Developing Case Studies from Pre/Post Natural Disaster Monitoring of Natural Features

Description

Background: An evaluation of avoided losses attributed to natural features in both “indirect” and “direct” impact scenarios combined with a systematic approach to relating the avoidance of loss to Natural and Nature Based Features (NNBF) would help in broadening NNBF usage. Results would also inform future policy and actions related to marginalized communities living within high risk coastal regions. Hurricanes Katrina (2005), Hurricane Harvey (2016), and extreme flooding in Louisiana (2016) have revealed disparities in how communities recover from extreme events. With such studies and information, issues of equity, vulnerability, and resilience could be woven into the strategy for how the project is planned. For example, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season produced a record 30 named storms, and the 2021 season produced 21 named storms. In addition to record storm seasons, sea level rise continues to threaten coastlines, and intensifying rainstorms amplify individual and compound flood events. Thus, the importance of understanding how natural features and NNBFs perform under hurricane and other extreme wind or rainstorm conditions as well as other natural disasters is critical. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: This work represents an opportunity to develop case studies highlighting the performance/impact to natural features or natural and nature-based features (NNBF) during recent natural disaster events such as hurricanes, and flooding. Many university researchers have gathered recent pre/post storm data using various metrics. While there are often mechanisms to collect data, opportunities to perform thorough analyses and develop case studies are not always feasible. This requirement is to develop a subset of sampling events into a case study that describes the coastal protection gained from a natural or nature-based feature in collaboration with USACE. This is an opportunity to identify and use existing data from past storm seasons to develop case studies demonstrating the performance of natural features. Ultimately, case study results would also be used to relate natural performance to anticipated performance of NNBF features. Case studies could be focused on natural features such as dunes, marshes, reefs, etc. or NNBFs. Previously collected data used to develop case studies might include (but is not limited to) a combination of wave attenuation and water movement data, sediment transport data, elevation data, and vegetation or other ecological data. The findings of this cooperative agreement will be made publically available through the release of public reports or peer-reviewed journal articles as well as a public seminar describing results. The Government will be involved with the research by providing technical guidance on the research, assisting with the experimental design, and collaborating on the journal articles. The Government is not expecting the periods of performances to overlap. Identified project tasks are: 1. Describe previously collected data and justification for how it can be used as a case study for monitoring natural or NNBF features pre/post natural disaster.2. Work collaboratively with ERDC to analyze data and develop case study/ 3. Work collaboratively with ERDC publish case study via ERDC or peer reviewed publications. Requirements: Vendor must be a non-federal partner of one of the following CESU networks: North Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Watershed, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast, South Florida-Caribbean, and Gulf Coast. Vendor must be willing to accept the currently approved indirect cost rate of 17.5%. Successful applicants should have expert knowledge of 1) NNBF and Natural features, 2) available pre and post natural disaster (e.g., hurricane, flood event, etc.) monitoring data in hand associated with a natural feature or NNBF, and 3) knowledge of planned statistical approaches for analysis of those datasets. Areas of expertise required to perform this study include:1) Knowledge and experience monitoring extreme events. 2) Statistical analysis. Applicants will be required to submit quarterly status reports and a final report within 4 months of completion of the study. ERDC and the candidates will develop a draft of the journal article or articles for internal peer review during cooperative agreement’s period of performance.

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