NEW YORK / HARBOR & ESTUARY PROGRAM

Lessons Learned for a Changing Future 2019 Restoration Conference Director’s Note Welcome! Thanks to the work of the people in this room, restoration of the – New Jersey Harbor Estuary continues to advance. The progress report released today summariz- es benefi ts from the more than 40 projects and $290 million of expenditures completed in the past three years. We have made signifi cant advancements, especially in restoring mari- time forests, conserving land, and improving aquatic connectivity for migratory fi sh.

We celebrate these achievements knowing that climate change is posing critical questions about the future. Seven years after Hurricane Sandy came ashore, some innovative answers are emerging. Natural and nature-based solutions, like building living shorelines, enhanc- ing tidal wetlands, and conserving vulnerable fl oodplains, are becoming recognized by policy makers. The ability of our highly productive wetlands to sequester carbon and the importance of retaining that carbon in place, is discussed as a climate change mitigation strategy. But the policies and community of practice for implementing these techniques on the ground are still emerging.

Climate change is also demanding that we reconsider traditional restoration and manage- ment practices. In a rapidly changing ecosystem, how do we manage an invasive species like Phragmites? Can we continue to make progress on restoring oysters and improving water quality? Do we need to consider new policy frameworks for wetlands and the coastal zone?

Lessons Learned for a Changing Future seeks to improve our ability to deliver quality an- swers to those questions. To help us, we are fortunate to have the leaders of critical federal and state agencies with us today, to share how their agencies are tacking these issues. We also have a terrifi c series of afternoon workshops and panels where we can dive deeper into some of the key topics. Most importantly, we have designed the entire day to engage you and the other experts in this room in this crucial conversation.

Robert Pirani

Conference Wifi NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program: @harborestuary Network: SI- Event #RestoreOurEstuary Password: learn@SI

Dining-ware at this year’s conference is nearly all compostable. Please use the compost bins provided courtesy of Earth Matter. Agenda

Morning Plenary

9:00 Registration and Breakfast Basement Lobby

9:30 Welcome and Introduction Auditorium Robert Pirani, Program Director, NY-NJ HEP Peter Lopez, Administrator, USEPA Region 2

10:00 Disruptive Imagination: Reframing our Restoration Work David Maddox, Founder and Executive Director of The Nature of Cities

10:30 Restoration Progress in the Hudson Raritan Estuary Looking back over 10 years of restoration since the adoption of the Comprehensive Restoration Plan and plans for fulfi llment of our region’s restoration goals. Isabelle Stinnette, Restoration Manager, NY-NJ HEP Colonel Thomas D. Asbery, Commander, NY District, USACE

11:00 Break Basement Lobby

11:15 Restoration for Adaptation: Perspectives from the States Auditorium Representatives from the States of New Jersey and New York will discuss how habitat restoration and conservation are being recog- nized as the answer to new questions. Both states have launched new initiatives for deploying natural and nature-based solutions as critical tools for managing coastal resiliency, shoreline protection, carbon sequestration, and stormwater management, while also delivering habitat restoration and species protection. Catherine McCabe, Commissioner, NJDEP Sean Mahar, Chief of Staff , NYSDEC Moderator: Christopher Daggett, Chair, HEP Policy Committee

12:15 Plenary Closing Remarks and Lunch Clay Hiles, Executive Director, Hudson River Foundation Agenda

Aft ernoon Breakout Session 1: Choose one 1:15 The Yin and Yang of Estuarine Phragmites Management Room 1 Restoration practitioners discuss lessons learned over many years of combating invasive species, including how sea level rise is changing minds and techniques. Come prepared with your questions to ask the experts! Terry Doss, NJSEA Christiana Pollack, Princeton Hydro Kip Stein, NYC Parks Judith Weis, Rutgers University Moderator: Lisa Baron, USACE

Restoration for Water Quality and Stormwater Management Room 2 Panelists will provide case studies and explore how habitat restoration techniques are increasingly being proposed and tested as a means of improving water quality. Learn about the state of practice for managing a variety of landscapes and pollutants. John Butler, Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Tobiah Horton, Rutgers University John McLaughlin, NYCDEP Beth Roessler, HR Estuary Program, NYSDEC Moderator: Shino Tanikawa, NYC Soil and Water Conservation District, SWIM Coalition

