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 advance- 

 ment of coastal and hydraulic engineering technology. The program is designed 

 to determine how well projects are accomplishing their purposes and are resist- 

 ing attacks by their physical environment. These determinations, combined with 

 concepts and understanding already available, will lead to creating more accurate 

 and economical 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 technology is inadequate or where additional research is required. 



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

 (USACE) established an ad hoc committee of engineers and scientists. The com- 

 mittee formulated the objectives of the program, developed its operational philo- 

 sophy, 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 area of interests of the 

 program. 



Corps offices are invited to nominate projects for inclusion in the monitoring 

 program as funds become available. A selection committee, comprised of mem- 

 bers of the MCNP Program Field Review Group (representatives from District 

 and Division offices), reviews and prioritizes the projects nominated. The prior- 

 itized list is reviewed by the Program Monitors at Headquarters, U.S. Army 

 Corps of Engineers (HQUSACE). Final selection is based on this prioritized list, 

 national priorities, and the availability of funding. 



The overall monitoring program is under the management of the Coastal and 

 Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL), U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment 

 Station (WES), with guidance from HQUSACE. An individual monitoring pro- 

 ject is a cooperative effort between the submitting District/Division office and 



Chapter 1 Introduction 



