1

PROJECTOVERVIEW
January,2012

Vision:Decisionmakerspossessandapplythebestavailableinformationonshorelinemanagement
practicesastheyseektoprotectforfuturegenerationstheshorezoneswildlifehabitat,ecological
benefits,outdoorrecreation,communityqualityoflife,andwaterdependentbusinesses.
I.INTRODUCTION

TheProblem
HudsonRivershorelinesarebeingactivelymodifiedtosupportdevelopment,revitalizewaterfronts,
controlerosion,andincreasepublicaccess.Thesemodificationscansignificantlyaffecthowshorelines
performashabitatsforfishandwildlife.However,regulatorsandotherdecisionmakershavelacked
regionallyspecificinformationaboutecological,economic,andengineeringtradeoffsamongshoreline
treatments,andoptionsforenhancingshorelinehabitatvalues.
Purpose
ThepurposeoftheHudsonRiverSustainableShorelinesProjectistoprovidesciencebasedinformation
aboutthebestshorelinemanagementoptionsforpreservingimportantnaturalfunctionsoftheHudson
RiverEstuarysshorezone,especiallyassealevelriseacceleratesandstormsincreaseinintensity.The
projectisgeneratingnewinformationaboutengineeringperformance,economiccosts,projectedriver
conditions,legalandregulatoryopportunities,andtheneedsandprioritiesofkeyaudiences.

Outcomes/OurContribution
Weseektoproducethebestpossibleinformationtoanswerquestionsthatdecisionmakersand
advocateshaveaboutshorelines,fromecological,engineering,economic,social,legal,andother
perspectives.Wearecollaboratingwithdecisionmakersandadvocatesaswegatherandproduce
answerstothesequestions,andengagingthemindiscussionsabouthowbesttoencourage
ecologicallyenhancedshorelines,whereappropriate.

Benefits
Asaresult,communitiesandregulatorswillbeabletofullyconsiderthebenefits,tradeoffsand
consequencesofparticulardecisionsasshorelinesaremodifiedtoadapttoclimatechange,protect
infrastructure,revitalizewaterfrontsandsupportmultiplehumanusesoftheriver.Projectfindingswill
beusedtomakedecisionsaboutprivateandcommunitywaterfronts,regulatoryandlandusepolicies,
shorelinedevelopment,andlongtermplanstoallowvitalnearshorenaturalareastoexistinthefuture.

KeyProjectOutcomeUserGroups
Regulators,policymakers,expertsandconsultants,advocates,municipalofficials.

2

II.KEYQUESTIONSWESEEKTOANSWER
Howdoweproducethebestpossibleinformation?Thebestinformationanswersquestionsthat
decisionmakersandadvocateshaveaboutshorelines,fromecological,engineering,economic,social,
legal,andotherperspectives.Specifically,weneedtoanswer:
a) WhatshouldIknowabouttheconditionoftheHudsonRivertodayandinthefuturethataffects
theuseandtreatmentoftheshorelines?
1) Whatarethecurrentandprojectedfuturephysicalconditionsintheestuary?
2) WhataretheecologicalconditionsofHudsonRiverestuaryshorelines?Howdo
shorelinecharacteristicsimpactecology?
3) Whatarethebenefitsofshorelinestopeople?Howmightwevaluetheseservices?
4) Whatisthedistributionofshorelinetypes?Wherecanweenhanceecologyoftheshore
zones?

b) Whataretheshorelineoptions,andforeachone:
1) Howmuchdoesitcost?
2) Howlongmightitlast?Underwhatconditionsdoesitworkbest?
3) IsthereevidenceitworksintheHudsonRiverestuary?
4) Whatecologicalbenefitsdoesitprovide?
5) Isitlikelytobeapprovedbylocalandstateregulators?
6) Istheretechnicalcapacitytoconstructit?

c) Whatarethebestopportunitiesforadvancingecologicallyenhancedshorelines?
1) Howdoshorelinetreatmentdecisionsgetmadetoday,andbywhom?
2) Whatlegalandregulatoryopportunitiesexistforchangingmanagementpractices?
3) Whichgeographicareasshouldbetargetedforecologicalenhancement?
4) Aretheretoolswecandeveloptosupportdecisionmaking?
5) Howdowemosteffectivelyengageourintendeduserswiththeproject?