Envisioning Future Shorelines Naval Offi cers Join the NYC Department of City Planning in an exercise to envision the Room future of NYC’s 520 miles of waterfront. We will discuss the most pressing Third Floor issues facing the city’s shorelines and the strategies that we can use to address them. Feedback from this session will inform the city’s next Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, which will be released in 2020. The plan provides a framework for how NYC will manage its waterfront in the next decade and beyond. Marit Larson, NYC Parks Cory Mann, NYC DCP Michael Marrella, NYC DCP Adam Parris, Mayor’s Offi ce of Resiliency NYC Brendan Pillar, NYC DCP

2:30 Transition to Next Session Aft ernoon Breakout Session 2: Choose one 2:45 Next Steps in Harbor Oyster Restoration Room 1 Panelists will discuss the status of oyster restoration in the Harbor, and current challenges and opportunities. Discuss the how best to advance restoration past the piloting stage. Meredith Comi, NY-NJ Baykeeper James Lodge, Hudson River Foundation Katie Mosher, Billion Oyster Project Moderator: Mike McCann, The Nature Conservancy

Auditorium Monitoring Shorelines for Ecological, Structural, and Social Resiliency Panelists will present and discuss the results of Measuring Success, an ambitious project to create a framework for monitoring shorelines throughout New York. Off er your feedback and priorities for the next round of monitoring sites. Novem Auyeung, NYC Parks Pippa Brashear, SCAPE Dylan Corbett, Arcadis Carolyn Fraioli, NYSDOS Katharhy G., Brooklyn College Katie Graziano, SRIJB Lindsey Strehlau-Howay, NY-NJ HEP

Accelerating Blue Carbon Sequestration in Tidal Wetlands Naval Offi cers Panelists will lead us through the state of the science and policies for Room wetland restoration and preservation as a means of storing carbon. Help Third Floor identify next steps for advancing this work here in the Estuary. Riobart Breen, NYSDEC Tim Dillingham, American Littoral Society Stuart Findlay, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Chester Zarnoch, Baruch College Moderator: Kristin Marcell, NYSDEC

4:00 Conference Concludes Please join us to continue the conversation at Pier A Harbor House, 22 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004 Presenters

Thomas Asbery ecologists who are tasked with monitoring US Army Corps of Engineers and assessing NYC Parks’ natural resources; advising on natural resources protection Colonel Thomas D. Asbery assumed and conservation; and using research and command of the New York District of the monitoring to inform adaptive manage- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on June 8, ment. She is also a part of the New York 2017. He is responsible for the Corps’ water City Urban Field Station and has worked resource development, navigation, and with the U.S. Forest Service on a variety of regulatory activities in northeastern New ecological and social science research Jersey, eastern and south-central New York projects. Her background is in community State, including the New York and New and ecosystem ecology, with a focus on Jersey Harbor and Long Island, as well as climate change, soil biogeochemistry, and areas of Vermont, Massachusetts, and microbial ecology. Novem holds a B.S. in Connecticut. Colonel Asbery oversees the Environmental Science from Brown design and construction at U.S. Army and University and a Ph.D. in Forestry and U.S. Air Force installations in New Jersey, Natural Resources from Purdue University. New York, and Greenland. Colonel Asbery holds the title of Supervisor of the New York and New Jersey Harbor. Most recently, Lisa Baron Col. Asbery oversaw the completion of US Army Corps of Engineers various coastal restoration projects along New Jersey and Long Island, including Lisa Baron is a Project Manager with the emergency maintenance dredging in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-NY District, Moriches Inlet. High visibility coastal Civil Works Branch. She has 28 years of endeavors under his leadership include the experience which includes ecosystem completion of ’s East Rocka- restoration initiatives, dredged material way Inlet to Rockaway Inlet & Jamaica Bay, management, environmental dredging, NY and the full design eff orts currently remedial investigations and ecological risk underway for the South Shore of Staten assessment. Lisa manages the New York Island, New York. District’s large scale restoration program for the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary and the Novem Auyeung Upper Hudson River. Lisa has served as the Restoration Work Group Chair of the NY/NJ NYC Parks Harbor Estuary Program since 2010. Lisa As a senior scientist, Novem guides conser- served as Chief of the Harbor Programs vation, research, and monitoring priorities Branch, responsible for the execution of for the Forestry, Horticulture, and Natural the ecosystem restoration and deepening Resources Division. She leads a team of program for the NY/NJ Harbor. Prior to A - B joining the NY District, Lisa was a Project Riobart Breen Manager with NJDOT’s Offi ce of Maritime NYS DEC Resources and the Division of Environmen- Rob Breen, Ph.D. is a climate policy analyst tal Resources, private consulting and Oak for the New York State Department of Ridge National Laboratory. Lisa earned an Environmental Conservation’s Offi ce of MS degree in Biology from Indiana Univer- Climate Change, where he is responsible sity of Pennsylvania and a BS in Biology/ for adaptation and resilience policy and Marine Biology from Bloomsburg Universi- planning, and for coordinating climate ty. change communications. He has extensive environmental and natural resources Pippa Brashear policy and planning experience with local, state, federal and tribal governments, SCAPE non-profi t agencies and academia, and As Planning Prinicple, Pippa works with focuses his eff orts on climate change planning, engineering and design teams to adaptation, resilience thinking, behavioral integrate landscape strategies that are insights, collaborative adaptive gover- sustainable and resilient, and that balance nance, ecosystem-based adaptation and environment, infrastructure, development, policy implementation. He has a B.A. from and community quality of life needs. Pippa the State University of New York at Geneseo is currently managing the implementation in social science and humanities, and M.A. of SCAPE’s Living Breakwater’s project. and Ph.D. degrees in environmental and Other recent work includes developing natural resources policy and administra- coastal protection strategies for New York tion from Northern Arizona University. City’s Strategic Initiative for Rebuilding and Breen is also a lecturer in the Biodiversity, Resilience (SIRR); working with community Conservation and Policy Program at the planning committees as part of the New University at Albany (SUNY). He lives with York Rising Community Reconstruction his family on a regenerative homestead and Program; and serving as a key team mem- small goat farm transitioning to sustain- ber in the development of the Hudson ability and resilience in Albany County, River RBD project with Dewberry and OMA. New York, and in his spare time has been Pippa holds a Master in Landscape Archi- developing EarthQuest, a crowdsourced tecture and Master in Urban Planning with climate change scenario and simulation Distinction from the Harvard University game for young people. Graduate School of Design, and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard College. Presenters

