Each year, the ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards recognize projects that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, and meaningful impact for the communities they serve.
On December 16, 2025, Straughan was honored to receive the Grand Award at the ACEC/MW Engineering Excellence Awards for the Regional Blue-Green Infrastructure Community Engagement and Planning Study, delivered in partnership with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) and led by ICF.
Rethinking Flood Resilience at a Regional Scale
Flooding does not stop at county lines, yet flood planning often does. With FEMA grant support secured by the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County and managed by MWCOG, this study set out to create a coordinated, watershed-scale approach to flood resilience.
As technical lead, Straughan advanced the watershed planning and flood analysis that formed the backbone of the study. The project focused on Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI), nature-based solutions such as floodable parks, reforestation, stormwater retrofits, and floodplain restoration that reduce flood risk while enhancing community spaces.
Proving BGI Works
Using an innovative distributed HEC-HMS modeling approach, the team evaluated upstream BGI networks across three cross-jurisdictional watersheds: Arundel Canal, Oxon Run, and Watts Branch.
The results were significant:
- Removal of 64 structures from the 100-year floodplain
- Peak flood reductions of up to 48% in the 2-year storm
- Peak reductions of 23% in the 100-year storm
The study also produced more than 210 pages of mapped opportunities, a prioritization framework balancing flood risk and equity, and step-by-step guidance to move projects toward funding. One demonstration concept has already secured grant funding and is advancing into design.
Engineering With Communities
A defining feature of this work was its community-centered approach. Through stakeholder collaboration and a Regional Open House that placed residents alongside agency partners, technical analysis was translated into clear, usable information that helped shape shared priorities.
A Collaborative Achievement
This Grand Award reflects the leadership of MWCOG, the coordination of ICF, the engagement expertise of CHPlanning, and the dedication of the entire project team.
We are proud to have contributed to a project that demonstrates how regional collaboration, engineering rigor, and community voice can come together to build safer, more resilient neighborhoods.
At Straughan, we believe the most effective solutions emerge when technical expertise and community priorities move forward together.