TH

SC

AP

TE

AM

GROWING
ECOLOGICAL
RESILIENCY

Im excited to see
oysters come back.
They have such an
important
ecological, safety,
and historical
value.
- S.I. Resident

Seals like intertidal

habitat - shallow
haul out slopes are
ideal!
- S.I. Seal Watcher

AP

TE

AM

SC

Oysters are an
attractive nuisance,
posing significant
human health
threats. Restoration
sites need to be
carefully
monitored.

TH

- DEC Employee

HIGH TIDE

LOW TIDE

EXISTING SEA FLOOR

Breakwater placement avoids hard clam
habitat and other critical species.
44

SCAPE TEAM

These breakwaters
not only create
habitat diversity,
but they build
SUBTIDALentire
REEFecological
STREET
communities.
Subtidal
rock

- NOAA employee

enhancements provide
structure for juvenile fish
and lobsters.

GROWING ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCY

Harbor seals and birds use the exposed uplands for
basking and perching. Econcrete, an innovative low
pH concrete mix for maritime construction, is formed
into special units that line the reef streets. Their
composition of micro- and macro-surface textures is
proven to increase biological recruitment and shelter
filter-feeding organisms. Ultimately, biogenic buildup
will protect the structures from damage and prolong
their operational life span. At the same time, water
based economies and wildlife viewing opportunities
for the local community area are expanded and
enriched.

TH

SC

AP

TE

AM

Raritan Bay is prime habitat for juvenile fish that

shelter in the bay before venturing out into the
Atlantic Ocean as adults. Many of these fish species
require rocky habitat and tiny pore spaces for shelter
during this crucial phase of life. The breakwaters are
designed to maximize complexity and habitat for a
diversity of species, including finfish, lobsters, and
shellfish. Pockets of maximum complexity, known
as reef streets mimic the historic reef habitats of
Raritan Bay while serving as fishing and recreational
attractions. Other species, such as muddy bottomloving eelgrass and hard clams, thrive in the lightlysedimented zone in the lee of the breakwater.

INTERTIDAL REEF STREET

Intertidal shallow water
rock enhancements for
juvenile fish, lobsters,
and mussels.

UPLAND ISLAND
Exposed island habitat
free from predators.
Used by seals, people,
and birds.

SUBTIDAL ROCKY
SUBSTRATE
Subtidal shallow water
rock enhancements
for juvenile finfish,
lobsters, and shellfish.

MUDFLATS
Zones of moderate
sedimentation create
habitat for hard
clams, benthic fish,
and eelgrass.
LIVING BREAKWATERS

45

DESIGN FOR JUVENILES

and crevices to protect them from larger fish. The
breakwater is designed with a range of small crevice
spaces found in the piling up of natural stone. These
niches are complimented by specific holes formed in
econcrete units that line the reef streets.

Artificial reefs exist offshore of NY and NJ, creating

habitat for adult fish. Inside the Raritan Bay, juvenile
finfish are a target species group for habitat creation,
as they use the bay as a protective living and feeding
grounds before venturing into the Atlantic as adults.
Our project aims to create subtidal and intertidal
reef habitat for juvenile finfish and lobsters in the
protective Raritan Bay. Juvenile fish need small holes

SUMMER FLOUNDER

SCUP

SUMMER / SPRING

16 CM - 30 CM

SUMMER/ SPRING

ESTUARIES WITH ROUGH BOTTOMS,

SHELLFISH AND EELGRASS BEDS,
MAN -MADE STUCTURES
SANDY/ SHELLY AREAS, OFFSHORE
CLAM BEDS AND SHALL PATCHES
FOR WINTERING . OYSTER REEFS