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III.ANSWERINGTHEQUESTIONS:CURRENTPROJECTSANDPRODUCTS

A.WhatshouldIknowabouttheconditionoftheHudsonRivertodayandinthefuture?
Question ProjectLeadand
ProjectName

FinalProduct(s)
Deadline:Current
Status
Whatarethecurrentand
projectedfuturephysical
conditionsintheHudsonRiver
estuary?

StevensInstitute
PhysicalForces
Engineering
Research,NYHOPS
model
GISmaps;brief
findingsreporton
winddrivenwaves,
wakes,ice,&currents
2013:Firstyearof
research
JeryStedinger
StormSurge
Modeling
ModelandPowerPoint
slides
Completed2010
ClimAID(NYSERDA;
separateproject)
Finalreportwithsea
levelriseprojections
Completed2011
Whataretheecological
conditionsofHudsonRiver
estuaryshorelines?Howdo
shorelinecharacteristicsimpact
ecology?
CaryInstitute
Literaturereviewof
shorelineecology
Peerreviewedarticle. Completed2010
CaryInstitute
Comparisonof
shorelineecology
Peerreviewedarticle;
brochure;overviewof
issuestoconsiderin
permitting
Completed2011
CaryInstitute
Engineeredshoreline
ecology
Engineeredshoreline
characteristics;Rapid
assessmentprotocol;
guidanceforexperts&
regulators
2013:Firstyearof
research
Whatarethebenefitsof
shorelinestopeople?How
mightwevaluetheseservices?
DavidVanLuven
EcosystemServices
Scoping
Finalscoping
document
Completed2011
Whatisthedistributionof
shorelinetypes?Wherecanwe
enhanceecologyoftheshore
zones?
HudsonRiverNERR
ShorelinesInventory
Geographic
informationsystem
(GIS)layers
InventoryTZto
Troycompleted
2006
CaryInstituteGIS
analysis
Maps&geographic
informationsystem
(GIS)layers
2013:Data
collectionand
earlyanalysis

B.Whataretheshorelineoptions,andforeachone:
Question ProjectLeadand
projectname
FinalProduct(s) Deadline/
CurrentStatus
Howmuchdoesitcost? StevensInstitute:
Construction&
operationcosts
3Pagersoneachof10
shorelineoptions&
finalreport
2012:MidPoint
DavidVanLuven:
Scopingofecosystem
servicesanalysis
Whitepaper Completed
2011
1

Howlongmightitlast?Under
whatconditionsdoesitwork
best?
StevensInstitute:
EngineeringResearch
3Pagersoneachof10
shorelineoptions&
finalreport
2012:MidPoint
Isthereevidenceitworksinthe
HudsonRiverestuary?

DemonstrationSites Demonstrationsites
anddatacollection
2013;Site
selection
underway
Whatecologicalbenefitsdoesit
provide?
CaryInstitute:Ecological
studies
Seepreviouspage Ongoing
Isitlikelytobeapprovedby
localandstateregulators?
CoordinatingTeam:
Focusgroupswith
regulators
Focusgroup
summaries
Ongoing
Istheretechnicalcapacityto
constructit?(Aretherelocal
engineers,consultants,
contractorscomfortablewith
thisapproachinthearea?)
ShawnDalton
interviewswithexperts
andconsultants;
Advisorycommittee
memberinput
FinalDaltonreport;
lessonslearned
summaries
Daltonworkis
complete;
advisoryinputis
ongoing

1
DecisioninSeptember2011nottopursueecosystemservicevaluationfurtherunderthisfundingsource.
5

C.Whatarethebestopportunitiesforadvancingecologicallyenhancedshorelines?
Question Project FinalProduct(s) Deadline:Current
Status
Howdoshorelinetreatment
decisionsgetmadetoday,andby
whom?

