Engineering With Nature® (EWN®)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering With Nature® (EWN) Initiative enables more sustainable delivery of economic, social and environmental benefits associated with infrastructure. Sustainable water resources infrastructure is achieved through the beneficial integration of engineering and natural systems. With recent advances in the fields of engineering and ecology, there is an opportunity to combine these fields of practice into a single collaborative and cost-effective approach for infrastructure development and environmental management. Triple-win outcomes are achieved throughout EWN by systematically integrating social, environmental and economic considerations at every phase of a project. The results are innovative and resilient solutions that are more socially acceptable, viable and equitable, and ultimately, more sustainable. Key Elements Use science and engineering to produce operational efficiencies supporting sustainable delivery of project benefits. Use natural processes to maximum benefit, thereby reducing demands on limited resources, minimizing the environmental footprint of projects, and enhancing the quality of project benefits. Broaden and extend the base of benefits provided by projects to include substantiated economic, social and environmental benefits. Use science-based collaboration to organize and focus interests, stakeholders and partners to reduce social friction, resistance and project delays while producing more broadly acceptable projects.