John Butler spheric Administration. She sits on the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Harbor and Estuary Program Citizens As project manager, Mr. Butler oversees Advisory Committee and is the NJ Co-chair stewardship projects throughout the park, for the Oyster Subgroup of the Harbor and along its trails and natural areas. In 2015, Estuary Program. he developed a monitoring program of Tibbetts Brook, engaging community members and students to assist in water Dylan Corbett quality data collection. The program has ARCADIS grown since then to currently include Dylan Corbett is an Environmental Scien- metals and bacteria sampling and a biodi- tist at Arcadis, currently working on a versity study across the length of the range of groundwater and soil remediation Brook. John conducts a water chestnut projects on Long Island and throughout the removal project from Van Cortlandt Lake Tri-State area. His experience at Arcadis during the summer months and manages a includes site investigations, fi eld sampling, restoration project along 16 acres of and regulatory research. Dylan’s responsi- fl oodplain forest of Tibbetts Brook. He bilities also include leading various fi eld received a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries operations to support delineation eff orts Biology from the University of Vermont for legacy and emerging contaminants. In and is currently pursuing his M.S. in addition to working at Arcadis, Dylan is Geographic Information Sciences at CUNY currently a Research Fellow for the Science (Lehman College). and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, collaborating on its grant project, Measur- Meredith Comi ing Success: Monitoring Natural and NY/NJ Baykeeper Nature Based Shoreline Features in New Meredith Comi is the Restoration Program York State. Dylan is a graduate of Hobart Director at NY/NJ Baykeeper. She oversees College with a degree in Environmental all aspects of the Restoration Program, Studies and Biology. He is currently including managing the aquaculture pursuing a master’s degree in Marine facility, implementing oyster reef and Conservation and Policy at Stony Brook’s living shoreline projects, and conducting School of Marine and Atmospheric Scienc- monitoring and research. Mrs. Comi has es, with a focus on coastal management previous experience from time spent issues. Previously, Dylan worked in outdoor working at Haskin Shellfi sh Research Lab, education and environmental advocacy in Rutgers University Institute of Marine and New England. Coastal Sciences. She was previously a staff ecologist for National Oceanic and Atmo- B - D

