Rebuilding with Resilience

other marine life; dampen storm surges; and reduce or reverse coastal erosion. The proposal also called for
recreational and educational amenities to increase community access to the waterfront, educate students and
visitors about coastal processes, and increase waterfront recreational opportunities. 1
Living Breakwater
This picture depicts the ecosystem benefits that a living breakwater can provide.
For the first line of defense, the proposal called for the construction of “living breakwaters” (i.e., a breakwater
designed not only to attenuate waves but to create habitat for oysters, juvenile fish, and other marine life).
Traditionally, breakwaters are rocky, sloped structures in the water column that break a wave’s momentum and
prevent the destructive wave forces from battering the shoreline. Breakwaters also have the potential to trap
sediment and create wider beaches behind them. The proposal called for a breakwater sited approximately a
quarter mile offshore and stretching from Great Kills to Tottenville on the southern tip of Staten Island, fronting
the Raritan Bay. The proposal suggested a phased approach for constructing breakwaters along the Staten Island
shore: Phase 1 at Tottenville Reach, Phase 2 from Crescent Beach to Great Kills Harbor, and Phase 3 from
Lemon Creek to Prince’s Bay. It envisioned a mix between exposed, intertidal, and sub-tidal breakwaters. The
breakwaters would be strategically placed to protect parks, marinas, and coastal development from wave action,
while maintaining tidal connectivity and preserving and enhancing coastal ecosystems. The design team estimated
that a living breakwater system in this region could result in a significant reduction in wave height, substantially
lowering risks to waterfront neighborhoods in this part of Staten Island. The “living” aspect of the breakwater
would be achieved by integrating the creation of habitat, such as oyster reefs and habitat for juvenile fish, to
enhance coastal ecosystems and potentially improve water quality.
42 Chapter 3: Living Breakwaters | Rebuilding with Resilience GEORGETOWN CLIMATE CENTER