About Sustainable Shorelines

Sustainable shorelines are designed using nature-based features and practices and managed to promote coastal resilience. Their many benefits include:

• Cost-efficient erosion control and shoreline stabilization
• Absorption of energy from waves and currents
• Habitat for a diversity of native species
• Carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change
• Pathways for wetland migration as the climate changes 
• Cleaner water through filtration of polluted runoff

Current Projects

The Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines Project is a long-term initiative that is dedicated to the use of nature-based shoreline management practices on the coasts of New York’s Hudson River. We provide science-based information on the best options for preserving coastal natural features and functions through shoreline stabilization projects. Seed funding for this project came from the NERRS Science Collaborative. We engage many communities and partners throughout New York and beyond. Our current projects include:

• Shoreline Assessment: The Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve leads a long-term monitoring program to evaluate the ecological and physical performance of sustainable shoreline projects within our demonstration site network. We use data from this assessment to develop and share best management practices with partners in the region and beyond. Click here to learn more. 
• Priority Shoreline Inventory: This inventory uses geographical information systems (GIS) to identify candidate locations for sustainable shorelines demonstration projects. Once we identify sites, we collect field data to assess the need to replace or maintain existing hard shoreline structures and the opportunity to incorporate sustainable shorelines practices to enhance habitat value and ecosystem resiliency. Access the most current shoreline inventory data at the NYS GIS Clearinghouse. 

Find a Sustainable Shoreline

Our network of sustainable shoreline demonstration sites along the Hudson showcases the efficacy of a variety of natural and nature-based engineering methods. Our oldest site at Habirshaw Park, Yonkers, was started in 2003, and development of our newest began in December 2021 at Dockside Park, Cold Spring. To  learn more about each installation and view associated case studies, click each site name on the map: