide engineering functions relevant to flood risk management while producing additional economic, environmental and social benefits.

International NNBF

Guidelines

Benefits of guidelines

• Technically robust and consistent use of NNBF, as a part of a multi-purpose projects

• Reinforcing the flexibility / adaptability of the NNBF whole life approach,

• Valuation and delivery of multiple benefits from NNBF: flood risk management, economic, social, environmental

and

• Identifying science/engineering knowledge gaps in order to focus future R&D.

International NNBF

Guidelines

World Bank Principles and Implementation Guidance for Nature-Based Flood Protection

NBFP Workshop, 11-13 April 2017

https://www.gfdrr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Brochure%20Implementing%20nature-based%20flood%20protection_voor%20web.pdf

International NNBF

Guidelines

Focus on Principles and Performance of NNBF

1. System-scale perspective

2. Risk and benefit assessment for a full range of solutions

3. Standardised performance evaluation

4. Integration with ecosystem conservation and restoration

5. Adaptive management

International NNBF

Guidelines

World Bank Principles and Implementation Guidance for Nature-Based Flood Protection

International NNBF

Guidelines

Exploring nature-based solutions: the role of green infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of weather- and climate change-related natural hazards

“…instead of automatically defaulting to grey solutions like dikes and pipes for flooding, we first should look at restoring floodplains or wetlands. Rather than building sea walls, we need to think about conserving sand banks...Planners should compare green to grey and identify new opportunities for investing in nature, including a combination of green and grey approaches when nature-based solutions alone are insufficient. As planners explore how to accommodate infrastructure demands in the future, the lesson is clear: think about green before investing in grey.”

EEA Technical Report No 12/2015

International NNBF

Guidelines Guidelines Table of ContentsPart 1: Informing the Use of NNBF Preface/Definitions Introduction Principles, Outcomes, Framework for NNBF System Considerations and Combining Elements Analysis of NNBF Benefits Performance Quantification and Metrics Monitoring, Maintenance, and Adaptive Management Community Engagement and Involvement Part 2: Coastal Systems Introduction Reefs Sub-Aquatic Vegetation Beaches and Dunes Wetlands and Intertidal Areas Upland Plant Communities Islands Enhancing Environmental Value of Conventional Infrastructure

Part 3: Fluvial Systems Introduction Agricultural practices; land management Woodland and forest management Water retention and naturalization Use of floodplains

(two-stage channels, offline storage)

Green infrastructure in rivers

International NNBF

Guidelines

Development Approach

• Voluntary project team• Editorial Board (Bridges, Simm, Beck, Mohan, Collins, Lodder)

• Individual Chapter Teams, with Co-Leads

• Peer review of final product

• Periodic, in-person working meetings combined with virtual engagement and drafting

• Collation and write-up of case studies

International NNBF

Guidelines International NNBF Guidelines: Team Meeting #1; United States; Vicksburg, MS; 25-26 October, 2016

International NNBF

Guidelines International NNBF Guidelines: Team Meeting #2; United Kingdom; 10-13 July, 2017

International NNBF

Guidelines International NNBF Guidelines: Team Meeting #3; United States; Silver Spring, MD; Nov, 2017

International NNBF

Guidelines International NNBF Guidelines: Team Meeting #4; Netherlands; Delft, 5-9 March, 2017

International NNBF

Guidelines

UK involvement to date• Jonathan Simm (HR Wallingford, editorial board and framework chapter)

• Jo Guy (EA, coordinator)

• Oliver Burns (EA, beaches and dunes)

• Nigel Pontee (Jacobs, wetlands chapter co-lead + other)

• Lydia Burgess-Gamble (EA, Fluvial section)

• David Ramsbottom & Marta Roca (HR Wallingford, fluvial section)

International NNBF

Guidelines

ScheduleJune 2018: Chapter Teams deliver first drafts.

Editorial Board review June-Sept 2018.

5th in-person meeting, autumn 2018. San Francisco, CADec 2018: second draft of chapters submitted to EB.

Dec 2018-Feb 2019 Editorial Board review.

March-June 2019: full document completed.

July-Aug 2019: full document issued for peer reviewDocument finalized Sept 2019-Feb 2020.

Mar-April 2020: Guidelines published.

International NNBF

Guidelines

Inputs sought

• Team members / contributions, especially for fluvial part

• Case study information and references

• Reviewers for peer review Summer 2019

International NNBF

Guidelines

Further information

Contacts:

Dr. Todd Bridges todd.s.bridges@usace.army.mil

Dr. Jonathan Simm j.simm@hrwallingford.com

www.engineeringwithnature.org