REVITALIZING HUDSON RIVERFRONTS

Illustrated Conservation & Development Strategies for Creating Healthy, Prosperous Communities
This document was prepared with technical and nancial assistance from the New York State Department of State
In an Era of Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
Building Sustainable Waterfront Communities:
The Impact of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
It is not the strongest of
the species that survives,
nor the most intelligent
that survives. It is the one
that is the most adaptable
to change.
-Charles Darwin
Adaptation
Indicators of a Warming World:
Changing Extremes
Indicators of a Warming World
source: National Center for Atmospheric Research
http://www2.ucar.edu/news/1036/record-high-temperatures-far-outpace-record-lows-across-us
Indicators of a Warming World:
Changing Extremes
16
DRAFT - November 1
Key Cimate Impacts
Risin, air temperatures intensifv the water cvcle bv drivin, increased
evaporation and precipitation. 1he resultin, altered patterns of precipita-
tion include more rain fallin, in heavv events, often with lon,er drv peri-
ods in between. Such chan,es can have a varietv of effects on water
resources.
Heavv downpours have increased over the past 5O vears and
this trend is projected to continue, causin, an increase in
localized flash floodin, in urban areas and hillv re,ions.
lloodin, has the potential to increase pollutants in the water
supplv and inundate wastewater treatment plants and other
vulnerable development within floodplains.
less frequent summer rainfall is expected to result in addi-
tional, and possiblv lon,er, summer drv periods, potentiallv
impactin, the abilitv of water supplv svstems to meet
demands.
Reduced summer flows on lar,e rivers and lowered ,round-
water tables could lead to conflicts amon, competin, water
users.
lncreasin, water temperatures in rivers and streams will
affect aquatic heath and reduce the capacitv of streams to
assimilate effluent from wastewater treatment plants.

