The Future of Jamaica Bay: Putting Resilience into Practice

Hurricane Sandy shook New York City to its core. In the immediate aftermath, the emphasis was on recovery, but in the long-term perspective, Hurricane Sandy motivated the city as a whole to think about how it can not only be a sustainable place to live, but also be resilient to different kinds of shocks. This long-term view brought Jamaica Bay to the forefront of resilience discussions. The waters, wetlands, and communities of the Jamaica Bay watershed had long been a focal point for revitalizing a heavily stressed and affected coastal area through habitat restoration, improvements to public access, outdoor recreation, and sustainable development. City, state, and federal governments, all with jurisdiction in the bay, had sought science-based solutions to achieving integrated coastal zone management, with various levels of success. They also recognized that old approaches were not entirely working. Against this backdrop, the effects of Sandy on Jamaica Bay and the surrounding communities dramatically increased the urgency for putting new solutions into action.