I aimed to explore and demonstrate some of the living shorelines superpowers. Will the presence of bivalves improve Hudson’s water quality? I used ribbed mussels to prove they effectively enhance water quality and habitat conditions. New habitats will likely stay intact because they are less prevalent than oysters for human consumption. Will restoring reefs and wetlands improve wildlife living conditions? I designed and deployed oyster cages and eel mops using eco-friendly and biodegradable materials for the eel mops to avoid creating more pollution. I substituted the traditional mop made of polypropylene fiber with mops made of ceramic tiles, coconut, and jute natural fibers. With this experiment, I aimed to provide evidence of how reefs and vegetation offer living places for the river’s species to drive. Also, I compared how polypropylene, coconut, and jute fiber mops behave and their impact when sheltering species. The monitoring began with migration season in February and will end in October 2024. Do living shorelines mitigate flood surges by reducing the force of waves? For my first experiment, I built a small oyster bed and observed its impact on wave dissipation at Hoboken Cove, NJ. For my second experiment, I created a wave tank with the topography of Hoboken at the level of Maxwell buildings. I simulated the conditions of Hurricane Sandy’s surge of 11 ft and tallest waves of 14 ft and tested with and without the living shoreline model. It could have a significant ecological impact if we successfully restore the living shoreline in Hoboken and nearby cities.
