CONNECTING THE CANOPIES: SUBMERGED AND EMERGENT AQUATIC VEGETATION

Coastal green infrastructure has increasingly been touted as a sustainable alternative to traditional gray infrastructure such as bulkheads and seawalls. In particular, aquatic vegetation (e.g., salt marshes, seagrasses) has been cited for its capacity to buffer storms and protect coastlines. One of the key remaining challenges with utilizing these (eco)systems is engineers’ ability to gauge their efficacy in a variety of environmental conditions. In order for green infrastructure to be a viable option for coastal communities, engineers need the tools to rigorously evaluate the expected performance of a proposed project, whether it be a marsh restoration or hybrid levee system. For the evaluation of nearshore coastal green infrastructure, engineers turn to hydrodynamic models.