NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

KristinMarcell,NYSDECHudsonRiverEstuaryProgram/CornellWRI
ClimateSmartWaterfronts:
BalancingWaterfrontRevitalization
andWaterfrontFlooding
BetsyBlair,NYSDECMarineHabitatProtection/HudsonRiverNERR
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Define vulnerable areas (now and
future)
Design waterfronts to provide
Economic benefits
Environmental benefits
Be safe!
Can we build climate smart?
Ossining Waterfront Hurricane
Sandy - Jerry Faiella
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
What is the
lifespan of
infrastructure?
What is the
long term
vision for the
waterfront?
What
assets do
we want to
conserve?
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Protection: Shoreline armoring
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Seawalls
Hamburg, Germany
Surge barrier
Rotterdam,
Netherlands
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
For good reason
Oil terminals
Cultural landmarks
Infrastructure
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Can we do better?
Dont do this if you dont
have to!
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Accommodation: Elevating or
designing to flood
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Elevated structures with
flood gates, Hamburg,
Germany
Wave attenuation,
Brooklyn Bridge Park
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Allow Room for Rivers
Village of Tarrytown
Shoreline eco-corridor
with swales and native
grasses
www.scenichudson.org
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Strategic Relocation: Keeping
or moving structures out of
harms way
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Piermont
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Iona Island
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
In the long term in
many areas parks
may be better
uses of the shore
than buildings.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Limit development in highest
risk areas
Town of Pleasant Valley
Zoning code limits uses in 100 yr floodplain to
those minimally affected by high water
Town of East Hampton
Prohibits new bulkheads that would block wetland
movement.
150 setback and no build zones in high hazard
floodplains
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Considerations at the site
level
Economic
Visual
Environmental
Technical
Social
Political
Funding/Administration
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Ossining waterfront
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Ossining waterfront
Simulation: elevated sea level (4) at high tide
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Ossining waterfront
Simulation: elevated sea level (4) at high tide,
armored protection
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Ossining waterfront
Simulation: elevated sea level (4) at high tide,
partial retreat, elevated land, floodproofed building
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Ossining waterfront
Simulation: elevated sea level (4) at high tide,
elevated rail, strategic retreat
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Main Questions:
1. Physical stresses now? In future?
2. Management options? Ecological,
Functional, and Cost Trade-offs?
3. Do shoreline options work?
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Physical Forces
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Shoreline option tradeoffs
Ecological
benefits
Continuing
benefits over
time
Structural
stability
Adaptability
Failure risk
Construction
cost
Maintenance
cost
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
10 Steps to better shore
zones
Preserve physical
diversity
Resist tidiness
Dont squeeze the
zone
Prevent pollution
Reduce wave
damage
Tread lightly
Dont make dead
ends
Dont make it so hard
Give shores room to
move
Be careful about
building
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Study of 10 shore treatments
Standard Treatments Ecologically Enhanced
Steel bulkhead
Wood bulkhead
Green or bio wall
Rock revetment
Riprap
Live stakes / joint planting
Timber cribbing Live crib wall
Sill
Vegetated geogrid
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Engineering Lessons
Almost any structure can be ecologically
enhanced.
Lifecycle costs of ecologically
enhanced shorelines are cost
competitive with some of the traditional
approaches.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Demo Site Network
Web resource
Lists sites Hudson ecologically enhanced sites
Includes case study, design docs, photos, contacts
Currently: 3 finalized case studies, 5 being drafted
Esopus Meadows Preserve
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Esopus Meadows Preserve
after several storms
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
ErodingShoreline
Coxsackie Boat Launch
Demonstration Site
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
http://bronx.mit.edu/meet-your-waterfront-plan
Dept of Urban Studies and Planning,
School of Architecture + Planning at MIT
the gabions are arranged in an
undulating pattern along the
riparian edge to disperse wave
motion and slow water speeds.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
www.hrnerr.org
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Questions?
Kristin Marcell
Hudson River Estuary Program
Phone: (845) 256-3017
Email: kamarcel@gw.dec.state.ny.us