SALT MARSH CREEKS, SEAGRASS

BEDS, MUDFLATS, OPEN BAY AREAS

ESTUARIES WITH SANDS, MUD,

MUSSEL AND EELGRASS BEDS

BLACKSUMMER
SEA BASS
FLOUNDER
SCUP

SUMMER / SPRING
16 CM - 30 CM

SUMMER
16 CM
/ SPRING
- 30
SUMMER/
CM
SPRING

SUMMER
SCUP FLOUNDER
WINTER FLOUNDER

SCUP
WINTERBLUEFISH
FLOUNDER

16 CM
SUMMER/
- 30BOTTOM
CM
SPRING
HABITATS WITH MUD
FINE GRAINED SAND
ITH ROUGH BOTTOMS,
ESTUARIES WITH
SALT ROUGH
MARSH CREEKS,
BOTTOMS,
SEAGRASS
ESTUARIES
SALT MARSH
WITH
ESTUARIES
ROUGH
CREEKS,
BOTTOMS,
WITH
SEAGRASS
SANDS, MUD,
SALT
ESTUARIES
MARSH CREEKS,
WITH SANDS,
SEAGRASS
MUD,
ND EELGRASS BEDS,
SHELLFISH AND
BEDS,
EELGRASS
MUDFLATS,
BEDS,
OPEN BAY
SHELLFISH
AREAS
BEDS,AND
MUDFLATS,
MUSSEL
EELGRASS
AND
OPEN
BEDS,
EELGRASS
BAY AREAS
BEDS
BEDS,
MUSSEL
MUDFLATS,
AND EELGRASS
OPEN BAYBEDS
AREAS
STUCTURES
MAN -MADE STUCTURES
MAN -MADE STUCTURES
LY AREAS, OFFSHORE
SANDY/ SHELLY AREAS, OFFSHORE SANDY/ SHELLYSTRUCTURE
AREAS, OFFSHORE
SIZE DEPENDANT ON
STRUCTURE SIZE DEPENDANT ON
BODY SIZE - SEEK OUT HOLES THAT
ND SHALL PATCHES
CLAM BEDS AND SHALL PATCHES
CLAM BEDS AND
BODY
SHALL
SIZE
PATCHES
- SEEK OUT HOLES THAT
NG . OYSTER REEFSFOR WINTERING . OYSTER REEFS
FOR WINTERINGFIT
. OYSTER
BODY. 5REEFS
CM - 13 CM AS JUV.FIT BODY. 5 CM - 13 CM AS JUV.

BLUEFISH

TAUTOG

1.6
- 12MUD
CM JUVENILES
OR
SUMMER/
BOTTOM5-7
HABITATS
SPRING
MM AS JUVENILES
WITH MUD OR
BOTTOM
5-7 MM HABITATS
AS JUVENILES
WITH
OR
5-7 MM AS JUVENILES
NEWLY SETTLED TAUTOG INHABITAT
FINE GRAINED
4-22 MM
SAND
AS ADULTS
FINE
4-22GRAINED
MM AS ADULTS
SAND
4-22 MM AS ADULTS
LIVE IN SHELTER OF JELLYFISH
SHALOW AREAS LESS THAN 1M
ESTUARIES WITH SANDS, MUD,
DEPTH INCLUDING TIDE POOLS.
MUSSEL JUVENILES:
AND EELGRASS
SANDY
BEDS
BOTTOM HABIJUVENILES: SANDY BOTTOM HABIJUVENILES: SANDY BOTTOM HABISHALLOWEELGRASS,
FLATS, SHELTERED
BAYS
TATS. ALSO SEA LETTUCE, EELGRASS,
TATS. ALSO SEA LETTUCE,
TATS. ALSO
SEA LETTUCE, EELGRASS,
OVER SAND MUD AND
ROCK
SUB- MARSHES
YOUNG TAUTOG- LESS THAN 10 CM
STRUCTURE
ANDSIZE
SPARTINA
DEPENDANT
MARSHES
ON
AND SPARTINA MARSHES
AND
SPARTINA
STRATES
JUVENILE - LESS THAN 25 CM
BODY SIZE - SEEK OUT HOLES THAT
FIT BODY. 5 CM - 13 CM AS JUV.

COVER AND VERTICAL RELEIF

IMPORTANT EELGRASS BEDS
OYSTER AND CLAM SHELLS USED AS
HABITAT FOR YOY AND SMALL
BOULDERS.

