Senator Lanza and Governor Cuomo Announce Grant for Coastal Resiliency in Staten Island

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Senator Andrew Lanza today announced a $300,000 state grant award to evaluate a shore protection system and maximize the marine habitat at Great Kills Harbor, which was heavily hit by Superstorm Sandy. The storm caused significant erosion to Staten Island's bluffs and beaches as well as Great Kills Harbor, where it lifted and moved boats and damaged other maritime structures with large waves.

Senator Andrew Lanza said, "With coastal erosion and flooding an ever present threat, together with residents and community leaders, I have long called for shoreline protections around Great Kills Harbor and beyond. Governor Cuomo has been incredibly responsive in this regard. Today’s announcement of a funded plan to review and assess shoreline protection is welcome news, advancing Governor Cuomo’s and our desire to create a more resilient and safe coastal community, for which we are thankful."

"The shorelines of Staten Island were hit hard by Sandy, but today we are preparing them for future storms and making the Island a safer place for all," Governor Cuomo said. "This funding will fundamentally help increase the resiliency of the area surrounding Great Kills Harbor and allow us to build it back better and stronger than before."

The study will model the effectiveness of systems designed to attenuate the impact of waves and increase the resiliency of the shoreline at Great Kills Harbor as sea levels rise. It will also evaluate and summarize the costs, benefits, and environmental implications for the approaches.

The funding supports storm resiliency by investing in green infrastructure, a major focus of “Reimagining New York for a New Reality,” the Governor's $17-billion strategy that aims to improve New York’s infrastructure, transportation networks, energy supply, coastal protection, weather warning system and emergency management network. The project is funded by the State Environmental Protection Fund and is being undertaken through a partnership among the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency.

State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens said, “Governor Cuomo has a clear vision for creating resilient communities in New York State. The Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Estuary Program is doing its part to make this vision a reality in shoreline communities along the estuary. This project will demonstrate how to re-imagine resilient coasts while also improving the Hudson River estuary’s habitat.”

Storm Recovery Executive Director Jamie Rubin said, “Governor Cuomo is at the forefront of identifying innovative solutions to climate change and protecting shoreline communities and environments from future severe weather events. New York State’s investment in studies to better understand these systems will pay off for generations to come, and the results will serve as a model for coastal communities throughout the country.”

New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission Executive Director Ron Poltak said, “The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission is pleased to be able to support the design of shoreline projects that help communities prepare for coastal storms and sea-level rise while sustaining shellfish and migratory fish habitat."

Assemblyman Joe Borelli said, "It's vital to us, as a coastal community, that we strengthen our resiliency to storms and extreme weather. This grant will help us to accomplish that while mitigating any potential negative effects on the health of Staten Island's unique and treasured marine habitats."

Staten Island Borough President Jim Oddo said, "Governor Cuomo and his team continue to explore and implement creative and common sense ways to make Staten Island better prepared for future storms. They have also demonstrated an awareness that different communities across the East and South Shores face unique challenges, and designing specific and appropriate plans accordingly."

Councilman Vincent M. Ignizio said, “For those of us who experienced it firsthand, the images of boats tossed around the Great Kills Marina like toys and flung into nearby trees and homes will always be etched into our minds as a symbol of Sandy’s devastation. They are also a stark reminder that the survival of our coastal communities and great boating traditions on Staten Island depends on an effective, sustainable strategy to provide protection from future storms. I thank Governor Cuomo for supporting and providing resources for projects like this and the Living Breakwaters in Tottenville, which will accomplish those goals.”

The Hudson River Estuary Program is a project of the state Environmental Protection Fund. The funding will help achieve goals of the 2010-14 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda, a plan for conserving, protecting and revitalizing the Hudson River estuary. The results will be shared at a workshop for local, state, and federal stakeholders. For more information, visit DEC’s website at www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html<http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html>.

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