- About
- Projects
- Alliance
- Events
- Upcoming Events
- City of Water Day
- 2013 Waterfront Conference
- Past Events
- MWA 2012 General Assembly
- 2012 Waterfront Conference
- Conference Sponsors
- Morning Plenary
- Access and Equity Panel
- Adapting to Climate Change Panel
- Emerging Sustainable Harbor Panel
- Ferries Bang for the Buck Panel
- Harbor Coalition: The Heavy Lift Panel
- Harbor Coalition: Waterfront Project Workshop
- Implementing Water Quality Panel
- Lunch Panel: Climate Change
- NJ Comprehensive Waterfront Plan Panel
- Open Up the Harbor!
- Safety and Real Time Water Quality Panel
- Saturday Morning Keynote
- Use Public Money Wisely Workshop
- Wakes Panel
- Waterfront Design Panel
- Waterfront Financing and Governing Panel
- World Class Attraction Panel
- Directions
- 2012 Heroes of the Harbor Awards
- 2011 Waterfront Conference Floating Follow-Up
- 2010 Waterfront Conference
- CONFERENCE PROGRAM
- Morning Keynote and Plenary Sessions
- Conference Sponsors
- Historic Boats
- Ecology & Economy Workshop
- A Plan to Bring Our Harbor Back to Life
- Future of the Port
- Recreational Revolution
- Opportunities for Green Infrastructure
- Oyster & the Clean Water Act
- Show Us the Money
- Waterfront Edge Design
- A Green Working Waterfront
- Water Mass Transit
- Program Recap
- Climate Change Resiliency
- Dredged Materials Management
- Harbor Education
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- Waterfront Action Agenda
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One-Stop Waterfront Permitting
In New York Harbor there are dozens of government agencies that have a hand in regulating waterfront use. For decades this complicated, non-transparent system has deterred community programs and ecologically innovative waterfront development from taking place. A cooperative effort of the regulating agencies will simplify the permitting process.
The protection, conservation, and best use of the water resources of New York and New Jersey are matters of utmost public importance. Waterways such as streams, rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries not only provide water for agricultural, domestic, and industrial use, but also provide habitats for aquatic life, avenues for transportation and commerce, and sites for many forms of public recreation. Wetlands provide water storage for flood protection, filtering of pollutants, and habitats for many plant, fish, and other wildlife. These aquatic resources are vital to the region’s economy and the well being of New York and New Jersey residents.
We all depend on the health of our wetlands and waterways in one way or another. To provide for the best possible use of water resources, we must strike a balance between protection and human use. This is the central purpose of the regulations that govern activities in waterways, wetlands, and riparian areas in New York and New Jersey.
Navigating the municipal, state, and federal regulatory systems affecting water-related development can be a confusing and time consuming process which the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance is analyzing and developing recommendations for improving the way this process applies to high-quality waterfront projects.
How You Can Help
