The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Pacific Ocean Division hosted the 12th Sister Rivers Partnership Exchange between the Mekong River Commission and Mississippi River Commission Dec 8 – 12, 2024 in Tennessee and New York.
This partnership brought water resource leaders and experts from the United States, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam together to strengthen cooperation in sustainable river and water resources management, said USACE.
This year’s exchange focused on critical topics, including the impacts of population on water resources management, canals, locks and hydropower development, and environmental planning, and climate change adaptation.
Participants boarded U.S. Army Corps of Engineers vessels and visited Caven Point Marine Terminal – home of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division’s New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey Branch.
The delegates visited a drone and survey lab to learn about innovative technologies used for LIDAR and Bathymetric surveying and data processing.
Also, the delegation received presentations on Coastal Storm Risk Management, Harbor Deepening, and Ecosystem Restoration.
Participants discussed on nature based solutions – beach, dune, and reef restoration, coastal wetlands, islands, and plant systems, and innovative approaches to providing coastal resilience and balancing cost and complications of real estate acquisitions of up to 20,000 potential homes in the region and raising homes for flood protection.
They also discussed the benefits of reusing of dredged materials of which USACE’s goal is 70% by 2030.