going soft: encouraging nature-based shoreline …...source: noaa nerr regulatory research ngo puget...

Source: US Army Corps of Engineers

Going Soft: Encouraging Nature-based Shoreline Decisions

Lucy PotterBard CEPJune 22, 2018

Source: Library of CongressSource: US Army Corps of Engineers


Shorelines serve as important connections between humans and waterways.


Shoreline protection tactics have traditionally revolved around grey infrastructure.

Source: City of Boston Public Works Department


Though the status quo, grey shoreline protection designs have limitations.

Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service


Nature-based shoreline protection tactics serve as effective alternatives to grey infrastructure.

Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service Source: US Army Corps of Engineers

Nature-based shoreline designs vary according to the needs of the waterbody and site.

What are the traits ofprograms that promote nature-based designs in

shoreline management decisions?


Background Literature


Discussion of Environmentally Responsible Behavior (ERB) is well established.

Adapted from De Young, R., 1993.

Informational Coercive Positive Motivation

External active (trainings), passive (guidances)

legal mandates, social pressures

material incentives, social support

Internal direct experience sense of duty, feeling remorse

intrinsic satisfaction, commitment

There are several aspects that can influence an individual’s behavior.

Adapted from De Young, R., 1993.

Informational Coercive Positive Motivation

External active (trainings), passive (guidances)

legal mandates, social pressures

material incentives, social support

Internal direct experience sense of duty, feeling remorse

intrinsic satisfaction, commitment

Programmatic tools that effect ERB are those external aspect of behavioral influencers.

Informational tactics are educational tools used to increase awareness of desired alternatives.

Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service

Coercive tactics are those that restrict or discourage individual choice.

Positive motivation incentivizes or otherwise encourages desired behavior.

What are the traits of programs that successfully promote

nature-based designs inshoreline management decisions?

What are the traits ofprograms that promote nature-based designs in

shoreline management decisions?




Methods


Puget Sound

Hudson River

NJ Coast

Source: NOAA

The research focused on three case studies.

Case studies consisted of two parts.

Source: NOAA

● Regional Profiles○ morphology/ecology○ local norms/regulations

● Interviews○ 4 program managers○ perceptions of ERB

promotional tools

Source: NOAA

● Morphology and ecology○ natural shoreline

● Human dynamics○ stakeholder

demographics● Regulatory climate

○ permits required

Each case study exhibited variability.

Source: NOAA

NERR Regulatory Research NGO

Puget Sound WA Sea Grant (proxy)

WA Dept of Ecology

Puget Sound Partnership

Coastal Geologic Services, Inc.

Hudson R NYSDEC, Estuary Prog

NYSDEC, Region 3

Cary Institute Waterfront Alliance

NJ Coast Rutgers NJDEP Stevens Institute

The Nature Conservancy

+ Restore America’s Estuaries (national)

Four organizations participated in each case study.

Source: NOAA

● Current state○ Successful programming○ Information tactics○ Regulatory tactics○ Positive motivation

● Development of Informational tactics○ Active trainings○ Passive resources

Interviews examined organizations’ perceptions.



Results


Puget Sound

Puget Sound is a bay in Washington State.

Source: NOAA

Source: Jessica Czajkowski, WGS

Puget Sound

Source: USGS

Hudson River

The Hudson River is an estuarine river in New York State.

Source: NOAA

Hudson River

Source: NYSDEC

Source: Rolf Muller, wikimediacommons

NJ Coast

The New Jersey coast runs along the Atlantic.

Source: NOAA

Source: Library of Congress

New Jersey Coast

Source: NJDEP

Source: NOAA

● Importance of positive motivation

● Consistent informational tactics

● Lack of metrics of success

Three main findings surfaced from the interviews.

Positive motivation was perceived to be essential, while the target of funds varied across cases.


● Low-interest loans○ construction

● Grant opportunities○ design process○ construction

● Fee waivers○ permitting process

Similar tools have been developed independently in different case studies.


ACTIVE INFORMATIONAL TOOLS PASSIVE INFORMATIONAL TOOLS

Webinar series

In-class training

Field trip or Site visit

State guidance

Layperson handbook

LEED guide

Resource website

Puget Sound x x x x x xHudson River x x x xNJ Coast x x x x xNational (RAE) x x x



Webinar series

In-class training


State guidance

Layperson handbook

LEED guide

Resource website


Some tools require regionally-specific input.



Webinar series

In-class training


State guidance

Layperson handbook

LEED guide

Resource website


Some particularly common tools are not region specific.


Metrics of successful programming were inconsistent both within and across case studies.

● Stakeholder interest○ # of training attendees○ post-event surveys○ # officials engaged

● Commitment to ERB○ permit tracking○ # of projects

● On-the-ground impacts○ linear feet, acres restored



Conclusions &Recommendations



Avoid “reinventing the wheel” when it comes to developing ERB promotional tools.


Consistent metrics of success will foster more potent conversations on lessons learned.


Expanding this study would provide valuable information to better promote nature-based shoreline decisions.

Goals of a national-level conversation:

● inter-regional collaboration on tool creation● establishing consistent metrics of successful

programming● expanding the scope of this study


This study highlights the value in collaboration on promoting nature-based shoreline decisions.

Contact: [email protected]

going soft: encouraging nature-based shoreline …...source: noaa nerr regulatory research ngo puget...

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