Abstract Submission: The rock and concrete industry is the 3rd largest contributor to GHGs and carbon emissions worldwide accounting for roughly 10% of emissions globally. If they were a country, it would rank 3rd highest in emissions behind only USA and China. Recently, industry has seen initiatives for hard armoring alternatives and the use of nature-based solutions to provide long term resiliency to our infrastructure. Initiatives have come from acts including the WRDA 2020 reaffirming the commitment to have greater use of nature-based projects. Executive Orders and the 2030 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Target were issued to use nature-based solutions to enhance carbon sinks. In 2021, FEMA introduced its BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) program encouraging and incentivizing the use of nature-based solutions for flood hazard mitigation and awarded $1 billion through this program. High Performance Turf Reinforcement Mats (HPTRMs) are considered nature based and bonus points are awarded within the BRIC framework.
Vegetated HPTRMs can provide a quantifiable reduction in carbon footprint while also promoting groundwater recharge. Recent testing has also demonstrated a drastic improvement in water quality and TSS reduction using vegetated HPTRMs when compared to rock.
Applying these concepts, we will examine the overall impact of using HPTRMs in lieu of riprap for a 3,000-acre natural tidal wetland, creating beneficial habitat for native fish and wildlife, including the Delta Smelt. This wetland also improves flood management in the northwestern portion of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. The use of HPTRMs reduced the number of trucks required to armor the levee by 3,470 when compared to rock.
