Tactic
Adaptation
Limit Exposure to Coastal Storms
Reconfigure shorelines to attenuate wave energy
Options
...using “hard” infrastructure like seawalls, levees, breakwaters, tetrapods, riprap, etc.
...using “soft” infrastructure like engineered wetlands, living shorelines, beach nourishment programs, etc.
Case Study
After a record-breaking super storm brought considerable damage to New York City’s shoreline, SCAPE designed Living Breakwaters, a string of offshore breakwaters to reduce erosion and lessen wave impacts while improving habitat for marine wildlife. The breakwaters were custom designed to include “niches and crevices” that introduce habitat complexity, creating space for a range of targeted species, including juvenile fish, oysters, and other shellfish.
