RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Update and enforce New York State’s Coastal Erosion Hazard Area map and
restrictions to reflect existing conditions; establish a system for regular updating of the
maps.

2. Inventory existing shoreline conditions to determine the state of coastal protection

features, both “soft” and “hard,” that currently exist.

3. Complete a current and detailed inventory of at risk systems and infrastructure

including their $ value in each of the following categories:

- communications
- energy
- shoreline protection
- solid waste
- transportation (including roads, rail, air, and port facilities)
- water and wastewater management

4. Design a process to evaluate the costs to mitigate climate impacts for the designed
lifetime of all items within each sector.

5. Establish design standards and best management practices for infrastructure in high
risk areas.

6. Define a process to evaluate the costs of adaptation compared with the costs of failure
to adapt for infrastructure in high risk areas.

7. Define a process to evaluate the short and long term costs of shoreline management
alternatives (natural vs. hard vs. soft) to address erosion and inundation. (See Sustainable
Shorelines project – Betsy Blair)

8. Evaluate and implement new government policies or incentives to reward responsible

sea level rise planning and discourage risky infrastructure projects.

9. Factor climate change and sea level rise adaptation strategies into state and local
planning documents, including but are not limited to:

Open Space and Resource Management Plans that Help Guide Development
The State Open Space Plan and local open space plans
Local planning & zoning related to waterfront development and open space
Habitat restoration plans
Non-governmental organizations’ land preservation and management plans
Drinking Water Resource Management Plans (including watershed protection)

Water, Waste and Other Infrastructure Management Plans

Combined sewer overflow management plans
The State Solid Waste Management Plan & local solid waste management plans
State Energy Plan

Economic Development Plans

Economic development plans
Local zoning plans (including waterfront development plans)

Emergency Management Plans

State Emergency Management Plan
Local Emergency Management Plans