3- 19 CM

3- 19 CM

WINTER
BLUEFISH
FLOUNDER
BUTTERFISH

TE

BLACK SEA BASS

SUMMER FLOUNDER

RING

BLUEFISH

BOTTOM HABITATS WITH MUD OR

FINE GRAINED SAND

STRIPED BASS

LOBSTER

CLEAN, SANDY BOTTOM SHALLOW

WATER. GRAVEL BEACHES. SHALLOW WATER NEARSHORE AREAS

(SIM REQ AS BLACK SEA BASS AND

TAUTOG)
JUV - SHALLOW COBBLE SUBSTRATA. 25 MM SIZE WHEN VENTURE
FROM SHELTER.
COBBLE OR SMALL ROCK - 3-10 CM
IN DIAMETER.

ATLANTIC STURGEON
BOTTOM FEEDERS. SPAWN IN
HUDSON, SPEND MOST OF LIFE IN
OCEAN

LARGER ROCK/ BOULDERS

20-40 CM IN DIAMETER.
PROVIDE HABITAT FOR RANGE OF
JUVENILE SIZES AND SPECIES.

AP

YOU HIDE IN CAM AND OYSTER

SHELLS, BOTTLES, DEPRESSIONS
COVERED WITH FEW MM SAND
EXCEPT HEAD.

5-7 MM AS JUVENILES
4-22 MM AS ADULTS
JUVENILES: SANDY BOTTOM HABITATS. ALSO SEA LETTUCE, EELGRASS,
AND SPARTINA MARSHES

STRUCTURE SIZE DEPENDANT ON

BODY SIZE - SEEK OUT HOLES THAT
FIT BODY. 5 CM - 13 CM AS JUV.

3- 19 CM

ASS

WINTER FLOUNDER

AM

BLACK SEA BASS

3-7 CM TAUTOG - JUV - PREFER 3-4.

CM HOLES IN STRUCUTE HABITATS.

STRIPED BASS
STRIPED BASS
LOBSTER
STRIPED BASS LOBSTER
BUTTERFISH
TAUTOG
BUTTERFISH
TAUTOG
TAUTOG
1.6 - 12 CM JUVENILES
1.6 - 12 CM JUVENILES
CLEAN, SANDY
BOTTOM
SHALLOW
CLEAN,
SANDYINHABITAT
BOTTOM
(SIMSHALLOW
REQ AS BLACK
CLEAN,
SEA BASS
SANDY
AND
(SIM
BOTTOM
REQ AS
SHALLOW
BLACK SEA BASS AND
NEWLY
SETTLED
TAUTOG
NEWLY SETTLED TAUTOG INHABITAT
NEWLY SETTLED TAUTOG
INHABITAT
WATER.
GRAVEL
SHALWATER.
GRAVEL
SHALWATER. GRAVEL
TAUTOG)
BEACHES. SHALSHELTER
OF JELLYFISH
SHALOW
AREAS
LESS
THAN BEACHES.
1M TAUTOG)
TER OF JELLYFISH LIVE IN SHELTER OF JELLYFISH
SHALOW AREASLIVE
LESSINTHAN
1M SHALOW
AREAS LESS
THAN
1M BEACHES.
LOW
WATER
NEARSHORE
LOW WATER
AREAS
LOW WATER NEARSHORE AREAS
DEPTHAREAS
INCLUDING
TIDENEARSHORE
POOLS.
DEPTH INCLUDING TIDE POOLS.DEPTH INCLUDING
TIDE
POOLS.
JUV - SHALLOW COBBLE SUBSTRAJUV - SHALLOW COBBLE SUBSTRASHALLOW FLATS, SHELTERED BAYS
ATS, SHELTERED BAYS
SHALLOW FLATS, SHELTERED BAYS
OVER
AND ROCK
SUB-LESS THAN 10 CM YOUNG TAUTOG- LESS THAN 10 TA.
CM 25 MM SIZE WHEN VENTURETA. 25 MM SIZE WHEN VENTURE
MUD AND ROCK SUBOVER SAND MUD ANDYOUNG
ROCK SUBTAUTOGLESSSAND
THANMUD
10YOUNG
CM
TAUTOGFROM SHELTER.
JUVENILE - LESS THAN 25 CM FROM SHELTER.
STRATES
JUVENILE - LESSSTRATES
THAN 25 CM JUVENILE - LESS THAN 25 CM

