The time to start is now: How implementing natural infrastructure solutions can improve and protect our coasts
Wide beaches, broad dunes, dense mangroves and maritime forests, healthy oyster and coral reefs, and thick salt marshes all can reduce damages associated with sea level rise and coastal storms. Natural defenses work, are cost effective, and provide a myriad of other benefits. We know enough now to confidently deploy these solutions for some circumstances. Certainly, natural defenses can be used as part of a multiple lines of defense approach providing protection from more frequent, smaller storm events and lessening the energy punch of large waves and high winds on built, or "gray," infrastructure. However, we lack sufficient modeling, data, and field experience regarding the performance of natural defenses under more severe conditions. Creating risk reduction engineering design literacy regarding natural defenses will hasten the acceptance and expansion of natural defenses as key components for building coastal community resilience. Development of engineering guidelines that include performance evaluation and monitoring recommendations, followed by extensive outreach and training, is proposed. multiple benefits to the community (Figure 1) Improvement of water quality, capture of fresh water, protection of groundwater, enhanced fisheries, and space for recreation are ecosystem services vitally important to the economic well being of coastal communities. Of course, by protecting and restoring our coasts' natural defenses, we also enhance