ASLA Recommends More Landscape Architects on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Projects
ASLA submitted written testimony to Congress. The recommendations are in response to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment stakeholder hearing on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).
Caleb Raspler
2024-01-07
ASLA submitted written testimony to Congress calling for more landscape architects on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects. The recommendations are in response to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment stakeholder hearing on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).
WRDA authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) studies, projects, and policies that address water resources. Congress has passed a bipartisan WRDA bill every two years for the past ten years. Since its inception, WRDA has been updated to allow USACE to move beyond constructing water infrastructure projects that only address traditional irrigation, navigation, and flood control issues. Today, USACE projects also focus on numerous community concerns, including climate change, biodiversity, recreation, and economic development.
ASLA’s testimony emphasized the additional resources and policies needed to use landscape architects’ unique expertise to address our nation’s growing water resources concerns. Specifically, ASLA’s Government Affairs team asked Congress to include the following in WRDA 2024:
- More nature-based solutions in USACE water resources projects
- More landscape architects working on USACE water resources projects
- More opportunities for small landscape architecture firms to work on USACE projects
- The adoption of The Sustainable SITES Initiative® (SITES®) in USACE projects
The profession’s STEM-focused education and training emphasizes hydrology, geology, botany, engineering site design, water management, and climatology. This education and training positions landscape architects to be uniquely qualified to work on and lead USACE projects.
“Landscape architects have been collaborating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for decades. WRDA 2024 provides a unique opportunity to strengthen the relationship and increase the use of nature-based solutions in water projects,” said Torey Carter-Conneen, CEO, American Society of Landscape Architects.
ASLA’s Government Affairs team continues to work with Congress and USACE to implement these recommendations.
The team worked with ASLA members who specialize in water and USACE projects to develop the recommendations.
Please tell us if you have expertise in water management and USACE projects.