Hudson River Comprehensive Restoration Plan A Plan to Restore and Revitalize the Hudson River

Transcription

1 Hudson River Comprehensive Restoration Plan A Plan to Restore and Revitalize the Hudson River Bear Mountain State Park Carl Heilman II January 2015 Regional Information Sessions

2 Welcome Andy Peck Freshwater Project Manager The Nature Conservancy Walkway over the Hudson Steve Stanne/NYSDEC

3 Agenda Welcome Comprehensive Restoration Plan Hudson River Estuary Hudson River Habitats Climate Change and Communities Community Benefits Next Steps Q & A Norrie Point Chris Bowser

4 Presenters Andy Peck Sacha Spector Fran Dunwell Jerry Faiella Dan Miller Maureen Cunningham

5 Today s Purpose Highlight on-going community engagement efforts within the Hudson River Estuary Introduce the Hudson River Comprehensive Restoration Plan Explain how these multiple efforts interact Identify community benefits of participation Highlight engagement opportunities

6 Why a Comprehensive Restoration Plan Provide a shared regional vision for a restored estuary (cleaner, more productive and more stable) Serve as a blueprint for action Enable federal funding for Hudson River projects to increase community resilience Enhance recreation and tourism (economic potential of communities) Kingston Kayak Festival 2013 Dan Shapley

7 Comprehensive Restoration Plan Existing agreement in place Partnership: Partners Restoring the Hudson 20+ not-for-profit organizations and academic institutions In consultation with state and federal agencies Development View of Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, NY TNC

8 Partners Restoring the Hudson Not-for-profit organizations and academic institutions Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, Clarkson University Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Historic Hudson River Towns Hudson River Foundation Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Hudson River Watershed Alliance Hudson River Watertrail Association Lower Hudson Valley Coalition of Conservation Districts Riverkeeper Scenic Hudson The Nature Conservancy State and Federal Agencies Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve Hudson River Valley Greenway NOAA Restoration Center New York New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program New York State Energy Research and Development Authority U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

9 Waters We Share: New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Plan Hudson We Share: Expands scope to include comprehensive restoration and resilience plan the Hudson we Share

10 Types of Projects Tidal/Intertidal Wetlands SAV/Shallow Water Riparian Buffers and Floodplains Tributary Connectivity and Barriers Native Communities Waste/Storm Water Management Reduce Contaminants (Brownfields) Sediment Management Water Access and Navigability Estuary Education Centers and Opportunities Resilient Waterfronts and Shorelines Commercial and Recreational Fisheries

11 Fran Dunwell Hudson River Estuary Coordinator Hudson River Estuary Program/NYSDEC

12 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda A blueprint for partnerships to help people enjoy, protect and revitalize the Hudson River and its Valley: Clean Water Resilient Communities Vital Estuary Ecosystem Fish, Wildlife, & Habitats Natural Scenery Education, River Access

13 Progress Access: one per community along the estuary Habitat restoration: Restoration Plan + projects at Gay s Point, Tappan Zee, Iona Island, Saw Kill & more Water quality: Albany Pool pathogen reduction, Saw Mill Daylighting, WQ projects in Hudson, Kingston & more

14 A Look Forward Stronger storms, aging infrastructure, more use of river Habitat restoration-larger scale projects Improve water quality-infrastructure Enhance river access (ADA/EJ) and make it resilient to storms

15 Daniel Miller Habitat Restoration Coordinator Hudson River Estuary Program/ NYSDEC

16 Hudson River Habitat Restoration Plan A commitment in the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda (Goal 2, Target 2) Focused on critical habitats that have been lost or degraded A climate resiliency and adaptation strategy An opportunity created by improved conditions Basis for partnerships with federal agencies and non-governmental organizations

17 Priority Restoration Habitats Share 3 Characteristics History of loss or degradation due to human action Important role in ecosystem Feasibility restoration opportunities exist 58% 41% Engineered, Hard Shoreline Natural Miller, Bowser and Ekerlin 2005

18 150 Years of Habitat Loss Modern day air photo near Castleton, NY Pre-navigation channel construction to present day

19 Restoration Actions Restoration Actions Intertidal Habitats Priority Habitats for Restoration Shallow Habitats Shorelines Tributary Habitats Preserve existing estuary habitats X X X X Restore side channels X X X Promote and implement fish passage (FP), dam removal (DR) and culvert right-sizing (CRS) Promote and implement use of ecologically enhanced shoreline treatments Implement programs to control invasive plant and animal species DR,CRS DR X X X X X X DR, FP, CRS

20 Adapting to a New Normal: Resilient Waterfront Communities Sacha Spector Director of Conservation Science Scenic Hudson

21 A Changing River The Hudson River is over 12 higher than a century ago. 21 st Century SLR is much more rapid and seems to be accelerating.

22 UPPER HUDSON ESTUARY A Changing River (inches)

23 Changing Risks

24 Changing Risks

25 Changing Risks

26 Making Room for Nature Tidal wetlands are critical to the estuary and people of the Hudson River. The most productive habitat and natural storm buffers.

27 Making Room for Nature The distribution of tidal wetlands will be changing over the course of the century. Many new areas of tidal wetlands are possible in currently undeveloped areas. NOW

28 Planning for Resilience Identify and prioritize strategies for making communities more resilient, makes people & property safer ensures waterfront vitality conserves coastal natural resources

29 Planning for Resilience A Focus on Solutions What can be done now and how will it help residents, business, and the ecosystem? What can communities do to be more resilient in the future through smart investments, planning and consensus building? Emergency Management & Communications Planning and Codes Critical Infrastructure Municipal Operations Outreach & Collaboration Open Space and Nature

30 Case Study: City of Kingston Storm Buffer Recreation & Access Wastewater Infrastructure Resilient Waterfront Redevelopment Brownfield Remediation Storm Buffer

31 Community Benefits Jerry Faiella Executive Director Historic Hudson River Towns Maureen Cunningham Director Hudson River Watershed Alliance John Lipscomb

32 Communities who participate benefit by. Being prioritized in competitive grant process Gaining access to cutting edge scientific assessment data related to sea level rise, floodplain growth and social vulnerabilities Engaging and developing solutions with neighboring communities facing similar issues Participating at no cost to your local jurisdiction

33 Why get involved? Water quality in Hudson River better than 40 years ago Hudson River communities can be a model for other regions Fran Martino, Greater Stockport Creek Watershed Alliance M. Cunningham

34 Next Steps Regional Meetings Partnership Coordination at County Level 2015 Jan Feb Mar Apr 2015 Today Community Workshop #1 4/16/2015 Future of the Hudson Summit

35 What You Can Do Share your knowledge Contact Existing Plans Habitat restoration and resiliency opportunities in your community Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester Jerry Faiella Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Ulster Maureen Cunningham

36 Q & A

37 Thank You The Nature Conservancy, Andy Peck, Hudson River Estuary Program, NYS DEC, Fran Dunwell, Dan Miller, Scenic Hudson, Sacha Spector, Historic Hudson River Towns, Jerry Faiella, Hudson River Watershed Alliance, Maureen Cunningham,