Since starting in January, the ‘Measuring Success” project has progressed toward developing a state-wide monitoring framework for natural and nature-based features. Funded by NYSERDA, NYS Department of State, and NOAA and led by a core team comprised of interdisciplinary scientists, designers, engineers, and agency personnel, the project started with several meetings with the core team and the project advisory committee. Concurrently the team conducted a literature review of documents and reports on existing and proposed natural and nature-based features (NNBF) projects in regions of the coastal New York State. These regions included Long Island, New York-New Jersey Harbor, the Hudson River, and the New York shorelines of the Great Lakes.
Three technical work groups were convened to provide a strong scientific underpinning. Each technical workgroup consisted of experts who specialized in three broad benefit areas provided by NNBFs: ecological function; hazard mitigation and structural integrity; socio-economic outcomes. Each group conducted their own literature review on potential monitoring protocols and methodologies for the four regions. After a series of meetings and discussion, a draft monitoring framework was developed with technical recommendations for monitoring and evaluation criteria for NNBFs across the four regions.
The next step was to meet with the different regions and local agencies and stakeholders and present the draft monitoring framework. The goal of the regional workshops was to vet and shape the monitoring framework by engaging and gathering feedback from each of the regions’ scientific, resource management, regulatory, design and construction, and civic communities. Traveling around the state and holding these workshops this summer, the initiative was met with lots of interest and great feedback. Many regional participants reflected on their experiences with shoreline management and shared their knowledge of best practices. They also provided helpful recommendations to refine the framework so that it would be applicable to their region and even specific site.
The Institute and its partners are excited to work together on this large-scale project and are excited to see the project’s progress so far. With collaboration and support from each of New York State’s regions, the Institute is optimistic about this effort. After these state-wide discussions, the next steps are to compile all the feedback and recommendations collected from the regional workshops and revise the monitoring framework. The core team and technical working groups will reconvene to review and assess the comments, concerns, and suggestions, raised by the stakeholders.
Learn more about the project at https://www.srijb.org/nys_nnbf/
