A. Coastal Communities: Maritime and Wetland Communities
Coastal regions are characterized by dynamic landforms and processes because they are the
juncture between the lands, oceans, and atmosphere. Features such as dunes and wetlands
constantly undergo change due to driving processes such as storms, sediment supply, and sea-
level change (Titus 2009). Urban coastal regions are even more significantly changed in the
name of development and a high-density human population. The effects of hurricanes and
other major storms combined with higher sea levels are putting New York City‟s low-lying
coastlines at risk. Restoration of our coastal plant communities and an attempt to design with
nature will determine the long-term success and protection of coastal property and economic
investment.
MARITIME
Maritime beach/dune communities are dominated by salt-tolerant grasses and herbs. The sand
is relatively unstable at the ocean-fronting beach and only a few plant species can survive in
these harsh conditions. Stabilized back dunes transition into maritime grasslands and
shrublands. These low-lying areas near the coast are subject to off-shore winds and occasional
salt spray. These conditions will naturally stunt trees and support the shrubland community that
will inhabit the dry, rolling outwash plains and moraine of the Atlantic coastal plain. The plant
community lines naturally overlap in this maritime setting and can be of extraordinary floristic
diversity. Diversity will decrease in areas that occur on coastal landfill sites where dredged
sand was used as fill.
MARITIME BEACH/DUNE
Examples Include: Plumb Beach (BK), Far Rockaway (QU), and Conference House (SI).
Recommended Plants:
Graminoids
Ammophila breviligulata Beach grass
Cenchrus longispinus Common sandbur
Cenchrus tribuloides Dune sandbur
Cyperus grayi Gray‟s flatsedge
Eragrostis spectabilis Purple lovegrass
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass
Forbs
Atriplex mucronata Sea-beach orach
Cakile edentula American searocket
Chamaesyce polygonifolia Seaside sandmat
Krigia virginica Virginia dwarfdandelion
Lechea maritima Beach pinweed
Polygonella articulata Jointweed