Chris Daggett restores coastal habitats in New Jersey and NY-NJ HEP Jamaica Bay, NYC, including tidal marshes. In addition to the direct habitat and Former President and CEO of the Geraldine resiliency benefi ts of this work, the Society R. Dodge Foundation, Chris Daggett is a promotes the restoration of tidal marshes respected leader in New Jersey’s nonprofi t as a climate mitigation strategy. This work sector, currently serving on the boards of has included successful advocacy to Hudson River Foundation, Schumann Fund include tidal marsh stewardship as a for New Jersey, President’s Advisory Council strategy supported by NJ’s Global Warming of Stevens Institute of Technology, New Solutions Act, which dedicates proceeds Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, and from RGGI toward a variety of climate ArtYard. He recently chaired a statewide mitigation actions. task force on lead in drinking water. Chris is the Policy Committee chair of the NY-NJ Terry Doss Harbor & Estuary Program. Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor NJ Sports and Exposition Authority Tom Kean, USEPA Regional Administrator, Terry Doss CERP is a restoration ecologist, and NJDEP Commissioner. He has exten- who has served as a local leader in restoring sive experience in private investment, the natural areas located within urban brownfi elds development, and environ- wildlands. Over the past 30 years, Terry has mental consulting. In 2009, Chris ran as an managed restoration projects with a focus independent candidate for governor. He on nature-based solutions for improving holds a B.A., with Honors, from UNC - resiliency in coastal communities. For the Chapel Hill, and an Ed.D. from UMass - Am- past ten years, Terry led Biohabitats’ NY/NJ herst. Bioregion offi ce. But Terry recently re- turned to her roots, restoring wetlands within the New Jersey Meadowlands, and Tim Dillingham now serves as the Director of the Natural American Littoral Society Resources Management Department for Tim Dillingham serves as the Executive the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Director of the American Littoral Society, a Authority. Terry received a BS in Agricul- membership based coastal conservation tural Sciences, and later received a Master organization, headquartered in Highlands, of Marine Policy, from the University of New Jersey. The Littoral Society’s mission is Delaware. In 2003, Terry studied Earth to promote the study and conservation of Sciences as part of a Ph.D. program at marine life and its habitats, defend the Lehigh University. Terry sits on the Board of coast from harm, and empower others to Directors for the NY/NJ Baykeeper, and is do the same. The Littoral Society actively actively involved with the Society of Presenters

Wetland Scientists, Ecological Society of Carolyn Fraioli is a Coastal Resources America, and the Society for Ecological Specialist at the NYSDOS’s Offi ce of Plan- Restoration. Terry was certifi ed as an ning, Development & Community Infra- Ecological Restoration Practitioner by SER structure. She works within the Climate in 2018. Change and Resilience Unit and provides technical assistance to communities, as Stuart Findlay well as agency staff , on topics such as Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies coastal processes, natural hazards, shore- line management techniques, and risk Dr. Stuart Findlay is a Senior Scientist at the assessment. Carolyn serves the Department Cary Institute in Millbrook, NY. He received on resilience initiatives such as the Com- his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. munity Risk and Resiliency Act, and sits on Dr. Findlay has conducted research on a several advisory committees related to wide variety of aquatic ecosystems includ- resilience planning and adaptation. She ing streams, lakes, large rivers and wet- has degrees in Marine Biology and Environ- lands with a specifi c focus on the Hudson mental Management from the University of River. In the Hudson, he helped implement North Carolina at Wilmington and Duke the Hudson River Environmental Observ- University, respectively. ing System, a network of real-time water quality sensors. He currently serves on Katharhy G. several Advisory Committees including the Hudson River Estuary Management Brooklyn College Committee for the New York State Depart- Born and raised between the Andes and ment of Environmental Conservation and Amazon, Katharhy challenged his indige- the EPA’s Long Island Sound Science and nous social history. He earned the fi rst Technical Advisory Committee. He is higher education degree and pioneered a currently a member of the Board of Direc- carrier path in the STEM fi eld in his native tors for the Society of Freshwater Science nation. He co-founded the Andes Youth and he is the Editor-in-Chief for Aquatic Development Program in indigenous Sciences. He has a strong interest in communities of Ecuador, and his active extending his own research to practitioners leadership role earned him the Youth and multiple stakeholders and frequently Ambassador Fellowship in the U.S., 2008. participates in workshops addressing Katharhy has received local and interna- tional recognition for his work in environ- specifi c real-world problems. mental remediation, environmental monitoring, agriculture education and Carolyn Fraioli engagement, native-land cartography, and NYS Deptartment of State agroecosystem investigation. He holds two F - L bachelors’ degrees, one in science from Extension’s Water Resources Program. He Brooklyn College and the other in arts from designs and builds bioswales, rain gardens ITCA, Ecuador. He is pursuing a Master of and other forms of green infrastructure to Science degree at Lehman College. Current- address problems of water quality and ly, Katharhy is an adjunct faculty at Brook- quantity in New Jersey’s developed areas. lyn College, co-principal investigator, In his work, reuse of water, materials, sites Carbon Sequestration Project, at Advanced aligns with an ecological design that is Science Research Center, urban agriculture inspired by the full lifecycle of living things; entrepreneur technician at Cornell Small from seed to compost. His most satisfying Farms Programs, B2P, and president of projects entail the deconstruction of a K’allam’p Inc. structure, the harvest of valued materials, and the holistic redevelopment of the site Katie Graziano with a balance between human program- ming and environmental performance. He SRIJB is currently engaged in integrating decon- Katie is the Project Scientist at the Science struction and reuse of abandoned struc- and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, tures with the planning and design of working on projects that focus on urban reclaimed fl oodplain areas. watershed management, coastal communi- ty engagement, and socio-ecological Marit Larson assessment in New York City and State. Currently, those include “Measuring NYC Parks Success: Monitoring Natural and Na- Marit Larson, Chief of Natural Resource at ture-Based Features in NYS,” and “Cycles of NYC Parks’ Division of Forestry, Horticul- Resilience” in Canarsie, Brooklyn. Before ture and Natural Resources, is an environ- the Institute, she worked with local govern- mental scientist with a background in ment in the Commonwealth of the North- stream and wetlands restoration. She has ern Mariana Islands to implement commu- over 25 years of experience managing nity-based watershed restoration projects. wetland restoration design, protection, and She has a B.S. in Natural Resources from monitoring projects. At NYC Parks, she Cornell University and a Master’s in Marine oversees teams conducting forest and and Environmental Aff airs from the wetlands restoration, native plant propaga- University of Washington. tion, natural resource stewardship, green infrastructure design and construction, Tobiah Horton and the monitoring, assessment and management of over 10,000 acres of Rutgers Cooperative Extension natural areas in New York City. Tobiah Horton is Senior Research Project Manager at the Rutgers Cooperative Presenters

