The southeastern shoreline of Staten Island, New York has experienced continued erosion over decades due to increasingly intense waves. Additionally, wave activity, siltation, dredging and pollution have significantly deteriorated the marine ecology of Raritan Bay, including the once abundant oyster population and the rich biodiversity it supported.
The need for enhanced erosion protection came into stark relief during recent storm events, including Superstorm Sandy, when the community of Tottenville experienced severe damage from storm surge. Following Sandy, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Presidential Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force launched “Rebuild by Design” to seek community and policy-based solutions to protect U.S. cities most vulnerable to intense weather events. WSP was part of the interdisciplinary team led by SCAPE Landscape Architecture that proposed the selected “Living Breakwaters” concept.
Credit line for image above: The Scape Team Living Breakwaters HUD Rebuild By Design