Presented to the Catskill Waterfront Flooding Task Force in January, 2014. To learn more: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/93950.html

1. Possible Flood Adaptation
Strategies for Catskill, NY
Catskill Waterfront Flooding Task Force
February 27, 2014
Based on Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies by NYC Dept. of City Planning

2. Factors to Consider
Scale - parcel, reach, community
Timeframe - short (<2yrs), mid (2-10yrs), long (>10yrs)
Technical/regulatory feasibility - known, unknown
Environmental impact - positive, neutral, negative
Residual Risk >100 year storm – high, low

3. Dry Floodproofing
What: Using water-tight materials to resist water during
temporary submersion
Applicability: Buildings with water-resistant walls and foundations
in areas likely to experience only low level stillwater flooding
Example: Flood shield on commercial building

4. Dry Floodproofing
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel
Short-term
Known
Neutral
High
Other
FEMA encourages floodproofing

5. Wet Floodproofing
What: Structure designed or retrofitted to allow water to flow through with minimal
to no damage
Applicability: Buildings with floodable or portable first floor use, e.g., storage and
parking spaces
Example: Steelhouse
Restaurant and Clearwater
Home Port, Kingston, NY

6. Wet Floodproofing
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel
Short-term
Known
Neutral
High
Other
FEMA encourages floodproofing

7. Protect/elevate building
systems
What: Utilities relocated above flood elevation
Applicability: Structures with flexibility for
utility location
Example: Elevated air conditioner and
basement systems

8. Protect/elevate building
systems
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel
Short-term
Known
FEMA encourages floodproofing
Neutral
High
Other
Relatively inexpensive

9. Elevate on piles
What: Raise a new or existing structure on piles or
columns to reduce risk of wave action and flooding
Applicability: Detached, low-rise structures
Example: New Paltz, NY and New Orleans, LA

10. Elevate on piles
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel, Reach
Short-term
Known
FEMA encourages elevation
Neutral
High
Other
Allows use to continue in near-term

11. Elevate on Fill
What: Structure raised on fill above flood elevation
Applicability: Parcel with enough space
for elevation and access
Example: Piermont condominiums

12. Elevate on Fill
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel, Reach
Mid to Long-term
Expensive
Known
Challenging to permit in floodway
Negative to neutral
Can affect habitat in shoreline areas and
movement of water in floodway
High
Other
Can affect neighboring properties

13. violate municipal height restrictions and undermines historic
preservation. And in extreme ood events, the increased
elevation height may not be suf cient and the building may
still be ooded.
Amphibious foundations are a cost-effective, residentfriendly alternative to permanent static elevation in areas
where ood waters are not accompanied by large waves or
high velocity currents. Amphibious systems are distinct from
oating houses in that they retain a home’s relationship to
the ground by resting close to the earth most of the time,
but oating as high as necessary whenever ooding occurs.
An amphibious system consists of buoyancy elements to
provide otation, a vertical guidance system to limit lateral
movement, some accommodation for utility connections
and a provision to keep water-borne debris from settling
under the house. As such, it provides temporary elevation as
needed, when needed, and does so by working in synchrony
with oodwater rather than resisting it.
unique character of these neighbourhoods.
Amphibious Structures
These basic components of an amphibious house
form a system that can be adapted to respond to the unique
challenges of diverse locations. The nature and duration
of the ooding, local housing types, neighbourhood fabric,
local climate and economics, and whether for retro t or
new construction are all factors that in uence the design of
an amphibious system. While clearly there is no universal
design solution, the regional variations of amphibious
architecture ensure that communities around the world are
able to meet the challenges brought on by future storms and
impending climate change.
FL
DING
A TERISTICS
COAST
RIVER
NON WAVE ZONE
WAVE ZONE
COLD CLIMATE
WARM CLIMATE
SALT WATER
FRESH WATER
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
A
existing house
new steel channel reinforcement for sill beam
existing sill beam
steel double-angle ``T `` beam
secondary steel framing
diagonal bracing
telescoping vertical guidance post
coated EPS buoyancy block
existing pier
sleeve for vertical guidance post

14. Amphibious Structures
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel, Reach
Mid to Long-term
Unknown
New technologies emerging (i.e. retrofit)
Negative to Neutral
May affect shoreline habitat quality
Medium to High
Other
Requires attention to long term access and infrastructure, may
not meet insurance standards

15. Floating Structures
What: Structure built to float on the water at all times
Applicability: Waterfront areas with lower risk of high energy wave action
Example:
Amsterdam,
Netherlands

16. Floating Structures
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel, Reach
Mid to Long-term
Unknown
New technologies emerging
Negative to Neutral
May affect shoreline habitat quality
Medium to High
Other
Requires elevated or floating access and infrastructure

17. Elevation of land and streets
What: Elevating land and/or streets to bring structures above flood elevation
Applicability: Low-lying areas undergoing
redevelopment/new infrastructure
Example: Overdiepse Polder, Netherlands

