This week’s module discussed how natural methods such as creating oyster reefs can help against tidal surges and flooding.  Floating cities are being built in Amsterdam to create unique ways to find more space and prepare for rising seas.  Other countries such as England and the Netherlands have built barriers that are capable of opening and shutting in an effort to preserve the ecosystem of these coastal areas.  Multi-layered defenses provide more reliable protection to coastal areas, and it seems obvious that using our natural resources to help create these multi-layered defenses would be less costly and more eco-friendly.  One problem with natural defenses, is that we have manipulated or destroyed some of the defenses provided by nature over the years, and replacing them is not an easy task.

An interesting article in the Washington Post titled “This New York storm barrier could have slowed down Sandy. But European settlers ate it,” discusses how the oyster reef that once resided off the coast of New York could have provided extra defenses against super storm Sandy.  The article highlights that as New York was being established, the citizens ate large portions of a huge oyster reef that was off the coast. The article estimated that from the early 1600’s to the 20^th Century nearly 220,000 acres of the Big Oyster Reef had disappeared.  This reef could have provided a natural barrier and further protection from storms such as Sandy.  This is just one example of a natural defense that cannot be easily replaced.

 

References:

Fears, D. (March 10). This New York storm barrier could have slowed down Sandy. But European settlers ate it. Retrieved July 17, 2016, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/03/10/how-european-settlers-ate-the-storm-barrier-that-could-have-saved-new-york/