Jim Lodge Assembly. Prior to his term as Assembly- Hudson River Foundation man, Pete also served 15 years in elected local offi ces in Schoharie, NY, including Mr. Lodge is a senior scientist with the Village Trustee, Town Councilman and Hudson River Foundation for Science and Town Supervisor/County Legislature and Environmental Research. Mr. Lodge holds a Schoharie County Clerk. Pete graduated Master of Science degree in Marine Envi- with honors from the State University of ronmental Management from the Marine New York (SUNY) Cobleskill, and SUNY Science Research Center at Stony Brook. Albany. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Prior to joining the Hudson River Founda- public aff airs with a concentration in tion, Mr. Lodge was an oceanographer with environmental studies and a master’s the New York District, U.S. Army Corps of degree in public administration. Engineers. Mr. Lodge has more than 20 years of experience leading research, David Maddox planning and restoration projects in the NY/NJ Estuary. Mr. Lodge is currently The Nature of Cities managing the second phase of the Contam- David Maddox is committed to the creation ination Assessment and Reduction Project of sustainable, resilient, livable, and just (CARP) and leading research teams moni- cities. After earning a Ph.D. in ecology and toring the 2018 Tappan Zee oyster mitiga- statistics at Cornell, he spent 10 years with tion project, the 2016 Jamaica Bay oyster The Nature Conservancy working on research project and the third phase of climate change and stewardship. In 2012, oyster restoration activities at Soundview David founded The Nature of Cities and Park, Bronx, NY. remains its Executive Director. TNOC is a transdisciplinary essay and discussion Pete Lopez site—with 700+ writers from around the world, from scientists to activists, designers US EPA to artists—on cities as ecosystems of Pete Lopez serves as the Regional Adminis- people, nature, and infrastructure. He is trator for EPA Region 2. His responsibilities also a composer, playwright, and theatre include overseeing the states of New Jersey artist. He lives in New York City. and New York, Commonwealth of and the US Virgin Islands, and eight tribal nations. Prior to joining EPA, Mr. Cory Mann Lopez worked for 21 years on staff policy NYC DCP and program development in the New York Cory is a Waterfront Planner for the NYC State Senate and Assembly and served 6 Department of City Planning. He manages terms as a Member of the New York State projects in the Bronx and is currently L- M leading a study of Flushing Creek in the chief administrator of the City’s Water- Queens. Originally from California, Cory front Revitalization Program, the City’s received his Master of Regional Planning coastal zone management program and degree from Cornell University with a focus serves as Chair of the Waterfront Manage- on water resource management. Prior to ment Advisory Board. his career in planning, Cory worked in science publishing, where he managed two Catherine McCabe peer-reviewed journals for the Public NJ DEP Library of Science. Catherine R. McCabe, a long-time federal environmental leader, assumed her duties Kristin Marcell as Commissioner of the New Jersey Depart- NYS DEC ment of Environmental Protection in As the Climate Resilience Program Coordi- January 2018. Commissioner McCabe nator, Kristin coordinates and facilitates comes to the DEP with a distinguished regional eff orts to plan for and address the career in government service, both in eff ects of climate change for the New York environmental law and science. Most State Department of Environmental recently, Commissioner McCabe served as Conservation’s (DEC) Hudson River Estuary U.S. EPA Deputy Region 2 Administrator in Program and Cornell Water Resources New York City. In that position, Commis- Institute. The Estuary Program is a regional sioner McCabe assisted the regional partnership to restore and conserve the administration in overseeing operations Hudson River and its watershed. Kristin and implementation of all EPA programs in works with partners on solutions for New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the shoreline communities to adapt to fl ood- U.S. Virgin Islands. Commissioner McCabe ing, heat and drought that both promote previously served as a judge on the EPA’s vibrant waterfront communities and Environmental Appeals Board, as Deputy conserve the vital benefi ts of natural Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Offi ce of systems in the Hudson River watershed. Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, spent 22 years with the U.S. Department of Michael Marrella Justice, and was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York. Commis- NYC DCP sioner McCabe earned a law degree from Michael is the Director of Waterfront and Columbia Law School and a bachelor’s Open Space Planning for the New York City degree in environmental science from Department of City Planning where he is Barnard College. She also studied environ- responsible for directing waterfront policy mental science at Columbia University’s for the agency and oversees the agency’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. resiliency planning portfolio. Michael is Presenters

