Corps RSM Team Honored by Beach Association

For being exemplary advocates for the principle of Regional Sediment Management (RSM) and working collaboratively across federal and state agency lines, Larry Parson with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mobile District and Carl Ferraro with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have recently been recognized with the Corps of Engineers Award by the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA).

The ASBPA Corps of Engineers Award recognizes a member of the Corps of Engineers who contributed to the cause of beach management and preservation. For the most part, these are people from the Corps Districts who make coastal projects happen.

As RSM leaders for their respective agencies, Parson and Ferraro worked to implement RSM principles and practices for beaches and ecosystem restoration in coastal Alabama. Successful efforts include construction of the following projects in Alabama:

• Changing the placement of navigation channel sediments at Perdido Pass from locations which remove sediments (sand) from the littoral system, to placing those valuable sediments along the shoreline downdrift of Perdido Pass, resulting in reduced shoreline erosion and increased protection to coastal infrastructure;
• The post-Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts to restore the dune and berm systems as well as ecosystem and bird habitat by placing shoaled navigation channel sediments on the west side of Perdido Pass;
• Placing navigation channel sediments from the Mobile Harbor ship channel in the nearshore of the eroding shoreline along Sand Island; and
• Restoring in-Bay placement of the Mobile Harbor navigation channel sediments to create ecosystem habitat and reduce shoreline erosion along Mobile Bay.

These RSM successes were accomplished through the collaborative efforts of the RSM Interagency Working Group which seeks to implement solutions to sediment related challenges along coastal Alabama.

According to the award citation: “Larry Parson and Carl Ferraro epitomize the term ‘public servants’ and are exceptional assets to the nation’s beaches, waterways and coastal infrastructure.”

As explained by USACE materials, RSM is a systems approach to deliberately manage sediments in a manner that maximizes natural and economic efficiencies to contribute to sustainable water resource projects, environments, and communities. This approach:

• Recognizes sediment as a valuable resource.
• Encourages regional implementation strategies across multiple projects and business lines to guide investments to achieve long-term economic, environmental, and social value and benefits.
• Enhances relationships with stakeholders and partners to better manage sediments across a region (local actions with regional benefits).
• Shares lessons learned, data, tools, and technology.

Founded in 1926, the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that advocates for healthy coastlines by promoting the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the coasts of America. For more information on ASBPA, go to ASPBA.org, Facebook or Twitter.

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ABOUT ASBPA: Founded in 1926, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that advocates for healthy coastlines by promoting the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the coasts of America. For more information on ASBPA, go to www.asbpa.org, www.facebook.com/AmericanBeaches or www.twitter.com/asbpa.