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A Recap of:
Regional Dialogue to
Advance Sustainable
Shorelines along
Sheltered Coasts
October 4, 2013
Rutgers University, NJ
Christina Tobitsch
NYSDEC Hudson River Research Reserve
February 10, 2014
Workshop Objectives
Share the findings from the Hudson River
Sustainable Shorelines Project
Discuss regional approaches for the advancement of
living shorelines with shoreline stakeholders from
New York, New Jersey, and Delaware
Address barriers to living shoreline implementation
Methods
Transfer of current shorelines information
Panel discussion
Collaborative discussions & brainstorming
Speed dating session
Setting the Stage
Promoting choices that
preserve or enhance
ecology and shoreline
benefits while meeting
engineering needs
Science-Based Findings
and Technical Guidance
Comparative Cost
Analysis
Engineering Tradeoffs
Peer Reviewed
Ecological Studies and
Outreach Brochure
Case Studies
www.hrnerr.org
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Other Steps Forward:
New York
Planning documents
NYC Urban Waterfront Adaptation Strategies
COPRI Living Shorelines Database
Research
NYNJ Harbor Estuary RFP: A Standard Protocol for
Assessing the Habitat Quality of Ecologically
Enhanced Urban Shorelines
Steps Forward:
New Jersey
NJDEP Regulatory Rule Writing Retreat
Collaborative decision making
Demo site visits
Results: Living shorelines general permit &
NJDEP Living Shorelines Coordinator
Delaware Estuary Living Shorelines Initiative
(DELSI)
Demonstration Projects
Steps Forward:
Delaware
Permitting
Statewide activity approval permit
Incentive based cost share program
Statewide Coordination
Living Shorelines Committee
Education
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Key Takeaways and Synergies
Sustainable
Shorelines
Demonstration
Projects
Monitoring
Cost
Considerations
Educating
Stakeholders
Regulatory
Demonstration Projects
Need more regional, relevant projects to point to
Improves stakeholder buy-in, offer greater sense of
ownership
Provide valuable on-the-ground examples to educate
regulatory staff, construction workers, and engineers.
Establish and share where,
when, and how projects have
been done
Databases
Monitoring
Monitoring of:
1. Ecology and ecosystem services
2. Structural stability
Consider scale
Develop priority parameters for monitoring
Funding for long-term monitoring is a struggle
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Cost Considerations
Total cost: planning,
installation, maintenance,
replacement
Valuation of ecosystem
and services
Costs avoided due to
presence of living
shorelines
User
preferences
Education
Cater information to specific audiences: regulators,
engineers, construction contractors, municipalities,
and landowners including homeowners.
Develop universal terminology and definitions
Facilitate dialogues
between groups
Regulators and engineers
Regulatory
Look to other states for regional examples of successful
permits and programs
Not a limiting factor for collaboration.
Aforementioned focus areas are all viable and
important regardless of state differences
Other Important Takeaways
Extension and replication of studies or protocols
in other states and regions
Strong participant interest in work groups and
future collaborative opportunities. Reserve
interest in bringing key players together.
Regional benefits working collaboratively
builds our capacity to advance living shorelines.
For More Information Visit:
http://tinyurl.com/NYNJDEShorelines
Front-end assessment
Workshop handouts & presentations
Proceedings & outcome summary
Recording of todays webinar