Mike McCann fi eld for 31-years, 27 of those years with The Nature Conservancy DEP. Prior to coming to DEP, he worked at Mike is passionate about using science to the New York City Department of Sanita- solve complex environmental problems. tion and was part of a team of professionals Harbor cities are his passion, but he is charged with the ecosystem rehabilitation fascinated by all types of social-ecological and lost environmental function of Fresh systems. Raised in the Hudson Valley of Kills Landfi ll. He has developed, and New York, Mike completed his B.S. in collaborated on many large-scale ecologi- Environmental Science at the University of cal designs for inactive landfi lls, wetlands, Notre Dame, then returned to the East coastal woodlands and grasslands. He also Coast to pursue his Ph.D. in Ecology & manages the updates to the ecological and Evolution at Stony Brook University. In water quality strategies of the Department’s 2015, Mike joined the Department of Jamaica Bay Watershed Protection Plan. Marine & Coastal Sciences at Rutgers John holds degrees in Ornamental Horti- University as a Postdoctoral Research culture and Biology. Associate. Since 2016, Mike has led The Nature Conservancy’s work in New York Katie Mosher Harbor as an Urban Marine Ecologist. His Billion Oyster Project work contributes to the Conservancy’s goal Katie Mosher is the Director of Restoration of a clean, accessible, and resilient Harbor at the Billion Oyster Project, whose mission for nature and all New Yorkers. Mike has is to restore oyster reefs to New York published several peer-reviewed scientifi c Harbor through public education initia- articles and is the author of the Restoring tives. Katie’s team develops and imple- Oysters to Urban Waters report. ments oyster restoration projects through- out NY Harbor, frequently working John McLaughlin alongside students from the New York NYC DEP Harbor School’s Career and Technical John McLaughlin is the Managing Director Education Program. Together they have of the Offi ce of Ecosystem Services, Green collaborated with dozens of project part- Infrastructure and Research with the New ners to restore over 30 million oysters and 7 York City Department of Environmental acres of reefs date, with the goal of restor- Protection (DEP). The Managing Director is ing 100 acres of oyster reef habitat to NY the Bureau Director’s senior advisor on the Harbor by 2035. design and implementation of citywide ecosystem restoration projects and NYC Parks onsite green infrastructure projects. John has been in the ecological restoration M - P

