1Understanding and Managing Understanding and Managing Hudson River ShorelinesHudson River Shorelines

Daniel MillerNYS Dept. of Environmental ConservationHudson River National Estuarine Research

ReserveHudson River Estuary Programdemiller@gw.dec.state.ny.us

2Characteristics of Natural Estuarine Characteristics of Natural Estuarine ShoresShores

Natural shorelines are dynamic Natural shorelines are dynamic and diverse placesand diverse places

Part of larger sediment budget Part of larger sediment budget systemssystems

Stability and ecological function Stability and ecological function depend on morphology, depend on morphology, composition and hydrologycomposition and hydrology

Need for mitigation determined Need for mitigation determined by natural stability and cultural by natural stability and cultural interestsinterests

Estuarine Shoreline: Habitat Estuarine Shoreline: Habitat FunctionsFunctions

Production Production Littoral species Littoral species

habitathabitat ForageForage RefugeRefuge ReproductionReproduction

Interaction with Interaction with uplandsuplands

TrophicTrophic interactionsinteractions

3Estuarine Shoreline: Cultural Estuarine Shoreline: Cultural FunctionsFunctions

Food ResourceFood Resource TransportationTransportation RecreationRecreation

FishingFishing BoatingBoating Passive RecreationPassive Recreation

Community Community DevelopmentDevelopment

Reasons for Shoreline StabilizationReasons for Shoreline Stabilization

Public SafetyPublic Safety AccessAccess Property ProtectionProperty Protection SedimentSediment ContaminantsContaminants

4History of The Hudson Rivers History of The Hudson Rivers ShorelineShoreline

Early 19Early 19thth century century channel modificationchannel modification

Railroad construction Railroad construction completed 1852completed 1852

Early 20Early 20thth century century channel dredging and channel dredging and spoil depositionspoil deposition

Waterfront Waterfront industrializationindustrialization

Waterfront community Waterfront community developmentdevelopment

Historic Shoreline ModificationsHistoric Shoreline Modifications

Timber and rock Timber and rock cribbingcribbing

Timber bulkheadsTimber bulkheads RiprapRiprap ConcreteConcrete

5Current Trends Resulting in Current Trends Resulting in Continued Shoreline HardeningContinued Shoreline Hardening

Failing bulkheads Failing bulkheads needing repairneeding repair

New development New development pressurespressures

Waterfront Waterfront revitalizationrevitalization

Possible Effects of Hard Engineered Possible Effects of Hard Engineered ShorelineShoreline

Increases turbidity in the water column. Increases turbidity in the water column. Deepens near shore habitat.Deepens near shore habitat.Decreases habitat complexity. Decreases habitat complexity. Reduces water exchange with wetland Reduces water exchange with wetland habitats behind structures.habitats behind structures.Creates a barrier to aquatic/terrestrial Creates a barrier to aquatic/terrestrial migration.migration.Reduces wetland migration (during rising sea Reduces wetland migration (during rising sea levels).levels).

6Critical QuestionsCritical Questions

How do ecosystem functions vary with How do ecosystem functions vary with shoreline type (engineered and shoreline type (engineered and natural)?natural)?

Can shorelines be managed to support Can shorelines be managed to support both ecosystem and cultural functions? both ecosystem and cultural functions?

Hudson River Shoreline Hudson River Shoreline Research AgendaResearch Agenda Inventory existing Inventory existing

shoreline typesshoreline types classificationclassification mappingmapping

Identify engineering Identify engineering alternativesalternatives

Conduct demonstration Conduct demonstration projectsprojects

Determine habitat Determine habitat functionsfunctions

7Spring Black Bass CPUE (individuals per hour) for Spring Black Bass CPUE (individuals per hour) for Hudson River Estuary Shoreline TypesHudson River Estuary Shoreline Types

