Living Breakwaters
This solution addresses Reduce risk, revive ecologies, connect people to water in New York Harbor for Communities
Problem Description
Rather than create a wall between people and water, Living Breakwaters embraces the water, increases awareness of risk, and steps down that risk with a necklace of breakwaters to buffer against wave damage, flooding and erosion. We have modeled the breakwater system at a macro scale to understand how and where they can most effectively reduce coastal storm and erosion risk to communities. Micro-pockets of habitat complexity will host finfish, shellfish, and lobsters. This living infrastructure will be paired with social resiliency frameworks in adjacent neighborhoods. Through the Billion Oyster Project and a network of programmed water hubs, local schools will be empowered with science, recreation, education, and access.Building Blocks
Story
After the eye opening effects of Hurricane Sandy, stakeholders in New York's coastal regions began to realize the need for innovate resiliency projects. The Rebuild by Design competition was one way that the government sought to enlist help. Living Breakwaters was a project from this competition. After receiving funding in 2015, the project will begin construction in 2017.
Photos
Resources
- Project Overview
From Rebuild by Design
- Rebuilding New York's Coast, With Oysters
Article from The Atlantic
- Funding Announcement
Organisations Involved
Contributed By
- Scape
Solution Stage
One of the 7 stages of an innovation. Learn more
| STAGE | SPECIALIST SKILLS REQUIRED | EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES | RISK LEVEL AND HANDLING | FINANCE REQUIRED | KINDS OF EVIDENCE GENERATED | GOAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Making the case4 | Business development and evaluation |
|
MEDIUM |
MEDIUM | A stronger case with cost and benefit projections developed through practical trials and experiments, involving potential users | Clarity about what warrants implementation and funding |