1 Introduction 



Monitoring Completed Navigation Projects 

 Program 



The goal of the Monitoring Completed Navigation Projects (MCNP) 

 Program (formerly the Monitoring Completed Coastal Projects Program) 

 is the advancement of coastal and hydraulic engineering technology. The 

 program is designed to determine how well projects are accomplishing 

 their purposes and are resisting attacks by the physical environment. 

 These determinations, combined with concepts and understanding already 

 available, will lead to predicting more credible engineering solutions to 

 coastal and hydraulic problems; to strengthening and improving design 

 criteria and methodology; to improving construction practices and cost- 

 effectiveness; and to improving operation and maintenance techniques. 

 Additionally, the monitoring program will identify where current technol- 

 ogy is inadequate or where additional research is required. 



To develop the direction for the program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- 

 neers established an ad hoc committee of engineers and scientists. The 

 committee formulated the objectives of the program, developed its opera- 

 tional philosophy, recommended funding levels, and established criteria 

 and procedures for project selection. A significant result of their efforts 

 was a prioritized listing of problem areas to be addressed, essentially a 

 listing of the areas of interests of the program. 



Corps offices are invited to nominate projects for inclusion in the moni- 

 toring program as funds become available. A selection committee, 

 composed of members of the MCNP Program Field Review Group (repre- 

 sentatives from District and Division offices) and civilian members of the 

 Coastal Engineering Research Board, reviews and prioritizes the projects 

 nominated. The prioritized list is reviewed by the Program Monitors at 

 Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (HQUSACE). Final selec- 

 tion is based on this prioritized list, national priorities, and the availabil- 

 ity of funding. 



The overall monitoring program is under the management of the 

 Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), U.S. Army Engineer Water- 

 ways Experiment Station (WES), with guidance from HQUSACE. An 



Chapter 1 Introduction 



