The ASBPA recognizes projects which address natural resource restoration to enhance shoreline resiliency by addressing environmental degradation, storm impacts, climate change, and sea level rise which all increasingly threaten the nation’s coastal, estuarine and Great Lakes communities. ASBPA understands the time, effort, and money that it takes to restore or enhance an inland or bay shoreline, and we want to recognize your accomplishments. Whether your project involves an estuary or Great Lake, a mangrove or an oyster reef – if it resulted in recreating thriving habitats or improved water quality to benefit multiple uses and aid local economies, we invite you to nominate a project for a Best Restored Shores award.
Nominations can include:
All nominations should be for projects that have completed construction two years prior to award nomination. This is to allow more complete reporting on successful outcomes and lessons learned.
Who Can Nominate a Best Restored Shore?
Representatives of coastal communities or stakeholders can nominate a restoration project. Projects demonstrating economic benefits, quantifiable ecological outcomes, and innovation (in design, construction, and/or partnering/funding) will be most favorably reviewed.
The 2023 Best Restored Shores Nominations are now open and will close on August 1. Please click the link below to access the nomination form.
ASBPA awards coastal professionals who excel in their profession and/or have extensively contributed their time and talents to ASBPA. We also award a beach restoration project that has stood the test of time and continues to benefit the local community. These awards are bestowed during the National Coastal Conference.
Any ASBPA member can submit a nomination that outlines the accomplishments of the nominee and the basis upon which the nomination is being put forth. Nominations for 2023 close on August 15th.
Please submit your entry via the online form.
Supporting letters or other information should be submitted as a PDF upload (max file size 20 mb). If you have any questions, please email managing@asbpa.org.
The Morrough P. O’Brien Award is ASBPA’s highest award, given annually to an individual or organizational member of ASBPA on the basis of 1) an outstanding record in achieving the objectives and ideals of ASBPA; and/or 2) for major direct contributions to ASBPA.
The Robert L. Wiegel Coastal Project Award is given in recognition to a coastal project that has stood the test of time and has shown a positive environmental, social, or recreational benefit.
The Robert G. Dean Coastal Academic Award is given in recognition of an academic who has made significant contributions furthering the community’s understanding of coastal science or engineering and in fostering young coastal scientists or engineers.
Gooderham Media and Communications Award will be granted to a media or communications professional who has excelled in communicating the value of our nation’s coasts, to encourage recognition of individuals from traditional media out–lets and other public media platforms. The award will be presented at the annual meeting.
The Member of the Year Award is an award to be given annually to an individual on the basis of their giving of time, talent, and treasury to furthering the goals and objectives of the ASBPA during the previous year.
The Rising Star Award is an award to be given annually to a new professional or recent member of ASBPA for their commitment of time, talent, and treasury to furthering the goals and objectives of the ASBPA since they first became involved with the organization. Nominees should not have previously won any ASBPA award.
ASBPA awards students in coastal fields who have demonstrated talent and shown promise to become future leaders in the coastal professions. These awards also come with small monetary prizes. These awards are announced during the National Coastal Conference.
Any student can submit an application that outlines their accomplishments according to the specific requirements listed below. Applications are due August 15th.
Please submit your entry via the online form.
Application materials and information should be submitted as a PDF or Word upload (max file size 20 mb). If you have any questions, please email managing@asbpa.org.
The Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar Award is given annually to a graduate student who aspires to advance his or her knowledge and experience of coastal science through an internship with ASBPA. The winner will become the dedicated staff member for the ASBPA’s Science and Technology Committee. The Coastal Scholar will work hand-in-hand with practicing coastal experts to develop technical position papers with the Committee and serve as the liaison for ASBPA with other graduate students in coastal sciences. The Coastal Scholar will work from their home institution and will participate with the ASBPA via conference calls and email. In addition to the experience of working with coastal experts, the award includes a $600 cash stipend paid in quarterly payments of $150.
The award winner must attend the National Coastal Conference to receive the award.
