• Hudson River Physical Forces Analysis: Data and Methodology is an analysis of the physical forces that impact the Hudson’s shorelines. It provides critical information on the parameters required for the proper design of ecologically enhanced shoreline stabilization projects, including wind and waves, vessel wakes, currents, and ice.
• Hudson River Estuary Flow Model compiles simulated riverside water circulation statistics from a high-resolution numerical model of circulation in the tidal Hudson, using data from 2010. Parameters include water levels, currents, vertical current stresses and mixing, and surface wind waves. This can be used to understand the energy regimes impacting shorelines and help identify suitable shoreline stabilization alternatives.
• Hudson River Wake Study is an analysis of the wake climate within the river; it was developed to help understand the erosion potential of wakes.

• Ice Data from 2006-2012: NYS Clearinghouse (search under Hudson River Ice Climatology)
• Tidal Hudson River Ice Cover Climatology is a compilation of observed ice data probabilistic statistics, including ice thickness, distribution, percent cover, and type. It is based on United States Coast Guard daily ice reports along the tidal Hudson from December to March, 2004–2015.
• Large Seasonal Modulation of Tides due to Ice Cover Friction in a Midlatitude Estuary is a study of the relationship between ice on the Hudson and seasonal tidal amplitude cycles. It also addresses the implications of tidal ranges, currents, vertical mixing, and salt front intrusion.

• Bathymetry and Benthic Mapping is a grid showing elevation in meters of the floor of the Hudson River Estuary.
• Topography LiDAR offers geotiff images of contours. Collected in 2012.This LIDAR data is intended for use in coastal management decision making.

• Hudson River Flood Impact Decision Support System is an interactive map application that supports evaluation of the scale of potential flooding for tidally-affected shorelines, under a variety of sea level rise and storm scenarios, of the Hudson River Valley and the Long Island Sound coast of Westchester County.
• Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper is a user-friendly, interactive, online mapping tool that gathers more than 30 geographic data sets for the Hudson River estuary watershed. The data aids land-use decision-makers in identifying and conserving priority lands that benefit communities and contribute to watershed health.
• New York OPD Geographic Information Gateway is an interactive mapping tool that provides public access to data, real-time information such as tides and water quality, and interactive tools for use in planning and visualization.
• The NY GIS Clearning House hosts the Shoreline Types Polyline, which shows shoreline types for the tidal Hudson River, from the Tappan Zee Bridge to Troy.
• The NY GIS Clearning House hosts SAV (Hudson River Estuary Documented Submerged Aquatic Vegetation) polygons, which show the extent of SAV (water celery and water chestnut) in the estuary, with separate coverage for 1997, 2002, and 2007.
• Hudson River Tidal Wetlands offers maps of the Hudson’s vegetated habitats. It contains polygons showing the tidal wetland distribution from Hastings-on-Hudson to Troy. Data were interpreted from an aerial photo inventory acquired in 2007.
• Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Boundaries was identified by the NYS Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources for the State’s Coastal Management Program.
• New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS) provides meteorological and oceanographic conditions in real-time and forecasted up to 72 hours in the Hudson River, the East River, NY/NJ Estuary, Raritan Bay, Long Island Sound, and the coastal waters of New Jersey. Graphic images are available of water level; surface and bottom temperature; surface and bottom salinity; surface and bottom currents; NOAA winds; coastal wave height, period, and direction; and CDOM (Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter).