New York State has an abundance

of water resources, |nc|ud|ng |arge
freshwater |akes, h|gh-y|e|d|ng
groundwater aqu|fers and major
r|vers.
Water resources are managed by
a d|verse array of |arge and sma||
agenc|es, governments and |nst|-
tut|ons, w|th ||tt|e statew|de coord|-
nat|on.
Water resources are a|ready sub-
ject to numerous human-|nduced
stresses, such as |ncreas|ng
demand for water and |nsuff|c|ent
water supp|y coord|nat|on; these
pressures are ||ke|y to |ncrease
over the next severa| decades.
Water qua||ty |s a|ready at r|sk from
ag|ng wastewater treatment
p|ants, cont|nued comb|ned
sewage overf|ow events, and
excess po||ut|on from agr|cu|tura|
and urban areas.
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
1961 1981 2001 2021 2041 2061
Return Period (Years)
5.20
5.25
5.30
5.35
5.40
5.45
5.50
5.55
Rainfall (in.)
Return Period of Storm Equivalent to 1961-1990 100-year storm
Amount of 100-year storm
ears) (Y Years) n Period Retur
110
105
100
Rainfall (in.)
5.55
5.50
5.45
n Period of Storm Equivalent to 1961-1990 100-year storm Retur
2001 1981 1961
95
90
85
80
75
Amount of 100-year storm
n Period of Storm Equivalent to 1961-1990 100-year storm
2061 2041 2021
Amount of 100-year storm
n Period of Storm Equivalent to 1961-1990 100-year storm
5.40
5.35
5.30
5.25
5.20
Projected ra|oIa|| aod Ireg0eocy oI extreme storms
The amount of ra|n fa|||ng |n a "100-year" storm |s projected to |ncrease (red ||ne},
wh||e the number of years between such storms ("return per|od"} |s projected to
decrease (b|ue ||ne}. Thus, ra|nstorms w||| become both more severe and more fre-
quent. These resu|ts, from the K Met Off|ce Had|ey Oentre O||mate Mode| vers|on 3
(HadOM3}, are broad|y cons|stent w|th those of the other 15 GOMs used by O||mAlD.
17
DRAFT - November 1, 2010
AJaptation Options
Adaptation can build on water mana,ers' existin, capacitv to
handle lar,e variabilitv. Strate,ies can be desi,ned to be flex-
ible to a ran,e of future conditions. New York's relative
wealth of water resources, if properlv mana,ed, can con-
tribute to resilience and new economic opportunities.
Operations, Management, and Infrastructure Strategies
Relocate infrastructure such as wastewater treatment
plants and hi,h-densitv housin, to hi,her elevations and
outside of hi,h risk floodplains. lor infrastructure that
must remain in the floodplain, elevate structures, con-
struct berms or levees to reduce flood dama,e.
Adopt stormwater infrastructure and mana,ement prac-
tices and up,rade combined sewer and stormwater svs-
tems to reduce pollution.
Larger-scale Strategies
Use multiple strate,ies to increase water use efficiencv.
Conserve water throu,h leak detection pro,rams, use of
low-flow showerheads, toilets, and washin, machines,
and rain barrels for ,arden waterin,. Research equitable
water pricin, pro,rams.
lstablish stream flow re,ulations that mimic natural sea-
sonal flow patterns, includin, minimum flow require-
ments, to protect aquatic ecosvstem health.
lxpand basin-level commissions to provide better over-
si,ht, address water qualitv issues, and take leadership on
monitorin,, conservation, coordination of emer,encv
response, and new infrastructure.
Develop more comprehensive drou,ht mana,ement pro-
,rams that include improved monitorin, of water supplv
stora,e levels and that institute specific conservation
measures when supplies decline below set thresholds.
Update and enlar,e stockpiles of emer,encv equipment
to help small water supplv svstems and to assist durin,
emer,encies.
Co-Benefits
Continuin, and expandin, current water resource mana,e-
ment practices, such as reducin, stormwater runoff into
water bodies, will benefit pollution control as well as climate
adaptation. lncoura,in, water conservation strate,ies and
minimum flow criteria to prepare for potential summer
drou,hts will help to ,uarantee water sufficiencv.
2
4
6
8
10
1961 1981 2001 2021 2041 2061 2081
Year
Number Events > 1 in. per Year
HADCM3
Observed
Number Events > 1 in. per Y
10
8
Observed
HADCM3
ear Y Year
Observed
HADCM3
2001 1981 1961
6
4
2
ear YYear
2081 2061 2041 2021
The o0mber oI ra|oIa|| eveots over ooe |och Irom 1960-2100
The observed number of ra|nfa|| events exceed|ng one |nch
from 1960 to 2000 |s shown by the b|ack ||ne, and the pro-
jected number of such events, us|ng the HadOM3 mode|, |s
show by b|ue ||ne. These resu|ts are broad|y cons|stent w|th
those of the other 15 GOMs used by O||mAlD.
Indicators of a Warming World:
Changing Extremes
source: NOAA National Climatic Data Center
Indicators of a Warming World:
Changing Extremes
Sea level is 1 higher
than 100 years ago
Rate of sea level
rise is accelerating
United States, the northwestern Gulf Coast and the Mid Atlantic states are witnessing greater
erosion rates, federal and private insurance claims, and coastal maintenance costs.
At the same time, the worlds most productive habitatscoastal wetlands, estuaries, and
shallow water bedsare increasingly stressed by inundation, intrusion of saltwater to previously
brackish or fresh waters, and changes in storm surge exposure. Supremely sensitive to the
water levels and salinity, even moderately altered conditions in estuarine and coastal areas will
lead to losses of these habitats along with the ecosystem services they provide: food, ood
protection, water quality, recreation, and many others.
The Hudson: A Laboratory for Adaptation
Building consensus around balanced solutions to this massive, yet incrementally-developing,
threat promises to be one of the most complex social and environmental challenges of this
century. On the one hand is the imperative to protect existing infrastructure and property,
which will generate tremendous pressure to harden, raise, or re-engineer shorelines regardless
of cost and efcacy. On the other hand is the imperative to facilitate the persistence of the
coastal natural resources so that they continue to provide ecological services that sustain
people, nature and human endeavor. The optimal balance will require locally-specic tactics
that respond to the realities at the waters edge, and regional strategies that coordinate efforts
within a big picture, long time-horizon framework.
Few places in the world are a better living
laboratory for exploring the full range of sea
level rise adaptation options than the
Hudson River Estuary. Home to nearly 100
municipalities and over 12 million people,
the Hudsons 160 miles of estuarine river
