What are they?
Habitats that occur where the land and the Hudson river meet are shoreline, or shore-zone habitats. Some shorelines remain in their natural state; others have been changed (engineered) to protect against erosion and flooding and accommodate water-dependent uses such as fishing and shipping. In the Hudson, natural shorelines vary from small beaches of sand or gravel to steep, rocky cliffs. The vegetation along the shore can vary from trees and shrubs to landscaped lawns on the landward side, to fringing wetlands and submerged aquatic vegetation on the water side.
Typical examples of engineered shorelines are:
- Bulkheads, vertical structures made of steel, concrete or wood
- Revetment, sloping structures that armor the shore slope or bank and made of rock, rip-rap, solid concrete or interlocking blocks
- Timber cribbing, box-like arrangement of interlocking logs or timbers used to form a "crib", which is then filled with broken rock
Scientists recommend that shoreline managers add complexity to the designs of engineered shorelines to enhance their habitat value by adding vegetation, different materials, and surface roughness; minimizing vertical slopes and avoiding long, straight stretches. Complexity of shoreline surfaces usually supports more species and ecological functions than simple designs.
For additional explanations of shorelines types and other shoreline related terms, download these two documents, the Engineered Appoaches for Limiting Erosion along Sheltered Shorlines (PDF) and Terminology for the Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines Project (PDF).
Why are they important?
Shore zones are vital habitat for multiple life-stages of many fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Different shore-zones provide different kinds and levels of habitat, and when aggregated, can significantly influence life in the Hudson River ecosystem. Organic matter that is washed onto shore, or "wrack," is an important component of shoreline ecosystems, providing habitat for invertebrates, soil and organic matter, and nutrients to both the upland terrestrial communities and aquatic ecosystem.
Shore zones are also vitally important to humans. Since the beginning of civilization, shore zones have been used for transportation and agriculture; as a source of water; for waste disposal; to harvest plants, animals, and geologic resources; for recreation, scenic, and spiritual inspiration; and more recently, as desirable sites to build homes, businesses, and factories.
Healthy shore-zones provide many benefits: habitat for multiple species; high plant-production that is a source of food for animals on the land and in the water; capture of nutrients and toxins from the land; absorption of wave energy; improvement of water-quality; and pathways for plants and animals to disperse or move.
Where are they?
The Hudson shoreline by definition is the edge of the river; there are more than 300-miles of shoreline along the Hudson and its tidal tributaries. When you visit the shoreline, it will look different depending on the tidal cycle and the time of year--from low tide in summer, which may expose mudflats, to high tide in winter, with large chunks of ice.
Take a train ride along the Hudson between Albany and New York to see many types of natural shoreline, from the steep columnar basalts of the Palisades, to the beaches on the Tappan Zee, to the wetlands of Iona Island and Tivoli Bays. You will also see a variety of man-made shorelines on your trip, since 41% of Hudson shoreline is engineered, including 29% which is for the railroad! About 47% of the river has natural shoreline, and 12% is degraded, engineered structures.
Visit some shoreline stabilization projects that have applied sustainable-shoreline guidelines to manage erosion and balance other objectives. Though engineered, these sites have features which enhance the health of the ecosystem. Sites include New York State Park's Coxsackie Boat Launch, Scenic Hudson's Esopus Meadows, and Westchester County's Habirshaw Park. You can visit them in-person and also read case studies that include photos, design plans, lessons learned, and organizations or people to contact for more information.
How are they changing?
Changes in the shoreline continue to occur as old structures become unstable, public and private agencies invest in waterfront revitalization, and development pressure continues along the shoreline. Climate change imposes new stresses on the shoreline. Scientists project that sea-level in the Hudson will rise by 1-2 feet (and perhaps by more than 4 feet) by the year 2100. This will cause coastal shorelines to move inland, and flood more frequently and severely. Climate change will challenge us to maintain human infrastructure and uses of shore zones without further damaging their ecological function. Because the infrastructure that we build lasts for decades or more, we need to plan for these changes now.
How are we conserving them?
The Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines Project is a collaborative effort between DEC and local science and state organizations to provide science-based information on the ecological, economic, and engineering questions facing shoreline habitats in a changing environment. Visit the project's full website for more information.
You can help conserve the ecology of shorelines by being aware of what makes them healthy, and applying these principles on your own property or encouraging your municipality to do so. For example, sloped shorelines are better than vertical structures; messy is better than tidy: leave woody debris and wrack on the shore; variety is better than uniformity; use different sizes and types of material and plants. Avoid straight shorelines.; Natural is better than man-made. Use vegetation, biodegradable materials, and rock, rather than barren steel.
Learn More
Visit the Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines website to learn more about science-based recommendations for shore zone management to enhance natural benefits while meeting protection needs. Two resources of particular interest are:
- Managing Shore Zones for Ecological Benefits Handbook (available as a downloadable PDF)
- Ten Questions to Ask When Building Defenses to Protect Hudson River Shorelines
