On The Capitol Beach, Derek Brockbank speaks with representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers, US EPA, the State of Washington and the State of Oregon – just a few of the many members of the Lower Columbia Solutions Group, who won this year’s Robert Wiegel Coastal Project award from the ASBPA for the ongoing sediment management project at the mouth of the Columbia River. This “lifetime achievement award” for coastal project was presented for a series of interconnected projects that maximize the beneficial use of sediment dredged from the Federal Navigation Channel in the Columbia River. These projects include, among others, nearshore thin layer placement in multiple sites to provide sediment to naturally feed the adjacent beaches, while protecting sensitive habitat. Perhaps more impressive than the innovative projects, is that collaborative process of agency and stakeholder engagement that led to them and the robust monitoring and scientific research that ensures their effectiveness. This is a story of government and community stakeholders working together to ensure a healthy coastline that works for (nearly) everyone!
See video of the Benthic Study on sediment placement just outside the jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River.
Jarod Norton is the Navigation Program Manager for the Northwestern Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Bridgette Lohrman is an Ecologist with EPA Region 10 (in Oregon).
Patty Snow is the Coastal Program Manager for the Department of Land Conservation and Development, in the State of Oregon.
Brian Lynn is the Coastal and Shoreline Section Manage, for the Washington State Department of Ecology.
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ASBPA Executive Director, Derek Brockbank, hosts this semi-regular podcast. Prior to starting with ASBPA, Derek worked as campaign director for a coalition effort to restore the Mississippi River Delta and Coastal Louisiana, and was part of a gulf-wide campaign to pass the RESTORE Act, securing billions of dollars for Gulf Coast restoration. This followed up on his work with National Wildlife Federation on climate adaption. Derek started his career as a grassroots organizer. Derek grew up in New York City and got his coastal education from an early age playing on the beaches of Long Island, and kayaking and fishing in Peconic Bay.
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