Rebuilding with Resilience

of GABION Staten Island to
their ‘islandness.’
- S.I. Teacher
“
“
TECHNIQUE 2:
OYSTER GABION
SUBTIDAL UNITS ONLY
Keep going!
- DEC Employee
“
TECHNIQUE 3
SPAT SANCTUARY WITH FLOATS MOORED
TO MARINE PIERS AT MONITORED SITES
SPAT ON SHELLS
OYSTER CAM
SPAT ON
DISK
TECHNIQUE 1
ECONCRETE OYSTER DISK
ATTACHED TO SUBTIDAL UNITS ONLY
NAVIGATIONAL GUIDE AND
MONITORING CAMERA TO
PREVENT POACHING
Restoring Oyster Reefs
This picture shows how oyster reefs can be restored to enhance ecosystems and dampen storm surges.
At the water’s edge, the proposal envisioned layering beach dune systems and living shorelines to further protect
coastal neighborhoods and ecosystems from erosion and wave action. Inland, the proposal suggested that “nonstructural
measures,” such as elevating homes, could be used as a complimentary strategy to further reduce risk
and enable communities to withstand flooding.
Finally, the Living Breakwaters proposal called for the development of community facilities along the shore called
“Water Hubs.” These hubs would provide space for classes, monitoring activities, and storage of recreational
equipment like kayaks. They could also serve as temporary emergency response centers. The project envisioned
these structures to be used by local schools and community groups to connect local residents to the harbor and help
promote environmental education. The proposal suggested that the Billion Oyster Project and New York Harbor
School could also use the hubs to support the group’s oyster restoration efforts throughout New York Harbor.
The design team recommended a first phase pilot in the Tottenville Reach of Staten Island and estimated a cost of
approximately $74 million to construct the pilot. The grantee was allocated $60 million to implement this project. 2
43 Chapter 3: Living Breakwaters | Rebuilding with Resilience GEORGETOWN CLIMATE CENTER