ConsensusBuilding
Institute:CaseStudies
ofmunicipalshoreline
projects
Summaryreport Completed2011
ThriveConsulting:
Interviewswith
expertsand
consultants
Summaryreport Completed2011
CoordinatingTeam:
Focusgroups&
AdvisoryTeam
Focusgroupand
teammeeting
summaries
Ongoing
Whatlegalandregulatory
opportunitiesexistforchanging
managementpractices?
PaceUniversity:Legal
andRegulatory
Framework
Report 2012:Ongoing
Whichgeographicareasshouldbe
targetedforecological
enhancement?
CaryInstitute:
Mapping,withinput
fromallproject
components
Maps&
recommendations
2012:Ongoing
Aretheretoolswecandevelopto
supportdecisionmaking?
ZackSteeleand
DecisionSupport
Tools(DST)work
group:DSTplanning
Recommendations,
tableofDST
alternatives
2013:Ongoing
Howdowemosteffectivelyengage
ourintendeduserswiththe
project?
CoordinatingTeam:
Focusgroups&
AdvisoryTeam
Focusgroupand
teammeeting
summaries;formal
evaluation
techniques
2013:Ongoing

IV.PROJECTBACKGROUND&PARTICIPANTS
LocalConditions
TheHudsonRiverEstuaryflows152milesthroughopen,rurallandscapesandrivertownstotheurban
boroughsofNewYorkCity.ConnectedtotheAtlanticOcean,theEstuaryhastidesthatreachtotheTroy
Dam.Thisprojectiscurrentlyfocusedonthe127milesfromtheTroyDamsouthtotheTappanZeeBridge.
Shorelinesareregularlysubjectedtotidalandrivercurrents,winddrivenwaves,icescour,andthewakes
ofrecreationalboatsandlargecommercialvesselsthatnavigatetheriverchannel.Stormsbringflooding
andstormsurge.Tocombaterosionandaccommodateworkingwaterfronts,roughly41percentofthe
6

watersedgeintheprojectareahasbeenreinforcedwithripraprevetment,bulkhead,orcribbing.Land
usedecisionsaboutshorelinetreatmentsaremadewithinacomplexlegalandregulatoryframework.
About1.3millionpeoplelivealongthispartoftheHudsonin79municipalities,eachwithitsownsetof
landuseordinancesandatraditionofhomerule.
ProjectHistory
Between2005and2007,theHudsonRiverNationalEstuarineResearchReservecharacterizedthe
HudsonRiverEstuarysshorelinesanddevelopedguidanceaboutshorelinemanagement.TheReserve
inventoriedshorelinetypeson85%oftheestuary;underwroteastudyofsoftengineeredshoreline
stabilizationalternatives;surveyedengineer,regulator,andmanagerneedsandknowledgeabout
shorelinemanagement;andheldaworkshoponshorelinesofteningalternatives.

In2008,theReserveandpartners,withfundingfromNOAAthroughtheCooperativeInstitutefor
CoastalandEstuarineEnvironmentalTechnologies,launchedtheSustainableShorelinesProjectto
identifytheecological,engineering,andeconomictradeoffsamongdifferentshorelinetreatments,and
tocommunicatethisworkeffectivelytodecisionmakers.In2010,theReserveandpartnersreceived
additionalNOAAfundingfromtheNERRSScienceCollaborativetoconductanindepthstudyofthe
ecologyofengineeredshorelines,characterizephysicalforcesaffectingHudsonRivershorelines,
constructashorelinedemonstrationproject,anddeveloptoolsandguidancefordecisionmakers.

Theneedforthisprojecthasbeenrecognizedintworegionalactionplans
2
thatcallforNewYorkState
agenciestoconsidersealevelriseinpoliciesrelatedtoshorelinemanagementandcoastallanduse,and
toprovidethetechnicalguidanceneededtoimplementthesechanges.

ProjectTeam
Ourprojectteamincludesnaturalandsocialscientists,engineers,naturalresourcemanagers,
communicationspecialists,andconsensusbuildingexperts.

NYSDECHudsonRiverNERR NYSDOSCoastalManagementProgram
NYSDECHudsonRiverEstuaryProgram NYSOfficeofClimateChange
CaryInstituteofEcosystemStudies NewYorkSeaGrant
StevensInstituteofTechnology CornellUniversity
ConsensusBuildingInstitute TheNatureConservancy
ThriveConsulting ScenicHudson
PaceUniversityLandUseLawCenter HudsonRiverValleyGreenway

AdvisoryCommittee
Toidentifythehighestpriorityinformationneeds,mostusefulproducts,andbestcommunication
modes,weengageimportantshorelinedecisionmakers.Localgovernmentofficials,shoreline
engineersandconsultants,shorelinelandowners,policymakers,regulators,andothersshapeand
guidetheprojectbyparticipatinginadvisorycommittees,focusgroups,surveysandcasestudies.

