Developing guidance for the application of Natural and Nature Based Features (NNBF) on developed shores: A case study from New Jersey, USA

Amy Bredes, Jon K. Miller, Laura Kerr, Katherine Gannon, Ian Day

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Developed shorelines represent a significant proportion (14%) of the world's shorelines. Historically these shores have been tamed or hardened using a variety of engineering interventions. Often these interventions have negative impacts on the local ecology. New Jersey (USA) is the most densely populated state in the United States, and not surprisingly has one of the highest percentages (34%) of hardened shorelines. In 2013, New Jersey created a set of engineering guidelines to promote the use of living shorelines and natural and nature-based features (NNBF) in the state. Like most similar documents, the guidance focused on more natural, estuarine, and bay shorelines. Recognizing that many of the traditional NNBF techniques described in the guidelines were less appropriate for developed shorelines, the state recently created a separate set of guidelines for developed shores. That document synthesizes information from peer-reviewed and gray literature, with lessons learned from six case studies to generate guidance for the application of NNBF along the developed shores of New Jersey. The resulting guidance is founded on three core Guiding Principles: (1) Maintain/Restore Natural areas, (2) Design for Resilience and Adaptability, (3) Monitor and Assess; and six recommended Design Elements: (1) Allow Light Penetration, (2) Use Alternative Materials, (3) Increase Surface Roughness, (4) Increase Water Retention, (5) Reduce Slope, and (6) Introduce Curvature. The guidance recommends that all developed shoreline NNBF projects in the state adhere to the Guiding Principles and that they consider applying the Design Elements where appropriate. This article provides an overview of these guidelines in hope of encouraging more NNBF projects on developed coasts and provide a clearer starting point for the design of those NNBF projects.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102959
JournalRegional Studies in Marine Science
Volume62
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2023

Keywords

  • Developed
  • Living shorelines
  • NNBF
  • Urban

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Developing guidance for the application of Natural and Nature Based Features (NNBF) on developed shores: A case study from New Jersey, USA'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this