Environmental Enhancements and Navigation Infrastructure: A Study of Existing Practices, Innovative Ideas, Impediments, and Research Needs

摘要

The Environmental Enhancements and Navigation Infrastructure (EENI) study investigated the opportunities and challenges associated with increasing the environmental benefits of navigation infrastructure (e.g., jetties, locks, channels, and anchorages). This study sought to (1) identify existing and potential navigation project features designed with the express intent of enhancing environmental benefit; (2) identify laws, regulations, and policies (formulation boundaries) that both support and hinder such design features; (3) identify opportunities for increasing environmental benefits for navigation projects within existing formulation boundaries; (4) propose potential changes to formulation boundaries that would further increase opportunities for environmental benefits; and (5) identify potential areas where research may increase the opportunity to integrate environmental features into future projects. The study employed initial interviews, briefings, teleconferences, presentations, and the implementation of an internet-based survey and webinars to obtain the desired information. The concept of EENI was relatively new to most participants, but was viewed by 95% of the respondents as an activity for which there is considerable opportunity. Respondents provided several examples of projects designed to increase environmental benefits and they also provided numerous new ideas for possible enhancements. These ideas spanned a wide range of navigation infrastructure.