2
NYSSeaLevelRiseTaskForceFinalReport(2010)
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/slrtffinalrep.pdf,and
RisingWaters:HelpingHudsonRiverCommunitiesAdapttoClimateChange,FinalReport(2009).
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V.PROJECTS&PRODUCTS

TheSustainableShorelinesProjecthasfiveoverarchingobjectives:
A. Characterizepresentandfutureestuaryandshorelineconditions
B. Determineecological,engineering,andeconomictradeoffsofshorelinemanagementoptions
C. Characterizeshorelinedecisionmakingarenasandopportunities
D. Demonstrateinnovativeshorelinesandbestmanagementpractices
E. Createshorelinedecisiontoolsandcommunicateresults

Undereachmajortopicheadingbelowisalistofsubordinateprojects.Afewofthesearenotedtobe
independentofthisinitiative,buthavebeenincludedbecausetheyhavebeenessentialtoadvancing
theshorelinesinitiative.Also,someofthestudiesweresupportedinpartorentirelybyfundingfrom
othersources,andthesearenoted.FullcitationsandURLs,ifavailable,canbefoundinthefootnotesto
thisdocument.

A.CharacterizePresentandFutureEstuaryandShorelineConditions

TheHudsonRiverEstuaryanditsshorelinesareaffectedbyacomplexarrayoftides,currents,waves,
weatherpatterns,stormsurges,andglobalclimatetrends.Inordertomakegooddecisionsabout
shorelines,weneedtobetterunderstandthesenaturalforcestodayandhowtheymightchangeinthe
future.Thefollowingprojectsandstudiesweredesignedtocharacterizepresentandprojectedfuture
estuaryandshorelinesconditions.

1.SeaLevelRiseandOtherClimateProjections
Thisprojectoriginallyincludedfundingtoadvanceourunderstandingoflikelypatternsofsealevelrise
andfloodingalongtheestuary.Fortuitously,theNewYorkStateEnergyResearchDevelopment
Authority(NYSERDA)underwrotethedevelopmentofasetofclimateprojectionsbyColumbia
University,CornellUniversity,andHunterCollege,
3
whichwereadoptedbytheNewYorkStateSeaLevel
RiseTaskForce
4
andtheNewYorkStateClimateActionCouncil.Theseprojectionsareafundamental
underpinningoftheprojectandprovideinformationaboutfutureconditionsthatwillinfluencethe
ecosystemandmanmadeshorelinestructures.

2.Scenarios
Scenariosareconstructionsofplausiblesetsoffutureconditionsthatcanguidethinkingaboutboth
possibleconsequencesofandperformanceunderfutureconditions,inthiscaseofdifferentshoreline
treatments.AdiversegroupofstakeholderscametogetherovermanymonthsintheNature
ConservancyledRisingWatersProject,toidentifyfourpossiblefuturescenarios.
5
Althoughthese
scenariosarenotbeingusedinthisprojectatpresent,RisingWatersadvancedthinkingaboutand
communityawarenessofclimaterelatedchallengesandadaptationneedsintheHudsonValley.

3
ClimAIDIntegratedAssessmentforEffectiveClimateChangeStrategiesinNewYorkState(2011).
http://nyserda.ny.gov/Publications/Research-and-Development/Environmental/EMEP-Publications/Response-to-
Climate-Change-in-New-York.aspx

4
NYSSeaLevelRiseTaskForceFinalReport(2010)
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/slrtffinalrep.pdf

5
RisingWaters:HelpingHudsonRiverCommunitiesAdapttoClimateChange,FinalReport(2009).

8

3.StormSurge
TheHudsonRiverexperiencesstormsurgesfromtheocean;theselowpressuredrivenwavesmove150
milesuptheHudsonRivertotheheadoftideatTroy.ACornellUniversityproject,ledbyJeryStedinger,
createdaonedimensionalmodelofstormsurgeintheestuaryunderpresentconditions.Modelresults
confirmedthatstormsurgecanmoveallthewaytoTroy.
6

4.PhysicalForcesonShorelines
TheHudsonsshorelinesaresubjecttoawidevarietyofcomplexandinteractingphysicalstresses,
includingshipwakes,winddrivenwaves,ice,stormsurge,andcurrents.Thesehavenotbeen
systematicallymeasuredorcharacterizedthroughouttheHudson.StevensInstitutewilladvanceour
understandingoftheseforcesthroughacombinationofhistoricstudies,directmeasurements,and
modelingofcurrentandwindwaveenergybyextendingitsNYHOPSmodel
7
toTroy.Thisworkwill
advanceourunderstandingofpresentconditionsthatshorelinestabilizationwillneedtowithstand.

