Engineering with Nature® Plant Book Published

Courtesy Photo | A new publication from the USACE-ERDC Engineering With Nature® (EWN) program offers practical guidance for integrating native vegetation into infrastructure projects to add resilience, and achieve added engineering function along with economic, ecological, and social benefits. Engineering With Nature: Integrating Plant Communities into Engineering Practices, was authored by Dr. Tosin Gaskin and Dr. Catherine Thomas (EL) and developed in collaboration with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), academic partners, and interagency contributors. This manual is intended to support USACE Districts and Divisions across both Civil Works and Military missions in construction, maintenance, infrastructure retrofits, and nature-based infrastructure design.  

VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, UNITED STATES

06.06.2025

Story by Carol Coleman 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center   

Engineering with Nature® Plant Book Published

A new publication from the USACE-ERDC Engineering With Nature® (EWN) program offers practical guidance for integrating native vegetation into infrastructure projects to add resilience, and achieve added engineering function along with economic, ecological, and social benefits.

Engineering With Nature: Integrating Plant Communities into Engineering Practices, was authored by Dr. Tosin Gaskin and Dr. Catherine Thomas (EL) and developed in collaboration with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), academic partners, and interagency contributors. This manual is intended to support USACE Districts and Divisions across both Civil Works and Military missions in construction, maintenance, infrastructure retrofits, and nature-based infrastructure design.

The publication outlines a systematic approach to incorporating vegetation into engineering practices—identifying where plant communities can replace or enhance traditional hardscapes, understanding ecosystem services, and illustrating practical application through detailed case studies across USACE projects and military installations.

Key Features Include:
• Practical guidance for biotechnical planting in both pre- and post- construction phases
• Strategies to address erosion, land loss, wave attenuation, and structural stabilization
• Native plant selection guidance spanning 15 states and multiple ecosystem types
• Identification of noxious and invasive species to avoid
• Case studies demonstrating successful vegetation-based solutions in real-world infrastructure contexts

This manual builds on foundational Engineering With Nature resources like the original Planting Design for Engineering with Nature guide and expands the EWN suite of tools supporting USACE’s commitment to deliver resilient, mission-ready infrastructure. Access the publication from the EWN website here:
https://ewn.erdc.dren.mil/publications/archive/engineering-with-nature-integrating-plant-communities-into-engineering-practices-a-guidance-manual-book-2/

Library Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/49651

Reference: Gaskin, T. A., and C. C. Thomas. 2025. Engineering With Nature: Integrating Plant Communities into Engineering Practices. A Guidance Manual. Book 2. ERDC/EL SR-25-2. Vicksburg, MS: US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory.

Funding: Funding was provided by EWN program, Dr. Jeff King, Program Manager, with support from Installation and Operational Environment, Research Development Area, Dr. Elizabeth Ferguson, Lead Technical Director.

SoN: N/A.

POCs: Catherine Thomas, Research Biologist, EL-EPE, [e-mail]
Tosin Gaskin, Program Manager, EL-EZT, [e-mail]
Courtney Chambers, EWN Communication Lead, EL-EEE, [e-mail]

• Date Taken: 06.06.2025
• Date Posted: 06.09.2025 11:38
• Story ID: 499781
• Location: VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, US