JUVENILES

(SIM REQ AS BLACK SEA BASS AND

TAUTOG)

JUV - SHALLOW COBBLE SUBSTRATA. 25 MM SIZE WHEN VENTURE

FROM SHELTER.

SC

COVER AND VERTICAL RELEIF

COVER AND VERTICAL RELEIF COVER AND VERTICAL RELEIF
COBBLE OR SMALL ROCK - 3-10COBBLE
CM
OR SMALL ROCK - 3-10 CM
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IN DIAMETER.
IN DIAMETER.
EELGRASS BEDS
EELGRASS BEDS
EELGRASS BEDS
OYSTER AND CLAM SHELLS USED
OYSTER
AS
AND CLAM SHELLS USED AS OYSTER AND CLAM SHELLS USED AS
STURGEON
ATLANTIC
STURGEON
ATLANTIC STURGEON
LARGER ROCK/ BOULDERS
HABITAT FOR
YOY AND
SMALL LARGER ROCK/ BOULDERS
HABITAT FOR YOY AND SMALL HABITAT FOR YOYATLANTIC
AND SMALL
20-40 CM IN DIAMETER.
20-40 CM IN DIAMETER.
BOULDERS.
BOULDERS.
BOULDERS.
BOTTOM FEEDERS. SPAWN IN BOTTOM FEEDERS. SPAWN IN
BOTTOM FEEDERS. SPAWN IN
SPEND MOST
LIFEIN
HUDSON,
INCAM AND
SPEND
MOST
OF LIFE
IN
HUDSON,
SPEND
MOST OF
LIFE IN
PROVIDE
HABITAT
FOR RANGE
OF
PROVIDE
HABITAT
FOR RANGE OF
YOUOF
HIDE
OYSTER
YOU HIDE IN CAM AND OYSTER YOU HIDE IN CAMHUDSON,
AND OYSTER
OCEANDEPRESSIONSJUVENILE SIZES AND
OCEAN
SHELLS, BOTTLES, DEPRESSIONSSHELLS, BOTTLES,OCEAN
DEPRESSIONS
SHELLS, BOTTLES,
SPECIES. JUVENILE SIZES AND SPECIES.
COVERED WITH FEW MM SAND COVERED WITH FEW MM SAND
COVERED WITH FEW MM SAND
EXCEPT HEAD.
EXCEPT HEAD.
EXCEPT HEAD.

LOBSTER

COBBLE OR SMALL ROCK - 3-10 CM

IN DIAMETER.
LARGER ROCK/ BOULDERS
20-40 CM IN DIAMETER.
PROVIDE HABITAT FOR RANGE OF
JUVENILE SIZES AND SPECIES.

BLACK SEA BASS

SUMMER / SPRING

TH

3-7 CM TAUTOG - JUV - PREFER3-7

3-4.CM TAUTOG - JUV - PREFER 3-4. 3-7 CM TAUTOG - JUV - PREFER 3-4.
CM HOLES IN STRUCUTE HABITATS.
CM HOLES IN STRUCUTE HABITATS. CM HOLES IN STRUCUTE HABITATS.