B.DetermineEcological,Engineering,andEconomicTradeoffsofShorelineManagementOptions

1.EcologicalTradeoffs
Shorezonesarevitalhabitatformultiplelifestagesofmanyfish,birds,reptiles,amphibiansand
invertebrates.Differentshorezonesprovidedifferentkindsandlevelsofhabitat,andwhenaggregated,
cansignificantlyinfluencelifeintheHudsonRiverecosystem.Thispartoftheprojectisgenerating
informationfromtheliteratureandfieldstudiestoidentifyshorelinetypesandfeaturesthatarebestto
supportlifeintheHudsonRiver,aswellasthosethatreducenearshorelife.

LiteratureReview:DaveStrayerandStuartFindlayproducedacomprehensivesummaryof
publishedliteratureontheecologyofshorezones.ThisworkwasfundedbyaNOAAgrantfor
HudsonRiverNERRoperations.
8

Comparisonofecologyofnaturalandengineeredshorelines:Inworkunderwrittenbythe
HudsonRiverFoundation,CaryInstitutescientistsandtheHudsonRiverEstuaryPrograms
restorationecologistcompletedafieldcomparisonsstudyofthreenaturalandthreeengineered
shorelines.
9
Anattractiveshortsummaryinbrochureformwasalsodeveloped.

6
ThisworkwasfundedbyaNYSDECHudsonRiverEstuaryProgramgranttoCornellUniversity.Project
PowerPointavailableat:<addURL>

7
NewYorkHarborObservationandPredictionSystem
(NYHOPSv3,Georgasetal.2009,www.stevens.edu/maritimeforecast)
Georgas,N.,Blumberg,A.F.,Bruno,M.S.,andRunnels,D.S.,2009.MarineForecastingforthe
NewYorkUrbanWatersandHarborApproaches:theDesignandAutomationofNYHOPS,
Proc.of3rdInternationalConferenceonExperiments/Process/SystemModeling/Simulation
&Optimization,Athens,Greece.8pgs.

8
Strayer,D.L.andS.E.G.Findlay.2010.Theecologyoffreshwatershorezones.AquaticSciences72:127163.
(http://springerlink.com/content/147526m7134jnt48/fulltext.pdf

9
Strayer,D.L.,S.E.G.Findlay,D.Miller,H.M.Malcolm,D.T.Fischer,andT.Coote.2011.BiodiversityinHudson
Rivershorezones:influenceofshorelinetypeandphysicalstructureInmanuscript.

9

RelatedShorelinesResearch:Otherinvestigatorshaveconductedresearchonwrackandshore
roughnessthroughresearchfellowshipsandmastersthesesunderpartnersinthisproject.
10

InDepthStudyofEcologyofEngineeredShorelines:Beginningin2011,withNERRSScience
Collaborativefunding,theCaryInstituteofEcosystemStudieswillleadanindepthstudyofthe
ecologyofengineeredshorelinestoidentifywhichhardenedorengineeredshorelinesare
betterfornaturalcommunities,focusingonidentifyingthoseelementsofshorelinedesignthat
canbemanipulatedintheshorelinedesignprocess.