passes through an incredible gradient of
conditions from the rural farming
waterfront communities and rare
freshwater tidal forests in the north, to one
of the worlds most densely populated
urban centers at the salty, marine outlet to
the Atlantic.
Sea level rise (SLR) presents the most
immediate global climate impact to the
Hudson River Estuary. Across much of the
estuary, sea level has risen at about one
foot per century (2.7mm/year), a rate greater
than the global average (see gure 2). The
best climate data available indicates that we can expect water levels on the Hudson River
from the Battery in Manhattan to the Federal Dam at Troy - to rise by up to ve feet by the end
of this century, and perhaps that much again during the next century. (see gure 3 on following
page)
Within this projected inundation zone lie historic riverfront communities, the seeds of a
sustainable revitalization corridor, billions of dollars of critical public infrastructure, thousands
of private landholdings, and over 13,000 acres of globally important tidal wetland and
vegetated shallow water habitats. These critical habitats are home to many of the regions most
iconic species including bald eagles and migratory sh like sturgeon, shad and striped bass;
they also provide key ecosystem services such as water quality maintenance and ood control
to people along the entire estuary.
Figure 2. Sea level change since 1856, observed
by tidal gauge at the Battery, Manhattan, NYC.
0
100
200
300
400
500
1856 1881 1906 1931 1956 1981 2006
Hudson River Sea Level 1856-2009
(in mm, observed at Manhattan)
average = 2.79mm/yr
source: NOAA
Indicators of a Warming World:
Rising Sea Level
United States, the northwestern Gulf Coast and the Mid Atlantic states are witnessing greater
erosion rates, federal and private insurance claims, and coastal maintenance costs.
At the same time, the worlds most productive habitatscoastal wetlands, estuaries, and
shallow water bedsare increasingly stressed by inundation, intrusion of saltwater to previously
brackish or fresh waters, and changes in storm surge exposure. Supremely sensitive to the
water levels and salinity, even moderately altered conditions in estuarine and coastal areas will
lead to losses of these habitats along with the ecosystem services they provide: food, ood
protection, water quality, recreation, and many others.
The Hudson: A Laboratory for Adaptation
Building consensus around balanced solutions to this massive, yet incrementally-developing,
threat promises to be one of the most complex social and environmental challenges of this
century. On the one hand is the imperative to protect existing infrastructure and property,
which will generate tremendous pressure to harden, raise, or re-engineer shorelines regardless
of cost and efcacy. On the other hand is the imperative to facilitate the persistence of the
coastal natural resources so that they continue to provide ecological services that sustain
people, nature and human endeavor. The optimal balance will require locally-specic tactics
that respond to the realities at the waters edge, and regional strategies that coordinate efforts
within a big picture, long time-horizon framework.
Few places in the world are a better living
laboratory for exploring the full range of sea
level rise adaptation options than the
Hudson River Estuary. Home to nearly 100
municipalities and over 12 million people,
the Hudsons 160 miles of estuarine river
passes through an incredible gradient of
conditions from the rural farming
waterfront communities and rare
freshwater tidal forests in the north, to one
of the worlds most densely populated
urban centers at the salty, marine outlet to
the Atlantic.
Sea level rise (SLR) presents the most
immediate global climate impact to the
Hudson River Estuary. Across much of the
estuary, sea level has risen at about one
foot per century (2.7mm/year), a rate greater
than the global average (see gure 2). The
best climate data available indicates that we can expect water levels on the Hudson River
from the Battery in Manhattan to the Federal Dam at Troy - to rise by up to ve feet by the end
of this century, and perhaps that much again during the next century. (see gure 3 on following
page)
Within this projected inundation zone lie historic riverfront communities, the seeds of a
sustainable revitalization corridor, billions of dollars of critical public infrastructure, thousands
of private landholdings, and over 13,000 acres of globally important tidal wetland and
vegetated shallow water habitats. These critical habitats are home to many of the regions most
iconic species including bald eagles and migratory sh like sturgeon, shad and striped bass;
they also provide key ecosystem services such as water quality maintenance and ood control
to people along the entire estuary.
Figure 2. Sea level change since 1856, observed
by tidal gauge at the Battery, Manhattan, NYC.
0
100
200
300
400
500
1856 1881 1906 1931 1956 1981 2006
Hudson River Sea Level 1856-2009
(in mm, observed at Manhattan)
average = 2.79mm/yr
source: NOAA
Sea Level
Rise
by 2080
Lower emissions:
8-23 inches
Higher emissions:
37-50 inches
Indicators of a Warming World:
Rising Sea Level
2020
1155 additional acres
SAVING THE LAND THAT MATTERS MOST
Hudson River Sea Level Rise Projections
2050
2641 additional acres
2080
4647 additional acres
inundation zone
> 5000 acres by
2080
Sea Level Rise on the Hudson
Indicators of a Warming World:
Changing Extremes
Indicators of a Warming World:
Changing Extremes
Higher intensity
events
Greater frequency of
surge events in
warmer years
Number or
Frequency of Events:
Trend Unclear
Rising Losses
82 communities
>250,000 people
$Bs of infrastructure
historic & cultural centers
Whats at Stake?
160+ miles of estuarine river
globally rare habitats
85% of NYs vertebrate species
global hotspots
RamsHorn Marsh
Whats at Stake?
underpinnings of
local & regional
economies
Whats at Stake?
How Do We Plan
Toward the Best of
Both Worlds?
A Gradient of Riverfront Communities
A Roadmap to
Resilience
Understand risks to built &
natural infrastructure
Plan to adapt waterfront assets
and uses to rising water levels
Steer new development away
from shorelines and oodplains
Employ softer, greener
shoreline treatments where
appropriate
Protect wetlands and allow
them to migrate in/upland
100 200 300 400 500
Wetland
SAV
Diverse Housing Types,
Sizes and Affordability
Plan by Raymond Curran


