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1Understanding and Managing Understanding and Managing Hudson
River ShorelinesHudson River Shorelines
Daniel MillerNYS Dept. of Environmental ConservationHudson River
National Estuarine Research
ReserveHudson River Estuary
[email protected]
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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
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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
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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
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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).
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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
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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
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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
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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
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