2.EngineeringTradeoffs
Avarietyofshorelinetreatments,fromhighlyengineeredtonatural,existsontheHudson.Underthis
project,aseriesofliteraturereviewsandstudieshaveadvancedourunderstandingofwhatalternatives
existforshorelinemanagementgiventhephysicalconditionspresentalongtheHudsonRiverEstuary.
SoftShorelineAlternativeAnalysis:TwoengineeringfirmspreparedaninitialHudsonRiver
Estuaryspecificguidancedocumentaboutwhatalternativesexistfordevelopingsoftor
vegetatedshorelines.Thiswork,commissionedbytheHudsonRiverNERRandfundedbya
NOAAgranttoNYSDEC,wasthebasisforatrainingworkshoponsoftshorealternatives.
11

LiteratureReview:JonMillerandAndrewRellaproducedacomprehensivesummaryof
publishedliteratureonengineeringapproachesforlimitingerosionalongshelteredshorelines,
likethosefoundalongtheHudsonRiverEstuary.ThisworkwasfundedbyCICEET.
12

TradeoffsStudyof10ShorelineStabilizationTechniques:Thisstudy,inpreparationbyStevens
Institute,analyzestradeoffsinperformance,adaptability,andcost(in10yearincrementsto
2080)underlikelyfutureconditions(twoclimatescenarios)andprovidesomecomparisonsof
theecologicalimpactsofeachtype.ThisworkwasfundedbyCICEET.Itwillresultin3page
summariesofeachtreatmentandafinalreportinmid2012.
3.EconomicTradeoffsAmongShorelineOptions
Thecostsofmanagingshorelinescanrangefromlowtohigh,bothinconstructionandlong
termoperationandmaintenance.Differentshorelinetreatmentsareassociatedwithdifferent
levelsofriskoffailure,andsomearemoreeasilyadaptedovertimetosealevelriseandother
changingphysicalconditions,bothwithimplicationsforlongtermcost.Thenaturalservices
associatedwithdifferentshorelinesalsohavevaluesassociatedwiththemthatarepartofthe
equation.Bothpolicymakersandindividualshorelineownersandmanagersmustweighthis

10
StrayerandHarrisetal.studyofwrack,fundedbytheTiborPolgarFellowshipProgram.Reference&/orURL>
StrayerandAmyVillamagnaworkonshoreroughness.<reference&/orURL>

11
Allen,G.,T.Cook,andJ.Young.2006.HudsonRiverShorelineRestorationAlternativesAnalysis.Reportprepared
forNYSDECandNEIWPCCbyAldenResearchLaboratories,Inc.andASAAnalysisandCommunications,Inc.

12
Miller,J.K.andA.Rella.2010.EngineeringApproachesforLimitingErosionalongShelteredShorelines:AReview
ofExistingMethods.StevensInstituteofTechnology,DavidsonLaboratoryTechnicalReport,SITDL109DRAFT,
80pgs.

10

complexsetoffactorsinthecontextofotherfactorsincludingregulationsandincentivesto
selectshorelinetreatments.Thispartoftheprojectseekstoidentifywhichcostsaremost
importanttodecisionmakers,andtogatherinformationthatwillbehelpfultothemwhenthey
needtomakedecisions.

AlternativeapproachesforAssessingShorelineEcosystemServices:DavidVanLuvendevelopeda
whitepaperwithrecommendationsforvaluingtheecosystemservicesofdifferentshoreline
treatments.Hisreportwascompletedin2011.However,wedecidednottopursuethese
analysesfurtherduetofundingconstraintsandlimitedaudienceinterestinthisinformation.
C.CharacterizeShorelineDecisionMakingArenasandOpportunities
Inordertoinfluenceshorelinedecisionmaking,itisnecessarytounderstandanddescribethelegaland
policyarenasframingthesedecisions.Underthisobjective,weseektolearnmoreaboutwhoismaking
shorelinedecisionsalongtheHudson,howtheyaremakingthem,andtoidentifyopportunitiesfor
influencingthesedecisions.

1.LegalandRegulatoryOverview
TheLandUseLawCenteratPaceUniversityLawSchoolsummarizedthelegalandregulatoryframework
withinwhichshorelinedecisionsaremade.Theirreportidentifieslocallandusetoolsandlocal,state
andfederalregulationsthatshapesitebaseddecisions,aswellasopportunitiesforpromoting
ecologicallyenhancedshorelines.
13

2.AnalysisofEngineersandOtherExperts
ShawnDaltonofThriveConsultingsurveyedtechnicalexpertsandconsultantswhogiveshoreline
managementadvice,inorderto:determinewhetherandhowclimatechangeandsealevelriseare
currentlyviewedandincorporatedintoshorelineplanninganddesignalongtheHudson,identifyand
documentbarrierstotheadoptionofecologicallyenhancedshorelineengineeringtechniquesintothe
designprocess,andidentifypotentialtrainingneedsandmechanismsofinformationsharingamong
professionalsinthisorganizationalnetwork.Daltoninterviewedlandscapearchitects,engineers,
planners,economicdevelopmentofficials,developers,railroadtechnicalstaffandotherstodetermine
wheretheygettheirinformation,theusersoftheirservices,andatwhatstagetheycanmostreadily
influenceshorelineprojects.
14

