Supporting Hudson Riverfront Communities as Climate-Adaptive Leaders. Libby Zemaitis November 17, 2017 NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program

Transcription

1 1 Supporting Hudson Riverfront Communities as Climate-Adaptive Leaders Libby Zemaitis November 17, 2017 NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program

2 The Hudson River Estuary Program 2 Working to achieve 6 key benefits: clean water resilient communities vital estuary ecosystem fish, wildlife, and habitat natural scenery education, access, recreation and inspiration

3 New York s climate is changing faster than national and global averages Climate hazards Trends in our climate Climate risks Impacts to humans 3 Increasing temperatures Changing precipitation patterns Rising sea level Heat waves Short-term drought Flooding

4 Hurricanes Irene and Lee (2011) and Superstorm Sandy (2012) were devastating for Hudson Riverfront communities 4 Hurricane Irene, Kingston, NY

5 5 It s within a community s power to adapt to climate change Mitigation is extremely important, but we all share one atmosphere Climate adaptation is empowering on a smaller scale Landowners, communities or businesses can make themselves more resilient

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7 NYS is pioneering through the Community Risk & Resiliency Act Requires sea-level rise projections (DEC) Requires applicants demonstrate consideration of sealevel rise, storm surge & flooding in specified permits & funding programs, & guidance on implementation (DEC, DOS) Adds mitigation of sea-level rise, storm surge & flooding to Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act criteria (DEC, DOS) Requires guidance on use of natural resiliency measures to reduce risk (DEC, DOS) Requires guidance on model local laws to enhance resiliency (DOS,DEC) 7

8 8 Supporting communities as climate-adaptive leaders

9 The Climate-Adaptive Design studio supports Hudson River communities to visualize their future 9 Using design to inspire A collaboration with Cornell University Department of Landscape Architecture

10 CAD supports and connects to existing NYS assistance programs Climate Smart Communities (DEC) Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (DOS) Brownfield Opportunity Area (DOS) Stewardship Planning (Estuary Program) Total over $100m in annual grants! 10

11 Case study: City of Kingston 11

12 CAD creates the most up-to-date maps using latest NYS adopted sea-level rise projections 12 Up to 75 or more additional sea-level rise by 2100 Considered in funding and permitting

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14 14 Students consider the many assets at risk, as identified by the community Homes Businesses Roads Recreation Marinas Waste water treatment plant Library Churches Wetland And much more

15 The Hudson River is home to globally rare freshwater tidal wetlands 15

16 16 CAD students dive into existing community projects and plans Task Force final report Hudson Riverport (BOA) plan And many more

17 Images: NYC Planning 17 Students study climate resilient strategies Conserve open space Strategically relocate highest risk buildings Allow paths for marsh migration Increase shade for cooling Right-size culverts and bridges

18 Images: NYC Planning 18 Including wet floodproofing buildings Local examples: Old Savannah Restaurant Clearwater Home Port

19 Students highlight green infrastructure strategies 19

20 Students highlight shorelines with natural and nature-based features Living shorelines (marsh sill) Ecologically enhanced bulkheads and revetments Constructed wetlands 20

21 Natural and nature-based features offer many co-benefits Reduces hazard vulnerability ostorm surge and wave attenuation oerosion control and shoreline protection Ecological co-benefits owater purification owildlife, habitat diversity ofishery habitats provision omarsh and forest habitats ocarbon sequestrations oair quality improvement 21

22 Student s final design boards can help Piermont visualize a range of future conditions Thinking outside the box Phasing, short- to long-term Varying costs + feasibilities 22

23 23 A lot can change in a 100 years, so it s hard to visualize the future in the present Kingston Point Park, circa 1900

24 How do you envision a climate resilient future in your community? 24 Long Dock Park, Beacon, NY

25 25 Adaptation Inspiration New video series on Climate Smart Communities Adaptation Actions (PE7) Plan for sealevel rise tinyurl.com/cscvideoslr

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27 Sign up for grant announcements + more! 27 Climate Resilience newsletter tinyurl.com/climatenewsletter Watch our video on climate-adaptive strategies! tinyurl.com/cscvideocad For more info, contact Libby Zemaitis Climate Outreach Specialist, Hudson River Estuary Program Libby.zemaitis@dec.ny.gov (845)