Dr. Rowe to speak at Rising Tide Forum

Dr. Peter Rowe,  director of research and extension for N.J. Sea Grant Consortium, will be one of the speakers at the the Rising Tide Forum hosted by the Bayshore Center at Bivalve.

The forum will be held Nov. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will focus on sea level rise along the Delaware Bayshore.

Dr. Rowe will explain how the NJSGC has emphasized coastal resiliency in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

His 25-minute discussion, “NJSGC Retools for Resilience: Updates on Local and Regional Resiliency Projects” will highlight NJSGC-funded research, extension and education projects that address resilience in a post-Sandy and changing climate world.

The following is the agenda and discussion descriptions for the forum:

6:00 – Registration, networking and refreshments.

6:30 – Welcoming remarks and introduction.

6:45 – Non-structural Flood Risk Reduction for Homeowners, presented by Eric Majusiak, Army Corps of Engineers National Flood Proofing Committee.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Flood Proofing Committee promotes the development and use of nonstructural flood risk reduction measures. Through the use of education and outreach materials, publications, and workshops, the committee can provide an in-depth overview of nonstructural techniques such as elevation, wet flood proofing, dry flood proofing, acquisition, relocation, berms and floodwalls and also illustrate the data requirements for conducting general studies. This information can be used for plan formulation as well as help in reduction of damages from future flood events.

7:10 – NJSGC Retools for Resilience: Updates on Local and Regional Resiliency Projects, presented by Peter Rowe, Ph.D., Associate Director of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium.

Like all of New Jersey, NJSGC was directly affected by Superstorm Sandy.  The storm and the thought of future storms generated substantial reflection.  This presentation will highlight NJSGC funded research, extension and education projects that address resilience in a post Sandy and changing climate world.  Many of these activities have been a component of the Sea Grant Network for years, but the need for information into increasing the resilience of ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal communities and economies has risen as a top priority at the local, state and federal levels.  Areas where NJSGC funds projects that can address these issues include fisheries, water quality, wetlands, beaches and dunes, sea level rise, and their connection to the human dimension. As a result of his presentation, Dr. Rowe looks to generate a response regarding the coastal science, education or information gaps that need to be addressed in New Jersey. 

7:35 – Marsh Futures: Assessing Needs and Tactics for Marsh Resiliency, presented by Josh Moody, Restoration Coordinator for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

Storm damage from Superstorm Sandy appeared greatly reduced in communities that were buffered by coastal wetlands. Since the Delaware Estuary is losing an acre per day of coastal wetlands and funding remains elusive, it is vital that wetland restoration efforts target crucial sites with strategically timed and chosen tactics.  Tools are being developed based on remote sensing datasets to guide restoration of coastal marshes and beaches.  However, higher resolution topographical, hydrodynamic and ecological conditions indiscernible to remote sensing can affect performance of tactics such as living shorelines and thin-layer sediment application.  Therefore, on-the-ground data may be necessary to guide the specific location and design of projects aimed at offsetting wetland erosion and drowning.  Historical and contemporary data were collected to test whether such local guidance could be developed in three study areas of New Jersey: near Money Island, Fortescue, and Bivalve.

Marsh Futures refers to a two-step, reconnaissance effort to 1) assess and map local conditions in areas where wetland restoration is sought, and 2) produce maps to guide the timing, sequence and types of suggested restoration activities. This approach was tested at the three areas, beginning with acquiring data on current elevation (e.g. LIDAR) and past erosion rates (e.g. aerials). Field assessments consisted of surveys of elevation (RTK-GPS) and indexing of plant diversity and growth morphology to estimate vegetation position in relation to optimal growth ranges. Maps of “elevation capital” were then produced for the marsh platform; i.e., vulnerability to drowning due to rising sea level.  Edge retreat rates were used to estimate vulnerability to horizontal erosion. A weighted measures risk assessment approach was used to score sub-areas per site for various threats. Vulnerability maps were contrasted with inventories of restoration tactics to develop spatial and temporal recommendations for conservation, enhancement or restoration options at the three pilot areas.

8:00 – Getting to Resiliency – Tools and Strategies for Coastal Risk Awareness and Adaptation Planning, presented by Jenna Gatto, Resilient Community Specialist for the Jacques Cousteau Estuarine Research Reserve.

The highly developed nature of New Jersey’s coastline, barrier island and lagoon communities make them particularly vulnerable to storm surge, sea level rise and flooding. The impacts of Hurricane Sandy have enlightened coastal communities to these realities.  Recognizing these vulnerabilities, the Jacques Cousteau National Research Reserve (JC NERR), Rutgers Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (CRSSA), Rutgers Bloustein School and the Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) have developed web-based tools to assist NJ’s coastal communities in visualizing and planning for future local impacts.

NJFloodMapper and NJAdapt are two complementary interactive mapping websites that visualizes different current and future flood hazards that can be overlaid with additional data layers including critical facilities, evacuation routes, socioeconomic and environmental data.  Getting to Resilience is an online self-assessment tool developed to assist communities reduce vulnerability and increase preparedness by linking planning, mitigation, and adaptation. Through this interactive process communities will learn how their preparedness can yield valuable points through voluntary programs like FEMA’s Community Rating System and Sustainable Jersey.  The assessment process will also increase the community’s understanding of where future vulnerabilities should be addressed through hazard mitigation planning.

8:25 – Community Rating System Implementation for Bayshore Communities, presented by Meghan Wren, Executive Director for the Bayshore Center at Bivalve.

8:50 – Closing remarks.