Source: NYSDEC and LMS

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Rock

face

/Rip

rap

Pilin

gs an

d Stu

mps

Bran

ches

Wre

cks

Woo

d Bul

khea

dEm

erge

nt V

egeta

tion

Flats

Dock

s

Shee

tpile

Hudson River Shoreline InventoryHudson River Shoreline Inventory

High tide line inventoried High tide line inventoried from the riverfrom the river

Tappan Zee bridge to Tappan Zee bridge to Troy damTroy dam

5 level nested 5 level nested classification schemeclassification scheme

1902 discreet shoreline 1902 discreet shoreline segments mappedsegments mapped

8Hudson River Shoreline Hudson River Shoreline Classification SchemeClassification Scheme

Nature Structure Substrate Adjc. Land Use ConditionRevetment Unconsolidated Rock StableGabion Timber Degrading

Engineered Cribbing Sheet PileBulkhead Concrete MarinaWoody Debris Mixed Soil and Rock Public Access/ParkOther Other Railroad

IndustryUndevelopedPrivate Property

Natural Parking/RoadwayGramin/Brdleaf Veg Mud/Sand Unknown/Abandnd.

Natural w/Remnant Woody Veg Unconsolidated Rock OtherEngineering Unvegetated Solid Bedrock Stable

Woody Debris Sand w/Brick ErodingOther Mixed Soil and Rock

Industrial OtherNon-Engineered

Soft Engineered None at present

Natural ShorelinesNatural Shorelines

VegetatedVegetated UnvegetatedUnvegetated RockRock

9Engineered ShorelinesEngineered Shorelines

BulkheadBulkhead RevetmentsRevetments CribbingCribbing

Hudson River Shoreline Hudson River Shoreline Inventory (preliminary)Inventory (preliminary)

0.170.93Soft Engineered

0.502.65Indust. Non-Eng.

11.6161.56Nat w/Remnant

Eng.

46.77248.05Natural41.94217.13Hard Engineered

%KilometersL1: Nature

Source: NYSDEC

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Hudson River Shoreline Hudson River Shoreline Inventory (preliminary)Inventory (preliminary)

0.010.05Other0.150.80Gabion

16.1585.65Unvegetated29.50156.46Woody11.1911.19Gram./Brdlf. Veg8.9447.40Bulkhead0.985.20Cribbing

31.84168.84Riprap/Revetment%KilometersL2: Structure

Source: NYSDEC

Hudson River Shoreline Hudson River Shoreline Inventory (preliminary)Inventory (preliminary)

1.125.95Other11.9963.58Mixed Soils & Rock0.894.72Sand with Brick8.4544.80Bedrock

52.52278.52Unconsol. Rock16.2586.18Mud/Sand4.6924.89Concrete1.678.87Sheet Pile2.4112.80Timber%KilometersL3: Substrate

Source: NYSDEC

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Hudson River Shoreline Hudson River Shoreline Classification and InventoryClassification and Inventory

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Hudson River Shoreline Hudson River Shoreline Classification and InventoryClassification and Inventory

Hudson River Shoreline Hudson River Shoreline Classification and InventoryClassification and Inventory

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Next StepsNext Steps

Finalize Shoreline Finalize Shoreline InventoryInventory

Conduct Functional Conduct Functional AssessmentAssessment

Construct and Monitor Construct and Monitor Demonstration Demonstration ProjectsProjects

Todays WorkshopTodays Workshop

Restoration or Enhancement?Restoration or Enhancement? Clearly define project goals and prioritiesClearly define project goals and priorities

Historic conditionsHistoric conditions Ecological functionEcological function Human use functionsHuman use functions

Sites are examples selected based on field Sites are examples selected based on field observations without consultation with observations without consultation with owners/communities.owners/communities.

There is no substitute for diversity and There is no substitute for diversity and undisturbed natural systems.undisturbed natural systems.

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Daniel MillerHudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve (HRNERR)Bard College Field StationAnnandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504845-758-7014

Preservation of existing habitat is critical to the success of estuarine restorationRestore Americas Estuaries (RAE) Principle #1: