in the blog during Mathews Nielsen landscape Architects in Metropolis Magazine on the effective implementation of landscape design principles, this article discusses one method most unusual developed to create resilience and prevent storm damage: oysters. Drawing on his experiences by creating a reef of oysters at Pier 42 would Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects in New York, Johanna Phelps explains the challenges and opportunities that arise in the establishment of this unusual type of natural infrastructure an urban area.
Since Hurricane Sandy struck New York City in 2012, the city's waterfront design discussions have focused on the ideas of resilience and planning for storms. The recent rebuild the design competition sponsored by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Presidential Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, presented six winning proposals that all imagined a reinforced plan Manhattan shoreline can handle large storm events and other effects of climate change hazards. The handful of ambitious projects, the Breakwaters plan living Scape / Landscape Architecture was the most interesting :. The project called for the reinstatement of former New York oyster reefs, where architects have said would improve the local ecology
At one point, New York Harbor was home to an oyster reefs network established since long time. Besides being a popular source of food for Native Americans and the indiginous marine life, oysters have played a vital role in the health of our rivers. According NOAA, oysters improve water clarity by acting as a filter to remove particles. Clear water stimulates the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation, which in turn helps to stabilize the sediments on the bottom of the river. A single oyster can filter up to 50 liters of water per day! The reefs themselves, which can be quite large, provide habitat for organisms and decrease the speed of waves and currents. Unfortunately, in the early 1800s, overfishing and pollution have severely depleted the oyster population of New York.
Future urban amphibian represented in Rebuilding years by design projects can be turned off. But the feasibility of some of these ideas are currently being studied, explored and tested throughout the city, but on a smaller scale, more immediate. Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects is leading a team to the Pier 42 project where community feedback expressed a strong desire to improve the ecology of the region. To do this, we will explore the establishment of an oyster reef that will be located next to the pier.
From the beginning of Pier design process 42, we met with marine biologists New York Harbor School on Governor's island and NY / NJ Baykeeper better understand the relevance and adequacy of the incorporation of an oyster reef in the project. (The two organizations are currently working on restoration projects in the region). They helped us to identify three potential challenges in building a new oyster reef on Pier 42 Site :. Storm water drainage in the river, the current velocity, and toxicity
First, the site Pier 42 is located near a sewer overflow major handset, a drain that carries waste rainwater connected to the city and sanitary sewer systems. In case of heavy rain, the system reaches capacity and floating raw sewage and storm water are dumped directly into our waterways. We were told by marine biologists as this would actually be no problem for oysters and development.
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Second, the oysters grow in shallow brackish water with moderate water velocity enough strong to bring food in, but not too strong to carry the larvae that attach and grow on the reef, allowing it to grow. Water speeds recorded at Pier 42 range from 2.48 to 21.68 knots. Preliminary studies of our team have led us to believe that some protection against the waves would be needed to install the reef there. Generally, when the reefs are in place, the oysters are grown in cages to keep them in place. For these reasons, we have identified a potentially protected location within the project boundary, where the reef can be more conveniently located for the long term success and sustainability.
The third major problem, and a bit of a surprise for us, is the toxicity of the oysters themselves. According to the New York State Department of Conservation Environrmental (DEC), all oysters in the New York boroughs are considered toxic to humans. And while no one is suggesting that oysters are consumed, the concern of December is that poachers are aware of newly created reefs and begin harvesting oysters to be sold for consumption. Were these toxic oysters to enter the market, it would be impossible to verify the safety of all oysters. If the reef is built, the facility will be inaccessible and protected the public.
With additional research and creative design solutions, it appears that the main challenges in establishing oyster the pier 42 can be overcome. In the coming months, the team will continue to study the feasibility and the incorporation of an oyster reef at Pier 42. Although the site and the project is small, it is important to remember that these projects pioneers can become important precedents and provide invaluable research for the sustainable future of the city.
Johanna Phelps, RLA is a senior landscape architect at Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, PC in New York City. Since obtaining its MLA from the University of Pennsylvania in 04, she has worked on urban design projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia, and a botanical research institute at Texas.
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