Waterfront Alliance launches initiative focused on Mississippi River

Waterfront Alliance has launched a two-year initiative to improve resilience for waterfront development along the Mississippi River.

The alliance developed Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG) that it will bring to the Mississippi River to strengthen the basin’s floodplain climate resilience at community waterfronts facing catastrophic flooding and other climate hazards.

The alliance “will engage floodplain managers, landscape architects, engineers, property owners, municipalities, environmental advocates, fellow nonprofit professionals, community leaders, and others via workshops, townhalls, presentations, technical assistance, education, and knowledge-sharing to inspire and steward equitable and effective climate-resilient design,” according to a news release.

“Unlike typical government development standards that merely require projects to do no harm, WEDG assesses 143 performance measures focused on resilience, flood protection, stormwater reduction, ecology, community engagement, and public access while incentivizing projects to add positive community value and correct historic wrongs.”

Priority project locations include the Quad Cities at the nexus of Illinois and Iowa and Memphis, Tennessee, areas at risk of increased flooding, repeat flooding, and higher flooding that could breach levees and other infrastructure. A partnership with the Walton Family Foundation will enable multiple projects to earn WEDG Verified status at no cost and offer free or reduced-cost training to professionals, volunteers, community leaders, and advocates in the region.