3.ShorelineCaseStudies
TheConsensusBuildingInstituteanalyzedfivecasestudiesofrecentHudsonRivershorelineprojectsto
understandwhykeydecisionsweremadeandwhatinfluenceddecisionmakerstoselectparticular
shorelinetypes.The2011reportincludeslessonslearnedtobesharedwiththeprojectteamandothers
interestedinHudsonRivershorelinedecisionmaking(andsimilargroupsaroundthecountry).
15

13
PaceUniversityLawSchool,LandUseLawCenter.2011.SustainableShorelinesProjectLegalFramework:A
SurveyofShorelineGovernanceandLegalOpportunities,FinalReportpreparedforNYSDECandHudsonRiver
Greenway.

14
Dalton,S,(2011)"InformationNeedsAssessmentofShorelineExpertsandConsultantsintheHudsonRiver
Estuary.

15
ConsensusBuildingInstitute.2011.CaseStudyofHudsonRiverMunicipalShorelineProjects.
11

4.FocusGroups
Aseriesoffocusgroupmeetingswereheldwithregulators(2meetings)andmunicipalofficials(1
meeting)toexploretheirstateofknowledgeaboutshorelinemanagementoptionsandissues,andto
identifytheirneedsanddesiresforadditionalinformation.Thesefocusgroupresultshaveshaped
researchdirections,outreachproducts,andfundingrequests.

D.DemonstrateInnovativeShorelinesandBestManagementPractices

TheprojectreceivedfundingfromtheNERRSScienceCollaborativetodevelopitsfirstdemonstration
siteforinnovativeshorelinepractices.TheHudsonRiverNERR,HudsonRiverEstuaryProgram,and
partnershavebeguntoidentifycandidatedemonstrationsites.Overtime,wewillseektoexpandthe
demonstrationsiteintoanetworkwithassociatedoutreachandtechnicalmaterialstosupportshoreline
decisionmaking.

E.CreateShorelineDecisionToolsandCommunicateResults

1.Outreach&EngagementPlan
Inwinter20092010,asmallteamofoutreachspecialists(fromtheHudsonRiverEstuaryProgram,New
YorkSeaGrant,ThriveConsulting,SustainableHudsonValley,andtheHudsonRiverNERR)developedan
outreachandengagementplanfortheprojectcoordinatingteam.Thisdocumentrecommendedsteps
forlettingstakeholdersknowabouttheSustainableShorelinesproject,gettingbroadguidanceand
inputduringtheproject,andsharingresults.Theeffortresultedinaworkingdocument,aonepage
projectflyer,andaprojectpresentation.
16

2.SummaryofStakeholderInput
In2012,theConsensusBuildingInstitutewillsummarizekeylessonsandguidanceprovidedonthe
projectatmeetingsoffocusgroups,theprojectteamandadvisorycommittee,andpartnermeetings.
CBIwillsynthesizemeetingnotesfromfocusgroupsandadvisorycommitteemeetingsforreferencein
futureinitiatives.

3.ProjectFindingsDocuments
Basedonthefindingsofstatedpreferencesofourtargetaudiences,projectleadersarecreatingaseries
ofproductsthatrangefrom14pagesummariestopublishedpapers,asnotedineachsubproject
description.

4.DecisionTools
WithNERRSScienceCollaborativefunding,theprojectteamwillbedevelopingaGISdecisionsupport
toolforavarietyofdecisionmakerstouseinassessingwhichshorelinestreatmentsaremost
appropriateforagivenlocalsetting.Thisworkwillbecompletedin2013.

16
Dalton,S,M.Everett,N.Holochuck,andE.Hauser.2010.ADecisionSupportToolforDevelopinganOutreach
andCommunicationStrategyfortheHudsonRiverSustainableShorelinesProject.Draftinternalreportprepared
forNYSDECandHudsonRiverGreenway.