18. Elevation of land and streets
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid-term
Significant investment
Known
Negative or neutral
High
Other
May have shoreline habitat impacts

19. Waterfront parks and open
space
What: Open spaces designed to buffer and potentially hold floodwater on site
Applicability: Areas suitable for parks and open space
Example: Riverwalk Park, Tarrytown and Iona Marsh

20. Waterfront parks and open
space
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel, Reach
Short-term
Known
Positive
Habitat, water quality and stormwater
benefits, if done carefully
Low
Other
Allows for public access and recreational uses

21. Deployable Floodwalls
What: Deployable walls that prevent floodwaters from passing
Applicability: Sheltered areas with low wave action
Example: Kampen, Netherlands

22. Deployable Floodwalls
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Short to Mid-term
Known
Neutral
High
Other
Failure and overtopping

23. Strategic relocation
What: Relocating existing or limiting new development in the highest risk areas
Applicability: Areas of low development and/or highest vulnerability
Example: Toronto, Canada and Staten Island, NY

24. Strategic Relocation
Factor
Score
Notes
Parcel, Reach, Community
Mid to Long-term
Can be politically challenging
Known
Positive
Low
Other
Provides for shoreline habitat and
wetland migration
Greatest reduction in long-term
risk
May require available upland sites for relocation of uses

25. Revetments
What: Stone rubble or concrete block structures that dissipate wave energy and
prevent shoreline erosion
Applicability: Sloped shorelines that require
erosion protection but don’t require deep
water access. Vegetation can be added.
Example: Hudson River

26. Revetments
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid to Long-Term
Known
Negative to Neutral
Can have some ecological value with
plantings
High
Other
Along much of Hudson River
Primary function is erosion control
Height adaptable. Must be combined with other features to
reduce flood risk

27. Engineered EcologicallyEnhanced Shorelines
What: Shoreline treatment that provides erosion control, bank stabilization and
ecological value using natural features
Applicability: Shorelines with low wave
action and slope
Example: OPRHP boat launch in Coxsackie

28. Engineered EcologicallyEnhanced Shorelines
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid-term
Known
Neutral to Positive
Can improve shoreline habitat value
High
Other
New technologies emerging
Primary function is erosion control
Height adaptable, must be combined with other measures to
reduce flood risk

29. Bulkheads
What: Vertical walls that stabilize the shoreline, prevent erosion and protect from
low level flooding and wave action.
Applicability: Limited space, deep water access, existing hard shorelines, and
working waterfronts
Example: Hudson River, Town of Lloyd

30. Bulkheads
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid-term
Known
Negative
Very limited habitat value
High
Other
Currently along Hudson
Failure and overtopping
~30 year lifespan, required for deep water access

31. Seawalls
What: Massive stone, rock or concrete walls built on the shoreline to resist wave
action and flooding.
Applicability: Highly vulnerable developed areas
Example: Manhattan

32. Seawalls
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid to Long-term
Unknown
Negative
High
Other
Very limited habitat value
Failure and overtopping
~30 year lifespan, access and view of waterfront impacted

33. Levees/Dikes
What: Earthen embankments at shoreline that protect large areas from flooding
Applicability: Areas with valuable assets and access to wide swath of shoreland for levee
Example: New Orleans, LA and Waal River, Netherlands

34. Levees/Dikes
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid to Long-term
Unknown
May be challenging to permit
Negative to Neutral
Depends on shoreline design
High
Other
Significant investment
Failure and overtopping

35. Constructed Wetlands
What: New or restored tidal wetland that dissipates wave action and creates habitat
Applicability: Low-lying coastal areas
Example: Jamaica Bay, Queens

36. Constructed Wetlands
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid to Long-term
Unknown
Neutral to Positive
Can improve coastal habitat
High
Other
New technologies emerging
Not designed to reduce flood elevation
Must be combined with other measures to reduce flood risk

37. Breakwaters
Artificial Reefs
What: Offshore structures that reduce wave action
Applicability: Areas with shallow water and
strong foundation soils
Example: Brooklyn and Rondout Harbor, Kingston

38. Breakwaters
Artificial Reefs
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid to Long-term
Unknown
Neutral to Positive
Some designs may enhance
habitat
High
Other
May be challenging to permit
Not designed to reduce flood elevation
Must be combined with other measures to reduce flood risk

39. Floating Islands
What: Planted mats or structures that reduce wave action and can restore habitat
and improve water quality
Applicability: Sheltered, shallow coastal areas with low wave energy
Example: Isle de Jean Charles, LA

40. Floating Islands
Factor
Score
Notes
Reach
Mid to Long-term
Unknown
May be challenging to permit
Unknown
High
Other
Not designed to reduce flood elevation
Must be combined with other measures to reduce flood risk
Risk breaking loose in high wave action