Parking Garage and
On-Street Parking
Alley and Parking
Behind Buildings
Local Street Along
Greenways and Parks
Renovated Existing
Buildings

Special Public Spaces
Viewing Piers, Marinas
Tour Boat Facilities
Bioretention Areas
Parking Lot Screening
Restored Historic Building
100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN
Restored Tributary
Preserved Ecologically
Sensitive Area
100-FOOT SETBACK
In Parks, Greenways, and
Natural Areas
70-FOOT SETBACK
In Built Riverfront Areas
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4 4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
44
4
4
Mixed-Use Buildings Public Buildings Residential Buildings
Resilient
Riverfront
Communities
Protect
Tidal Wetlands
and Floodplains
Soften and
Restore
Shorelines
Opportunity
Reduce risks to people and
property
Opportunity
Reduce risks to people and
property
Save taxpayer dollars
Opportunity
Reduce risks to people and
property
Save taxpayer dollars
Spur local economies
Opportunity
Reduce risks to people and
property
Save taxpayer dollars
Spur local economies
Safeguard health of the
public and the evironment
Opportunity
Reduce risks to people and
property
Save taxpayer dollars
Spur local economies
Safeguard health of the
public and the evironment
Create a legacy of
leadership and
responsibility
Opportunity
Reduce risks to people and
property
Save taxpayer dollars
Spur local economies
Safeguard health of the
public and the evironment
Create a legacy of
leadership and
responsibility

Opportunity
Reduce risks to people and
property
Save taxpayer dollars
Spur local economies
Safeguard health of the
public and the evironment
Create a legacy of
leadership and
responsibility

...and avert catastrophe.
Opportunity
REVITALIZING HUDSON RIVERFRONTS
Illustrated Conservation & Development Strategies for Creating Healthy, Prosperous Communities
This document was prepared with technical and nancial assistance from the New York State Department of State
www.revitalizinghudonsriverfronts.org