NY DEC Proposes Living Shorelines Guidance Document

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has proposed guidance document that emphasizes natural and nature-based solutions to better protect New Yorkers and the state’s coastline and help guide communities to produce living shorelines in NY marine district.

“Improving coastal resiliency and reducing risk to communities is a priority of Governor Andrew Cuomo, and this proposed living shorelines guidance encourages smart approaches to protect against shoreline erosion,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.

“Using natural solutions will build a more resilient coastline that will be better able to withstand the impacts of severe weather and coastal storms. Living shorelines can reduce shoreline erosion while maintaining habitats that are critical to our economy and we urge coastal communities and planners to follow these important suggestions.”

DEC’s proposed guidance encourages the appropriate use of natural shoreline protection measures in place of hardened or man-made approaches to coastal erosion controls.

The guidance document provides information on different types of living shorelines and explains how tidal wetland and protection of water permit standards relate to living shorelines.