ESTUARIES WITH ROUGH BOTTOMS,

SHELLFISH AND EELGRASS BEDS,
MAN -MADE STUCTURES
SANDY/ SHELLY AREAS, OFFSHORE
CLAM BEDS AND SHALL PATCHES
FOR WINTERING . OYSTER REEFS

SCUP

WINTER FLOUNDER

BLUEFISH

16 CM - 30 CM

SUMMER/ SPRING

BOTTOM HABITATS WITH MUD OR

FINE GRAINED SAND

5-7 MM AS JUVENILES
4-22 MM AS ADULTS

SALT MARSH CREEKS, SEAGRASS

BEDS, MUDFLATS, OPEN BAY AREAS

ESTUARIES WITH SANDS, MUD,

MUSSEL AND EELGRASS BEDS

JUVENILES: SANDY BOTTOM HABITATS. ALSO SEA LETTUCE, EELGRASS,

AND SPARTINA MARSHES

STRUCTURE SIZE DEPENDANT ON

BODY SIZE - SEEK OUT HOLES THAT
FIT BODY. 5 CM - 13 CM AS JUV.

3- 19 CM

SUMMER FLOUNDER

CONSTRUCT AROUND THE FISH LIFE CYCLE

BUTTERFISH
1.6 - 12 CM JUVENILES
LIVE IN SHELTER OF JELLYFISH
SHALLOW FLATS, SHELTERED BAYS
OVER SAND MUD AND ROCK SUBSTRATES

TAUTOG

STRIPED BASS

LOBSTER

NEWLY SETTLED TAUTOG INHABITAT

SHALOW AREAS LESS THAN 1M
DEPTH INCLUDING TIDE POOLS.

CLEAN, SANDY BOTTOM SHALLOW

WATER. GRAVEL BEACHES. SHALLOW WATER NEARSHORE AREAS

(SIM REQ AS BLACK SEA BASS AND

TAUTOG)
JUV - SHALLOW COBBLE SUBSTRATA. 25 MM SIZE WHEN VENTURE
FROM SHELTER.

YOUNG TAUTOG- LESS THAN 10 CM

JUVENILE - LESS THAN 25 CM

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

COVER AND VERTICAL RELEIF

COBBLE OR SMALL ROCK - 3-10 CM
IMPORTANT IN DIAMETER.
EELGRASS BEDS
OYSTER AND CLAM SHELLS USED AS
ATLANTIC STURGEON
LARGER ROCK/ BOULDERS
HABITAT
YOY AND SMALL
SCUP
WINTERFOR
FLOUNDER
WINTER
BLUEFISH
FLOUNDER
BLUEFISH
20-40 CM IN DIAMETER.
BOULDERS.
BOTTOM
FEEDERS.
IN
SUMMER
16/CM
SPRING
- 30 CM
16 CM
SUMMER/
- 30 CM SPRING
SUMMER/
BOTTOMSPRING
HABITATS WITH MUD OR BOTTOM
5-7 MM
HABITATS
AS
JUVENILES
WITH
MUD SPAWN
OR
5-7 MM AS JUVENILES
SPEND MOST OF LIFE
PROVIDE HABITAT FOR RANGE OF
YOU
HIDE
IN CAM
AND OYSTER
FINE
GRAINED
SAND
FINE
4-22
GRAINED
MMHUDSON,
ASSAND
ADULTS
4-22INMM AS ADULTS
OCEAN
SHELLS, BOTTLES,
DEPRESSIONS
JUVENILE SIZES AND SPECIES.
H BOTTOMS, ESTUARIES
SALTWITH
MARSH
ROUGH
CREEKS,
BOTTOMS,
SEAGRASS
SALT ESTUARIES
MARSH CREEKS,
WITH SEAGRASS
SANDS, MUD,
ESTUARIES
WITH SANDS,
MUD,
COVERED
WITH
FEW MMBEDS
SAND
ASS BEDS,
SHELLFISH
BEDS,
AND
MUDFLATS,
EELGRASSOPEN
BEDS,BAY AREAS BEDS,MUSSEL
MUDFLATS,
AND OPEN
EELGRASS
BAY BEDS
AREAS
MUSSEL
AND
EELGRASS
JUVENILES: SANDY BOTTOM HABI- JUVENILES: SANDY BOTTOM HABIEXCEPT HEAD.
S
MAN -MADE STUCTURES
TATS. ALSO SEA LETTUCE, EELGRASS,TATS. ALSO SEA LETTUCE, EELGRASS,
OFFSHORE SANDY/ SHELLY AREAS, OFFSHORE
STRUCTURE SIZE DEPENDANT ON STRUCTURE SIZE DEPENDANT ON
AND SPARTINA MARSHES
AND SPARTINA MARSHES
3-7 CM
TAUTOG
JUV -HOLES
PREFER
3-4.
L PATCHES CLAM BEDS AND SHALL PATCHES
BODY SIZE - SEEK OUT HOLES THAT BODY
SIZE
- SEEK- OUT
THAT
CMBODY.
HOLES5IN
HABITATS.
ER REEFS
FOR WINTERING . OYSTER REEFS
FIT BODY. 5 CM - 13 CM AS JUV.
FIT
CMSTRUCUTE
- 13 CM AS
JUV.
BLACK SUMMER
SEA BASSFLOUNDER