Adam Parris studies of Broad Channel and Hamilton NYC Mayor’s Offi ce of Resiliency Beach. In his current role, Brendan helps guide the City’s coastal fl ood resiliency For over 15 years, Adam Parris has been eff orts and the next Comprehensive working with scientists, governments, and Waterfront Plan, due out by the end of communities to advance climate resilience 2020. He lives just outside the 0.2 percent and adaptation. Currently, he is the Deputy annual chance fl oodplain in Astoria with Director of Climate Science and Risk his wife and two young children. Communication at the Mayor’s Offi ce of Resiliency in New York. Previously, he led the Science and Resilience Institute at Robert Pirani Jamaica Bay, a partnership aimed at im- NY-NJ HEP proving resilience in an ecologically and culturally rich, yet vulnerable part of New Robert Pirani is the program director for York City. Adam has supported coastal the New York¬-New Jersey Harbor & planning for Federal agencies, as well as the Estuary Program at the Hudson River states of California, Maryland, New York, Foundation. HEP is a collaboration of and New Jersey. Mr. Parris also directed government, scientists and the civic sector NOAA’s Regional Integrated Sciences and that helps protect and restore the harbor’s Assessments program, a network that waters and habitat. It is one of 28 such helps expand the nation’s capacity to programs around the country authorized prepare for and adapt to climate. He holds a under the Clean Water Act. Prior to joining Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and the Foundation in 2014, Mr. Pirani was vice Environmental Geology from Bucknell president for energy and environment at University and a Master of Science in Regional Plan Association and executive Geology from the University of Vermont. director of the Governors Island Alliance. Mr. Pirani has received awards from the Environmental Advocates of New York, Brendan Pillar National Trust for Historic Preservation, NYC DCP and The New York Harbor School Founda- Brendan is the deputy director of the tion. Mr. Pirani has served as a founding Waterfront and Open Space Planning board member of the four¬-state Highlands Division of the New York City Department Coalition, Governors Island Alliance, and of City Planning (DCP). Prior to this ap- Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. Mr. Pirani pointment, Brendan was in DCP’s Queens holds a master’s degree in regional plan- offi ce, leading various initiatives including ning from Cornell University and B.A. in the Downtown Far Rockaway neighbor- Environmental Studies from Hampshire hood plan and the resilient neighborhood College. Presenters

Christiana L. Pollack York State Water Resources Institute at Princeton Hydro Cornell University. Beth provides outreach Christiana has nearly 15 years of expertise focused on stream corridor restoration and in ecological restoration and hydrologic protection. She coordinates the Hudson modeling, with a focus on non-tidal and Estuary Trees for Tribs program, working tidal habitats, living shorelines using with non-profi ts, municipalities, private natural and nature-based features, spatial landowners and volunteers on streamside analysis, and environmental mapping. As a tree plantings and other projects aimed at Certifi ed Floodplain Manager and GIS protecting the water quality in the tributary Professional, she performs fl ood mitigation streams of the Hudson River Estuary. Beth and wetland hydrology modelling in has a master’s degree in Environmental riverine and coastal systems and incorpo- Science and Policy from Clark University in rates projected changes in sea level rise, Massachusetts. precipitation, and temperature. Christiana is experienced with evaluating the impacts Basil Seggos of climate change by identifying vulnerable NYS DEC communities, both ecological and urban, Basil Seggos was appointed DEC Commis- and providing restoration and mitigation sioner by Governor , and opportunities. As a Senior Project Manager, has served in this role since 2015, leading she oversees numerous ecological design an agency of nearly 3,000 professionals. As and geospatial projects, including vulnera- Commissioner, he oversees programs that bility assessments, invasive species remov- promote a clean, healthy and accessible al, and hazard mitigation planning. Addi- environment, including: protecting and tionally, Christiana manages several restoring New York’s air, lands and waters, large-scale wetland restoration projects in combatting climate change, enforcing the Mid-Atlantic region, with a focus on the State environmental laws and regulations, NY-NJ Harbor Estuary, that provide ecosys- responding to natural and man-made tem services to mitigate fl ood risks, en- disasters, and supporting world-class hance native habitat, improve water quality, outdoor recreation on state lands and and strengthen storm resiliency. waters, including hunting, fi shing, hiking and paddling. Prior to becoming DEC Beth Roessler Commissioner, Seggos served as the NYS DEC Deputy Secretary for the Environment for the Governor. Before his career in State Beth Roessler, Stream Buff er Coordinator, government, Seggos served as Vice Presi- Hudson River Estuary Program at the New dent of Business Development at Hugo Neu York State Department of Environmental Corporation, a clean tech private equity Conservation in collaboration with New company; Chief Investigator and Attorney P - S for Riverkeeper; Associate at the Natural restoration progress. Prior to joining HEP, Resources Defense Council (NRDC); and she worked for the NYS Department of legal clerk at the White House. Seggos Environmental Conservation as a Resto- graduated with a B.A. from Trinity College ration Biologist where she aided resto- in 1996, and earned his law degree from ration planning through research and Pace University in 2001. He is a Captain in mapping, and worked with conservation the U.S. Army Reserve. organizations to make use of small grants for restoration. She also aided and expedit- Kip Stein ed storm recovery and resiliency projects. NYC Parks Isabelle has a M.S. from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at Stony Kip Stein began his career in natural Brook University and a B.A. from St. resource management by working on trail Lawrence University. building and invasive species projects throughout California and the Southwest. Lindsey Strehlau-Howay He received his Master’s degree in Forestry NY-NJ HEP from Northern Arizona University and has Lindsey has been a key research assistant since worked on wildland fi re and ecologi- in multiple collaborative research projects cal restoration fi eld crews across the including work with the U.S. Forest Service, country before moving to New York to Pace University, Billion Oyster Project, and begin working at NYC Parks in 2013. As HEP. As a part of the NNBF project, she was Senior Forester for the DPR Natural Re- the socioeconomic lead for the SRIJB fi eld sources Group, he manages a team of team and assisted other leads in ecological foresters who oversee Capital forest resto- function and hazard mitigation protocols. ration contracts in natural areas citywide She is able to use her eclectic background and provides technical assistance to other in anthropology, English and photography divisions of the Agency with contracts to inform and facilitate her work in the working in forested areas. environmental fi eld, as do her years of experience coordinating and training Isabelle Stinnette persons about regulations, sustainability NY-NJ HEP and environmental health and safety Isabelle Stinnette is the Restoration Manag- within the food industry. Lindsey is cur- er at the New York/New Jersey Harbor & rently working as an intern at HEP assisting Estuary Program, where she runs the the restoration and water quality managers inter-agency restoration work group, tracks and outreach coordinator in various restoration progress in NJ and NY, and projects. works with partner agencies to further Presenters

