Water Above, Water Below: Urban Ecology In a Changing Estuary

Climate change is reshaping water from all directions—rising from below through groundwater and subsurface flows and surging from above through tides, storms, and faster currents. This panel examines how marshlands, historic hydrology, water chemistry, and geotechnical conditions interact with the built environment to create flooding in unexpected places, from subways to sinkholes. Speakers will explore how cities can prepare for shifting tides, more acidic and mobile waters, and a future where we must live with water both above and below ground. Speakers Christine Angelini, Vice President, Environment Advisory, AECOM Heather Gierloff, Hudson River Estuary Coordinator, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Charles Harman, SPWS, Vice-President, Biology/Technical Director, WSP Erin Morey, Director, Climate Resilience Planning, MTA Jeff Tabar, Senior Principal, Coastal Engineer, Stantec