State of the State New Jersey Steve Jacobus NJDEP 06/10/15
1980s Living shorelines term coined in MD 2003 North Carolina passes Living Shoreline Law (HB 1028) early 2000s Delaware puts no bulkhead policy in place 2005 Dauphin Island, Alabama- Living shorelines used to mitigate storm events 2006 National Academies undergoes Sheltered Coasts study 2006 Chesapeake Living Shoreline Summit held 2007-8 Florida state government begins Living Shoreline Initiative 2008 Maryland passes Living Shoreline Protection Act 2008 CBT and NOAA begin to quantify ecological impacts of LS 2008 Georgia Department of Natural Resources and TNC begin oyster reef living shorelines projects 2009 CICEET funds NC work on engineered shorelines 2010 NOAA funds Smithsonian work on shoreline value 2010 CBT and NOAA fund VIMS to evaluate engineering value 2010 President Obama s Ches. Bay Exec. Order includes LS goal 2010 Rhode Island begins living shoreline effort 2011 NJ begins living shoreline initiative
Living Shorelines Committees Planning Funding
Living Shoreline means a shoreline management practice that addresses the loss of vegetated shorelines, beaches, and habitat in the littoral zone by providing for the protection, restoration or enhancement of these habitats. This is accomplished through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand, or other structural and organic materials. There are three types of living shorelines: 1) Natural vegetation, submerged aquatic vegetation, fill, and biodegradable organic materials 2) Hybrid low-profile rock structures such as segmented sills, stone containment, and living breakwaters seeded with native shellfish 3) Structural include, but are not limited to, revetments and jetties
To fully achieve the benefits of Living Shorelines required: a change from the traditional regulatory approach a change to the Coastal Regulations a reevaluation of techniques to fine tune the process to fit New Jersey Conditions a commitment to long term monitoring
Once started, progress toward acceptance and a rule change progressed at normal government speed
Then along came Sandy
Living Shorelines/natural areas: Absorbed flood waters Dampened flood waves Minimized damage to manmade structures Received minimal damage
June 17, 2013 Emergency adoption of the Coastal Zone Management and Coastal Permit Program Rules. Revisions to Coastal Regulations encourage and promote habitat creation, restoration, enhancement and living shoreline activities
Workgroup is made up of representatives from all programs in DEP including Planning, Regulatory, Science, Engineering, Resource and Regulatory. Intended to be proactive and get involved early in the planning/design process to assist in the design, identify red flag issues and make the regulatory process go smother. Lessons learned will be rolled back into coastal policy and regulation
Construct and monitor living shoreline projects Develop a Statewide Living Shorelines Stakeholder Group Develop regional approaches to living shorelines
Developed by Stevens Institute of Technology for NJDEP Funded by NOAA, NJ Coastal Zone Management Program Grant
NJDEP Coastal Management Program Coastal Community Vulnerability Assessment & Mapping Protocol Resilient Coastal Communities Initiative Municipal Public Access Planning & Vulnerability Assessment Building Ecological Solutions to Coastal Community Hazards Wetland Program Development: Development of a Living Shoreline Program for NJ
Development of a Living Shoreline Program for New Jersey Regional living shoreline pilots A website will be created that informs all parties on wetlands and living shorelines within New Jersey
Questions Steven.Jacobus@dep.nj.gov (609) 292-1806