Corps laboratories, along with partners from federal, state, and regional governments and academia, are pursuing a rigorous investigation of a regional sediment management approach to solving sediment related problems. The RSM research program is developing tools and knowledge necessary to understand the effects of sediment management actions at both local and regional scales. The program is developing methods and procedures to design regional sediment plans. The studies include all landscapes, from the upper watershed to the coastline. Major products resulting from the research include a watershed sediment budget tool that can be used to rapidly assess the impacts of upstream watershed activities on downstream channels; morphology modeling systems for coast and river systems that predict long-term, large-scale morphology changes; and a framework for developing RSM plans and implementing RSM in the field. A RSM Demonstration Program documented that managing sediment on a regional scale can result in significant cost savings and increased benefits. Because regions may extend beyond the limits of Corps projects and, at times, beyond District boundaries, many stakeholders with varied objectives and disciplines must become involved. Often, the Corps is the facilitating agency in developing regional sediment management plans, as is also the agency with the technological skill and capability to assess the impact of alternative plans.

Research areas within the RSM program are interrelated, with research staff providing information and capabilities to one another, and producing information and capabilities that will be incorporated into RSM tools. RSM focus areas include (a) River-basin morphology modeling and management, (b) Coastal morphology modeling and management, (c) Sediment processes and assessment, and (d) Sediment management methods. The work areas fall into five categories; (a) Basic sediment processes, (b) Engineered solutions, (c) RSM tools, (d) Informatics, and (e) Technology transfer and insertion.