This past Sunday markedfive yearssince Hurricane Sandy made landfall over the northeastern U.S. While the townspeople strike hardest by the violent storm are using the time as an chance to reflect on the lives , homes , and landscape that were destroyed , they ’re also continuing to devise for the next mega - storm that will reach their shores . One beach township in Staten Island , New York is invest in a strategy that ’s especially innovative : AsMother Jonesreports , the surge roadblock that ’s being erected off the shore of Tottenville will repurpose nature to furnish protection from lifelike disasters .
The authorities - funded project , called Living Breakwaters , is the inspiration ofMacArthur Geniusand landscape painting designer Kate Orff . Rather than building a conventional seawall , Orff and her firm envision a “ living piece of infrastructure ” control an oyster reef that will uphold to get and respond to its environment even after construction ends . During a harsh storm , the breakwater would absorb the impact of unsafe waves barreling toward shore . It also has the potential to preserve the environs in the farseeing term by lessen erosion and wave body process .
Because Living Breakwaters is designed to move as part of its environment , it offers a few benefits in addition to torrent auspices . The beast that make their home on the reef will eventually distill the Ethel Waters around them and make the shoring of Tottenville dry cleaner and healthier . The Witwatersrand will also be more discreet and pleasing to search at than a abrasive concrete wall , meaning Tottenville residents can revel their clear sea persuasion without having to sacrifice safety .
The projection is still in its preliminary stages , with grammatical construction scheduled to get down in 2019 and enfold up in 2021 . Rather than relying whole on an experimental method , the community is integrate the breakwater into a larger photoflood tribute plan . Some tools , likewave - deflect backbone dunes , will also take advantage of the area ’s natural resources .
[ h / tMother Jones ]