The James Houston Coastal Economics Scholar Award is given annually to an undergraduate or graduate student who, through his or her research, is furthering the state of beach coastal or riverine economics as it relates to the goals and mission of the ASBPA. The subject matter is encouraged to be as wide reaching as possible, including economic benefits of beach restoration, benefit cost analysis of beach restoration projects and any other research that includes benefits derived from beach, dune, riverine, and coastal restoration projects. This award includes a $500.00 cash stipend and will be awarded to the student at either the ASBPA National Coastal Conference or the ASBPA Coastal Summit.
The award winner must attend the National Coastal Conference or the National Coastal Summit to receive the award.
This is a new award so there are not yet any past winners.
The Student Coastal Advocate Award is given to a graduate or undergraduate student who aspires to advance his or her knowledge of and experience in federal coastal policy and advocacy through an internship with ASBPA. The winner will become the dedicated staff member for the ASBPA’s Government Affairs Committee. The Student Advocate will work hand-in-hand with practicing coastal experts to develop policy position papers with the Committee and participate in advocacy efforts seeking to influence federal policy via agencies or congress. The Coastal Advocate will work from his or her home institution and will participate with the ASBPA via conference calls and email. In addition to the experience of working with coastal experts, the award includes a $600 cash stipend paid in quarterly payments of $150.
Award winner is expected to attend the Coastal Summit in Washington, DC.
The Student Educational Award is given annually to an undergraduate or graduate student who, through his or her research, is furthering the state of science of coastal systems as it relates to the goals and mission of the ASBPA. Any research pertaining to coastal science is eligible for consideration. The award includes a $500 cash stipend.
Award winner is expected to attend the ASBPA National Coastal Conference and present his or her findings to the coastal community. Additionally, the winner is strongly encouraged to submit their award nomination paper for peer review by the editorial staff of Shore & Beach, the ASBPA’s technical journal, and possible inclusion in a future issue.
For more than 30 years communities around the United States have been restoring their beaches. Although some areas are relatively new to the process, others have a long history of successful replenishment projects. In many cases, the restoration process is so well established that beach enthusiasts are not even aware they are enjoying a restored beach! This occurs when a community has a large seasonal population and beach restoration projects often take place when seasonal residents are not visiting the beaches.
Beach restoration places sand on the beach to increase its width and height, in combination with building high and wide dunes on the back beach. This increases a shoreline’s resiliency, increases the beach’s ability to mitigate storm damage and flooding from severe storms. Additionally, restoring the beach is one of the best methods to allow the beach to naturally adjust to short-term sea level rise and remain an important part of the nearshore ecosystem.
ASBPA awards federal officials and members of Congress who champion coastal causes at the national and/or local level. The awards nomination process is now closed. Awards are bestowed during the National Coastal Summit.
Any ASBPA member can submit a nomination that outlines the accomplishments of the nominee and the basis upon which the nomination is being put forth. Nominations closed on February 4th.
All nominations should include a brief description of accomplishments, with support materials or additional information optional. Supporting letters or other information should be submitted as a PDF upload (max file size 20 mb). If you have any questions, please email managing@asbpa.org.
ASBPA awards members of Congress for their work in advancing policy to help beaches and coastlines. Nominations may recommend one of the following awards, but the Awards Committee will determine the appropriate award.
ASBPA’s highest congressional award, a lifetime achievement award for a Member of Congress.
Congressional award for shorter term or more project-specific contributions.
The Congressional Staffer award will be given to a single staff member for his or her efforts both to promote beach preservation and to facilitate project requests in the past.
This award honors a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who contributed to the cause of beach management and preservation. These can be staff from the district who make projects happen, or staff from divisions, headquarters, ERDC or elsewhere who have improved the Corps’ coastal capabilities.
The Agency award will be given to a single staff member at a federal agency (other than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) for his or her efforts to promote beach preservation or advance and implement policy to improve the health of U.S. coastlines.
Please consider joining the ASBPA.