Restoration and resilience-building in an infrastructure improvement project along Jamaica Bay, NYC: Making Lemonade

Steven N. Handel, Christina M. K. Kaunzinger, Lea R. Johnson, Thomas J. Young, Kevin P. Corrigan

Center of Urban Restoration Ecology, Rutgers the State University of New JerseyABSTRACT The historic Shore Parkway section of the NYC Belt Parkway travels 16 miles from the East River, along the southern shoreline of Brooklyn, to JFK International Airport. This scenic drive had open views to the waters of Jamaica Bay, parallel systems of bicycle and pedestrian paths, and connections to a group of adjacent parks. Over time the views have be-come obscured, pathways have fallen into disrepair, and park connections made impassable due high volume, fast moving traffic. Reconstruction of the Parkway bridges presents an opportunity for landscape restoration, but is constrained by both ecological and administrative factors. Site assessment revealed maritime plant communities degraded by many non-native invasive vines, Phragmites reeds, and trees. The degraded plant communities follow a typical elevational gradient of low-lying beach and salt marsh plants bordering Jamaica Bay, transitioning to salt tolerant shrubs, then maritime forest. Construction activities removed plants primarily from the forest zone. Soil analysis revealed wide-ranging pH reflecting the sandy dredge soil base, past and present construction dumping, and high pH topsoil applied in medians and road banks where turf grass was then sown. The impact of Hurricane Sandy here in October 2012 is obvious, with debris fields, vegetation death and uprooting. Targeted invasive and hurricane debris removals and re-planting of coastal species in all zones will most effectively enhance site-wide ecological health and add resiliency to predicted increases in storm frequency and significant sea level rise. Implementation of these ecological recommendations is constrained by funding levels for invasive plant removal, concerns about maintenance needs, and different public agencies having regulatory control of adjacent parcels. Ecological restoration will require close collaboration among these municipal and federal agencies.

CONSTRAINTS

Ecological

CANA

RSIE

PIER

SPRING CREEK PARK

LANDFILL

ROCA

KWAY

PAR

KWAY

REM

SEN

AVE.

BERG

EN A

VE.

SEAVIEW AVENUE

AVENUE N

CANARSIE PARK

PAER

DEG

AT B

ASIN

MCGUIRE FIELDS

FRESH CREEK PARK

FRES

H CR

EEK

BASI

N

LOUI

SIAN

A AV

E.

BAYVIEW PLAYGROUND

E 10

8TH

ST.

VEGETATION

SCALE:

NORTH:

0 100’ 200’ 400’ 800’

Maritime BeachBioswaleSalt MarshCoastal ShrubLawnCoastal Meadow

Successional Maritime ForestPhragmitesRestoration AreaHurricane DebrisConstruction

CANA

RSIE

PIER

CANARSIE POL

GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

CA

NA

RSI

EPI

ER

SPRING CREEK PARK

LANDFILL

RO

CA

KW

AY P

AR

KW

AY

REM

SEN

AVE

.

BER

GEN

AVE

.

SEAVIEW AVENUE

AVENUE N

CANARSIE PARK

PAER

DEG

AT B

ASI

N

MCGUIRE FIELDS

FRESH CREEK PARK

FRES

H C

REE

K B

ASI

N

LOU

ISIA

NA

AVE.

BAYVIEW PLAYGROUND

E 10

8TH

ST.

EVERGREEN TREES AT BRIDGE ABUTMENTS

EVERGREEN TREES AT BRIDGE ABUTMENTS

GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

Maritime Forest - North

Evergreen Tree Groupings

Maritime Forest - South

Existing Bioswale/Salt Marsh

Coastal Meadow

Coastal Shrub

Bicycle PathsAccess PathsFuture Bycicle/Pedestrian PathsROW

SCALE:

NORTH:

0 100’ 200’ 400’ 800’

Maritime Beach

CANARSIE POL

BRIDGE ABUTMENTS

RESTORATION PLAN

EXISTING SITE

Administrative

INVASIVES

HIGH SOIL pH

SEA LEVEL RISE

TRASH / PATHWAYS

HURRICANE SANDY DEBRIS

FORMER MARSH/OPEN WATER soil origin largely dredge spoils

JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES

DOT MAINTENANCE RULES

FUNDS LIMITED TO TREE RESTITUTION

SOIL SPECS FOR ENGINEERING NEEDS

HISTORIC DESIGNGUIDELINES

HURRICANE SANDY DEBRIS

GOLDEN ASTER MEADOW

SALT MARSH

PHRAGMITES

COASTAL SHRUB

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

SUCCESSIONAL MARITIME FOREST

Plant for storm surge and sea level rise in the uplandsModel: Maritime holly and coastal oak forests

Plant for storm surge and sea level rise in the lowlandsModel: Maritime red cedar forest and coastal shrub

Modify species palette for these concerns: - High soil pH - Bacterial leaf scorch - Viburnum leaf beetle - Aesthetics - High biodiversity against future stresses

Concentrate invasives re-moval around new plantings including DOT bioswales and other identified restoration areas

Ensure car, bike, and pedestrian visibility with low growing coastal meadow plantings