Featured Work

ECE is known for our unique expertise in creative problem solving for challenging coastal problems and development,
a strong understanding of the regulatory processes, our expertise in developing effective
solutions that are both innovative and sustainable and our quality and superior performance in the constructed project. Our strategic understanding and approach to navigating the complex array of federal and state regulations governing coastal development results in timely, effective solutions for our clients’ complex coastal projects. ECE is valued for project management, understanding of economics and costing and our practical business approach to our clients’ projects. We are recognized for
our “prototype” project design solutions and leadership that have advanced the practical applications of new technologies to solving coastal engineering problems.
Low impact civil and coastal engineering designs are fundamental to our practice and ECE is known for technical

innovation and environmentally sustainable dredging methods such as the strategic use of coastal structures (e.g. groins) where appropriate combined with sand placement, sediment separation and containment for multi‐reuse purposes, life cycle analysis and systems engineering. We
strongly support efforts to elevate sustainability as a strategic priority through projects that minimize negative environmental and social impacts while emphasizing long term value.
Ms. Erickson has worked to develop the ASCE BOD’s Sustainable Infrastructure certification program for both projects and engineers which launched in April 2011. The Envision™ Sustainability Rating System, developed through this initiative, provides a set of objective‐based goals that will guide the engineer, owner, contractor, regulator and policymaker to provide more effective levels of reliability, resilience, efficiency, organizational adaptability, and overall project performance specifically for infrastructure projects. Information on the Envision rating system can be found on the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure website at
www.sustainableinfrastructure.org/rating/index.cfm.
Some of Our Unique and Sustainable Featured Projects Include:
Habitat Island Creation

ECE services for dredging, sediment re-use and sediment management engineering are associated with maintaining navigability for commerce and private investment, improve flushing and water quality and recycle and reuse sediments through management and treatment according to type and quality. One subset of beneficial re-use of dredged sediment is the creation of habitat islands for multiple purposes including mitigation, restoration, erosion control and creation of habitat and re-use of sediments. These islands are often constructed in bays and estuaries where wind and wave driven forces require erosion control materials to contain the finer sediments, provide a stable base and foundation to withstand the forces of scour and storms as well as to provide substrate to anchor plant materials. For more information on our habitat island creation projects visit our
Environmental Services and Habitat Restoration service page.
Strategic Use of Coastal Structures
A phased approach to the design and construction of coastal structures provides performance and economic advantages. Our experience has been that many structures perform better (i.e. hold more sand and affect a longer length of shoreline) than the numerical model simulations or analytical methods predict leading to many economic advantages for the client. Two recent examples include the Bloody Point T-Head Groins on an inlet beach in South Carolina and the East Grace Bay T-Head Groin field located in close proximity to some of the world's most vibrant coral reef systems. For more information please visit our
Coastal Structures service page.
Ocean Discharge Pipelines
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Recognized by the local municipality for our creative problem solving and strong permitting expertise, ECE was selected to develop a plan and design to resolve the County’s flooding problem at a nationally ranked ‘Best Beach in US’ (2012). ECE developed a unique design that utilized a specialized water quality treatment system, nearshore directional drilling and a diffuser system creatively combining new and existing technologies to solve a chronic flooding problem. Providing coastal and civil engineering services from planning through construction, this prototype stormwater system is expected to be complete in late 2013. ECE subsequently designed two similar coastal stormwater projects with high capacity conveyance systems for another gulf coast municipality recently completing the planning through permitting phases. For more information on these projects please visit our
Stormwater Improvements service page.
Geotextile Container Systems

Geotextile containers can be used for a variety of coastal engineering applications including offshore breakwaters, coastal shoreline stabilization and dewatering. In 2000, ECE designed, permitted and constructed the first prototype geotextile revetment fronting an inlet channel to protect two 10 story condominiums. In 2010, ECE designed and fabricated a geotextile container system and dune restoration prototype to protect 1,000 feet of critically eroding shoreline, valued at $80 million, as the first such dune core system in the State of Florida. Recently completing three years of performance and sea turtle monitoring in compliance with the USFWS certified sea turtle “Habitat Conservation Plan”, the project is deemed a successful, sustainable shore protection system for at risk coastal development protecting endangered species of sea turtles. Most recently, we have designed a 3.5 acre habitat island where geotextile containers will be used for sediment dewatering and island stabilization. For more information on our various geotextile container projects visit our
Coastal Structures service page.
Inlet Reopening

ECE’s principal engineer served as the Engineer of Record for an inlet reopening and relocation project referred to as the Mason Inlet Relocation Project in Wilmington, NC. This project, constructed in 2002, relocated a large tidal inlet 3,000 ft north and replenished two miles of eroding beaches, with restoration of water-bird habitats and conversion of spoil islands to protective wetlands. In 2009, ECE’s facilitated two large scale inlet channel relocation and reopening projects. Constructed in 2010, a south Florida inlet channel at Blind Pass was reopened after being closed for 12 years. Reopening of this inlet improved flushing and water quality and provided sand to restore the adjacent beaches. For more information visit our
Inlet Management and Navigation service page.
Geotechnical and Sand Source Investigations

The ECE Team has conducted extensive geotechnical investigations in support of our coastal projects including offshore sand searches for beach restoration. Notably in 2007, we conducted an inter-island sand mapping study for the Turks and Caicos Islands government to identify sources suitable for supplying sand for beach restoration and construction projects. The study included extensive geotechnical field investigations including 60+ vibracores and 80+ jet probes performed in an open water environment.