• Vegetation of Riprapped Revetments along the Freshwater Tidal Hudson River, New York is an analysis of the abundance and composition of vegetation in riprap revetments on Hudson River shorelines. It showed that revetments commonly host a mix of ~50% native and 50% non-native plants. Shorelines varied from nearly barren to flush with plants. The potential to increase habitat value with ecologically-informed design and management is discussed.
• The Ecology of Freshwater Wrack Along Natural and Engineered Hudson River Shorelines explored the ecology of wrack on different types of Hudson River shorelines. The study found that engineered shorelines tended to accumulate little wrack, have high wrack loss rates, and exhibit low diversity of invertebrate communities. These indicate a loss of ecological function.
• The Ecology of Wrack: Decomposition and Use By Invertebrates On Natural and Engineered Shorelines of the Hudson River focuses on decomposition rates and invertebrate communities of wrack on four different types of Hudson River shorelines. Faster decomposition rates and lower invertebrate density were found on cribbing, compared to the other shoreline types. Riprap showed similar decomposition rates and invertebrate density to the rocky shoreline. The findings show that neither cribbing nor riprap can replace the ecological function of natural sandy shorelines.
• Biodiversity in Hudson River Shore Zones: Influence of Shoreline Type and Physical Structure documented the biodiversity supported by different kinds of shore zones in the Hudson River Estuary. Physical characteristics and biological communities were assessed for six common shore zone types. It was found that engineered shore zones (especially cribbing and bulkheads) tend to have less desirable biodiversity characteristics than “natural” shore zones (e.g., they have fewer fish and native plants and more invasives). No single shore type provided high values for all of the ecological functions assessed.
• The Ecology of Freshwater Shore Zones provides a comprehensive summary of what is known about the ecological functioning of the shore zone in freshwater ecosystems.
• Gastropods of the Hudson River Shoreline: Subtidal, Intertidal, and Upland Communities focuses on gastropod abundance and diversity at six types of shore zones: sand, bedrock, unconsolidated rock, riprap, seawall, and timber cribbing. The study found that riprap and unconsolidated rock at intertidal elevations contained significantly higher abundance and diversity of gastropods. Sand beaches and seawall structures were less supportive. The survey found three aquatic species which were new records for the Hudson.
• Effects of Surface Roughness on Ecological Function: Implications for Engineered Structures in the Hudson River Shore Zone investigates whether and how manipulation of surface roughness on artificial structures alters its ecological function in the shore zone. Tiles with different surface roughness were deployed at four sites on the freshwater tidal Hudson, and the accumulation of algae, organic matter, and macroinvertebrates was measured. Two sites had high-energy conditions and two had low-energy conditions. It was found that surface roughness can alter ecological function, but the effects depend at least partially on site-specific factors, including exposure to wave energy and the pre-existing food web structure.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) recommends the following resources for determining which permits are needed for a particular project:

1. Environmental Resource Mapper. The Environmental Resource Mapper (ERM) shows the approximate location of NYS-mapped freshwater wetlands, the location and classification of streams/waterbodies, occurrences of threatened and endangered species, and more (using the “Layers and Legend” ribbon). The ERM can be used to review a project area and/or determine whether a permit application needs to be submitted to the NYSDEC. It can also be used to create and print maps that can be submitted as part of the permit application process. 
2. Permits, Licenses, and Registrations. This webpage from the NYSDEC website shows common permits, licenses, registrations and certifications needed for projects and activities.
3. NYSDEC Permit Administrators. Contact an NYSDEC permit administrator for comprehensive information on regulations related to a potential shoreline project.  

Additional Required Application Items. This resource contains a list of required supplements to your New York State permit application. Regulators need this information to understand the project goals and evaluate how best to mitigate potential impacts. This resource also contains information about application fees for environmental permits. 

For comprehensive information on additional required application items, contact your local NYSDEC Permit Administrators office.

Joint Application Form (scroll down to the top of the “Waterways, Coastlines, & Wetlands” table). and instructions Keep in mind that other agencies- including federal, state, and local- may also have jurisdiction over shoreline activities, and may require permits for a project. This resource contains information on submitting a joint application to the NYSDEC, the New York State Office of General Services, the New York State Department of State, and the US Army Corps of Engineers. 

NYSDEC Permit Applications (DART) search. This resource can be used to check the status of permit applications that have been submitted. 

Tidal Datums and Their Application. This document provides background information on tidal datum planes. Tidal datums are chiefly used to determine horizontal boundaries, and for estimating heights or depths. The legal determinations of private and public lands, state owned tidelands, state submerged lands, U.S. Navigable waters, U.S. Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone, and the High Seas, or international waters, depend on the determination of tidal datums and their surveyed intersection with the coast.

Mitigating Shore Erosion on Sheltered Coasts discusses the legal demarcation between private and public lands, the “shoreline,” which is usually taken to be the intersection of the mean high water line with the beach profile

Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines Project: Legal Framework Analysis summarizes relevant plans, laws, and policies at the federal, state, and local levels. It covers topics including water quality control, wetland protection, stormwater management, disaster mitigation, floodplain management, environmental review, local land use controls, and other laws and programs. For each area, the report describes policy purpose and implementation, identifies limitations and concerns, and suggests opportunities to promote informed shoreline management and protect habitats.

• Native Flowers for Landscaping and Gardening- NYSDEC
• Native Species Planting Guide for New York City
• Native Plants for Birds- Audubon
• Native Plants for Pollinators- The Xerces Society
• Guide to Planting Your Trees and Shrubs- Trees for Tribs, NYSDEC
• New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual: Landscaping Guidance/ Plant Lists for Ponds and Wetlands
• Ecological Communities of New York State- New York Natural Heritage Program