Technical Workshop: Building Coastal Resilience: Nature-based Strategies for Risk Reduction, Ecological Conservation and Environmental Stewardship

Sunday, August 9, 2026 | Times 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

(RSVP only | Lunch on own)

4.0 PDHs

More than 40% of the human population lives within 100 Km of a shoreline, and a majority of our urban centers are coastal in nature. Yet, these are the very areas that face risks associated with coastal erosion, habitat fragmentation and loss, declining water quality, and inundation risk from compound flooding. Solutions which incorporate natural elements have been demonstrated to increase habitat complexity, slow down stormwater flow rate, absorb pollutants, reduce erosion, and divert and reduce coastal currents and wave energy. Working in tandem, these solutions can either complement or enhance the function of conventional risk mitigation infrastructure such as sea walls and stormwater diversion drains. 

This workshop will focus on the combined  impacts of fluvial, pluvial, and coastal compound floods in coastal settings, and nature-based solutions to minimize and mitigate these risks. Typical approaches to quantify ecosystem co-benefits such as better water quality, reconnected habitats, and economic dividends will be discussed. As systems become increasingly dynamic due to changing weather and risk profiles, flood threat assessment and early warning are also taking center stage. Demonstrations of model-based and data-driven software systems for coastal zone planning, management and flood forecasting will be  discussed. Attendees will benefit from learning about the state-of-the art solutions for coastal risk mitigation. 

Some of the learning objectives envisioned are:  

•    How the application of nature-based solutions can complement and enhance traditional infrastructure in protecting against coastal threats.
•    Approaches for quantifying ecosystem co-benefits through the integration of nature-based solutions in coastal applications.
•    Tools and techniques for forecasting coastal flooding.

Instructors:  Brian Parsons, Jejal Bathi Reddy & Vamsi Krishna Sridharan
 

Technical Workshop: TMDL Analysis and Modeling Advances for Holistic Watershed Management

Sunday, August 9, 2026 | Times 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

(RSVP only | Lunch on own)

4.0 PDHs

The objectives of this workshop are to (a) provide an overview of ASCE Manual of Practice (MOP) 150 “TMDL Development and Implementation: Models, Methods, and Resource” and (b) present the advances in TMDL modeling and holistic watershed management such as applying artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning (ML) and addressing evolving issues (e.g., PFAS and climate impact). 

The workshop participants will learn directly from authors for MOP 150 regarding watershed and receiving water quality modeling methodologies along with case studies on TMDLs and watershed management. In addition, the participants will benefit from interacting with speakers from utilities, municipalities, and other practitioners for their real-world perspectives on TMDLs and holistic watershed management. 

Instructors:  Harry Zhang - with cooperation from the TMDL Analysis and Modeling Task Committee
 

Technical Workshop: Modern Curve Number Hydrology: Fundamentals and Remote Sensing Applications

Monday, August 10, 2026 | Times 1:00 PM - 4:15 PM

(RSVP only | Lunch on own)

3.0 PDHs

The Modern Curve Number Hydrology: Fundamentals and Remote Sensing Applications workshop introduces participants to an updated, data-driven approach to watershed-scale runoff estimation by integrating the classic NRCS Curve Number Method with satellite-based Earth Observation (EO) and GIS tools. Designed for students, engineers, and water-resource professionals, the workshop blends foundational hydrologic concepts with hands-on skill building in multispectral image analysis and web-based platforms such as WikiWatersheds, USGS StreamStats, SSURGO, and NLCD. Through a sequence of focused modules, participants learn to delineate watersheds, classify land cover using satellite imagery, derive spatially distributed Curve Numbers, and generate area-weighted CN estimates using reproducible workflows. The workshop emphasizes conceptual clarity, transparency in assumptions, and practical applications, equipping attendees to evaluate uncertainty, quantify land-use change using historical satellite records, and apply EO-enhanced CN methods in real-world hydrologic analysis. 

Instructors:  John J. Ramirez Avila & Saurav Kumar