Conserving and Restoring River Habitats in the Tidal Hudson
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 12/06/2022 12:49 PM ESTDEC Delivers - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation |
Share or view as a web page || Update preferences or unsubscribe |
Hudson RiverNet
|
In This Issue:Conserving and Restoring River Habitats in the Tidal Hudson
Conserving and Restoring River Habitats in the Tidal Hudson Intertidal wetlands and shallow water habitats in the Hudson River estuary contain richly diverse but distinct plant communities that are home to a great variety of plants and animals. The Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025 sets forth a goal to conserve, protect and enhance river and shoreline habitats to assure life cycles of key species are supported to sustain a healthy ecosystem. Progress on achieving this is reported annually and includes restoring intertidal and shallow water habitats in the Hudson River estuary and detecting and treating invasive species. Several demonstration projects were completed in 2022. Piermont Marsh Pilot Shoreline Stabilization ProjectPiermont Marsh is one of four sites within the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve (HRNERR) and is the largest brackish tidal marsh in the estuary, providing ecologically significant habitat that is uncommon in the region. Situated between the Village of Piermont and the Hudson River, Piermont Marsh is a vital part of the local community. During Hurricane Sandy, which severely impacted the area, the marsh acted as a wave buffer and filtered water-borne debris, which accumulated in the marsh instead of impacting residences and village infrastructure. However, ongoing monitoring and a review of historical aerial imagery and maps indicates that the Piermont Marsh shoreline has eroded 1/2 to 1 1/2 feet per year over the past 75 years, resulting in an overall loss of marsh area and native low-marsh vegetation. Since July 2022, HRNERR, in partnership with the New York State Thruway Authority and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), has been implementing a pilot shoreline stabilization project at Piermont Marsh to help to protect against marsh loss and bolster the resilience of the village. The project is designed not only to protect a priority section of shoreline, but also to evaluate different treatments that could be used to stabilize other shoreline sites within Piermont Marsh or other areas of the Hudson River estuary. The sills are installed by hand at low tide by staff and local volunteers, including members of the Rockland Conservation and Service Corps (RCSC), pictured above. Side Channel Restoration at Gay’s PointHistoric dredge and fill activities for the construction of the federal navigation channel resulted in the loss of nearly 4,000 acres of shallow water habitat, including the near-complete elimination of side channels in the upper third of the Hudson River estuary. An intensive monitoring program was designed to document pre-restoration conditions, evaluate the success of this first-of-its-kind project on the tidal Hudson River, and inform plans for future side channel restoration in the estuary. Pre-restoration monitoring was conducted from 2014 to 2016 at Gay’s Point and at Hallenbeck Creek, a naturally occurring side channel near the Rip Van Winkle Bridge which served as the project’s comparison (reference) site. Post-restoration monitoring began in 2018 and has continued through the 2022 field season. The monitoring program included collecting data on water quality, sediment characteristics, vegetation, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish. The water velocity and channel depth also are being monitored using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler to determine if target flow and depths are being maintained in the channel. Monitoring both the project and reference site will help evaluate if environmental conditions at Gay’s Point are similar to Hallenbeck Creek following restoration. Preliminary results suggest that the flow of water through the channel is sufficient to maintain its depth and prevent the channel from filling in with sediment. The rapid establishment of tidal marsh vegetation, and benthic invertebrate and fish communities including river herring, also indicate the success of the project. Dockside Sustainable Shorelines Demonstration ProjectDockside Park, in the Village of Cold Spring in Putnam County, is known for its exceptional views of the Hudson Highlands and access to the shores of the Hudson River. Owned by the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), it is part of the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. The Village of Cold Spring shares in the maintenance of the park which is a popular spot for walking, sightseeing, and picnicking, as well as community events, including a summer film series. Hudson River Aquatic Invasive Species Task ForceIn November 2021, partners from the NYS DEC, Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs), state parks, local land trusts, nonprofits, and others came together to form the Hudson River Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force. Over the last year the group has collaborated enthusiastically on aquatic invasive species issues in the Hudson River watershed. CoastSnapFor nearly a decade and a half, researchers at the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve (HRNERR) have been studying the Hudson River’s shorelines to understand how they are changing over time. Now, community members can help. |