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