SUMMER
SCUPFLOUNDER

3- 19 CM

46

BUTTERFISH
TAUTOG
1.6 - 12 CM JUVENILES

SCAPE TEAM

TAUTOG

STRIPED BASS

STRIPED BASS LOBSTER

LOBSTER

AVOID FLOUNDER MATING SEASON!

HABITAT LIFE CYCLE

NY/NJ HARBOR

1. SPAWNING GROUNDS

TE

2. NURSERY

AM

IN THE SPRING, ADULTS MIGRATE TO THE

FRESHWATER OF THE HUDSON RIVER TO LAY
EGGS

AP

FERTILIZED EGGS FLOAT DOWNSTREAM. AFTER

HATCHING, THE LARVAE REACH THE HUDSON
RIVER ESTUARIES, A PRIME NURSERY AREA FOR
DEVELOPIING FISH OVER THE SUMMER.

4. OCEAN ADULTS
IN THE WINTER, ADULTS SWIM OFFSHORE FROM
NEW YORK WATERS AND EVENTUALLY MOVE
SOUTH. IN THE SPRING THEY MOVE NORTH AND
INSHORE, EVENTUALLY MOVING BACK TO
FRESHWATER RIVERS TO SPAWN.

TH

SC

3. BAY JUVENILES
JUVENILES OR YOUNG OF THE YEAR MOVE INTO
THE RARITAN BAY AND OTHER ESTURARIES OF
NEW YORK HARBOR UNTIL THEY ARE LARGE
ENOUGH TO JOIN THE ADULTS OFF THE COAST.

SOURCE:
NY STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION

LIVING BREAKWATERS

47

BREAKWATER DESIGN EVOLUTION

TE

BOTTOM FEEDERS. SPAWN IN

HUDSON, SPEND MOST OF LIFE IN
OCEAN

3 CM - 10 CM ROCK
SMALLER ROCK PROVIDES HABITAT FOR
YOUNGER AND SMALLER JUVENILE
SPECIES MOST PRONE TO PREDATION.

SC

LOBSTER

BLUEFISH

BUTTERFISH

TH

SCUP

BLACK SEA BASS

TAUTOG

48

10

15

20

SCAPE TEAM

25

20 CM - 40 CM ROCK

AP

JUVENILE SIZE
FISH AND SHELLFISH SPECIES OF
RARITAN BAY WITH PREFERENCE
FOR STRUCTURED HABITAT

ATLANTIC STURGEON

AM

Breakwaters are designed to avoid critical habitat and

integrate micro-complexity for a diversity of species.
The living breakwaters provide habitat throughout
the water column, from subtidal structure to upland
islands. Underwater, small scale pockets, or reef
streets, are incorporated into the breakwater and
provide foraging and shelter for juvenile fish. Above
water, the breakwaters can host harbor seals and
nesting birds, providing habitat free from predators.

30 CM

LARGER HOLE SPACES PROVIDE HABITAT

FOR JUVENILES AS THEY GROW AND
EXAPND THEIR FORAGING RANGE.

OYSTER REEF
BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES PROVIDE
COMPLEX GEOMETRIES ACCOMMODATING
A RANGE OF SPECIES AND AGES.