Living Breakwaters

AKRF worked closely with the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (now the New York State Office of Resilient Homes and Communities) on all aspects of the Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to NEPA and SEQRA requirements and utilizing CEQR analysis methodologies.

Among other technical work, our natural resources staff conducted ecological communities and wildlife inventories, threatened and endangered plant species surveys, and wetland delineations for the project. AKRF also conducted Phase 1A and B archaeological studies and coordinated with the State Historic Preservation Office and New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

We developed sampling protocols for water quality, fish and benthic, sediment contaminants and clam tissue, and horseshoe crab egg surveys within Raritan Bay with state and federal agencies. AKRF helped GOSR prepare the RFP to implement the aquatic sampling program, managed the selected subcontractor (including providing the randomly selected sampling locations for each sampling effort), and analyzed the sampling results.

Our firm completed consultations with federal agencies under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and developed mitigation alternatives with USACE and NMFS.

AKRF assisted GOSR with consultations under the Coastal Management Act and prepared the Joint Application for permits for the project to USACE and NYSDEC. A Joint Record of Decision and Findings Statement pursuant to NEPA and SEQRA was issued for the EIS in 2018, and the construction of Living Breakwaters was completed in 2024.