Shino Tanikawa is a Fellow of the American Association for NYC Soil & Water Conservation the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and District was a Fulbright Fellow in Indonesia. She served on advisory committees for EPA, Shino Tanikawa is the Executive Director of NOAA and NAS, serves on the Waterfront the New York City Soil & Water Conserva- Management Advisory Board, and chairs tion District. She has a Master of Science the Science Advisory Board of NJ DEP. She degree in Marine Environmental Sciences chaired the Biology Section of AAAS and from the Marine Sciences Research Center was president of the American Institute of at Stony Brook University. As the Executive Biological Sciences (AIBS). She received the Director, she oversees the District’s storm- Merit Award from the Society of Wetland water, environmental education, and urban Scientists. soils programs. She currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Stormwater Chester Zarnoch Infrastructure Matters (SWIM) Coalition. Baruch College She has been a longtime supporter of the NY/NJ Harbor & Estuary Program and has Chester B. Zarnoch is a Professor of Envi- served as Alternate to NY Co-Chair on the ronmental Studies and Biology at Baruch Citizens Advisory Committee. She is also College, City University of New York (CUNY) one of the founding members of the NYC and is Graduate Faculty in the Biology Urban Soils Institute. Program at CUNY’s Graduate Center. He has been an active researcher in marine Judith Weis ecology and aquaculture since 2001 and Rutgers University has published papers on shellfi sh biology, sediment nitrogen cycling, and intensive Dr. Judith S. Weis is Professor Emerita of aquaculture. His current research aims to Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, describe the biological and physical Newark. Her research is on estuarine processes that infl uence ecosystem ser- ecology and ecotoxicology. She has pub- vices derived from restored habitats in lished over 200 refereed scientifi c papers, eutrophic estuaries. Zarnoch holds a Ph.D. as well as books for the general public on in Biology (The Graduate Center - CUNY, salt marshes, fi sh, crabs, and marine 2006). pollution, and technical books on marine pollution and on biological invasions and animal behavior. She is interested in stresses in estuaries and their eff ects on organisms, populations and communities. She is on the editorial board for BioScience, NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program would like to thank the volunteers and our partners who help make this conference possible and continue to fi ght for restoration progress in the time of climate adaptation.

Key HEP Partners including members of the Management and Policy Committees