A living shoreline is a newer method for stopping shoreline erosion and protecting marsh areas. Unlike traditional structures like bulkheads or seawalls, which can make erosion worse, living shorelines use natural elements to create better protection. These natural features help soak up wave energy and reduce erosion.

The process of building a living shoreline is called soft engineering. This method uses techniques that follow natural rules to keep shorelines stable. Natural materials used in living shorelines help create and keep habitats for plants and animals. Common materials include sand, wetland plants, sand fill, oyster reefs, submerged aquatic vegetation, stones, and coir fiber logs.

Benefits and ecosystem services

• Stabilizes shorelines
• Protects areas near water and between high and low tides
• Filters water from land runoff to improve quality
• Creates homes for land and water animals
• Absorbs wave energy, which reduces erosion
• Helps maintain natural processes along shorelines
• Supports fish in finding food and reproducing
• Can be used in many different places
• May cost less than seawalls or bulkheads
• Provides safe spaces for young aquatic animals and feeding areas
• Looks more natural than seawalls or bulkheads

Design

When planning a living shoreline project, several important steps must be taken. Two key areas to consider are the permits needed for the project and the best ways to restore the habitat.

• Site Analysis: Before starting, the site must be studied. This includes checking how fast the bank is eroding, the height of the land, the types of plants growing there, the strength of the waves, wind patterns, soil type, and how much wave activity occurs. This information helps decide if the area is suitable for a living shoreline. Restoration plans are created after this analysis is complete.

• Permitting: Before any work begins, permits must be obtained from the right agencies. All plans must follow local, state, and federal laws to avoid legal problems and ensure the project lasts a long time.

• Site Preparation: After getting permits, the site must be cleaned. This includes removing debris, unstable trees, and old structures like bulkheads. Problems with water running off the site must also be fixed before installing a living shoreline.

• Project Installation: Living shorelines often involve planting marsh or riparian vegetation. Materials like bio-logs, organic fiber mats, and oyster shells are commonly used during construction.

• Maintenance and Monitoring: After the project is finished, the area should be checked regularly to see how well it works. This helps improve future projects. The site must also be cared for by replanting vegetation, removing debris, and adding sand when needed. Materials should be checked to ensure they stay in place and help stabilize the shoreline.

• Clean sand and dredge material are used to create a slope that weakens waves and allows plants to grow. If a bulkhead is not present or has been removed, regrading, filling, and planting native vegetation can happen. If removing a bulkhead is not possible, sand can be filled in front of it, and vegetation can be planted on the shoreline and embankment.
• Tree and grass roots help hold the soil together above the high tide line, reducing erosion, creating wildlife habitat, and filtering water from the land. Common riparian plants include grasses, shrubs, and trees, depending on the area’s natural vegetation.
• Breakwaters, made of rock and oyster spat, are placed in areas with strong waves. These structures calm the water, allowing marshes and intertidal habitats to form.
• Filter fabric, a porous natural material, is used under rocks to prevent soil loss.
• Geotextile tubes, about 12 feet in diameter, are filled with sediment and placed along the shore to weaken waves and protect against erosion. These tubes also help build oyster reefs and dispose of dredge material.
• Low-crested rock sills are placed parallel to the shore underwater. These rocks reduce erosion by weakening wave energy. They are placed no higher than 6 to 12 inches above the mean high water mark and divided into sections to allow boats, waves, and wildlife to pass.
• Mangroves help stabilize shorelines by trapping nutrients and sediments with their roots. They are found in warm climates like southern Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of Louisiana.
• Marsh grasses are planted up to the high tide line and in intertidal zones to break waves, provide habitat, and improve water quality. Planting is often more successful in spring in areas with existing marsh, mild winds, and less than 3 miles of open water nearby.
• Natural bio-logs and fiber logs are placed at the bottom of slopes or in water to reduce erosion. Made from biodegradable materials, they hold sediment, keep the soil moist, and support plant growth.
• Natural fiber matting, made from jute, straw, or coir, is placed on eroding slopes to reduce sediment loss. It can also be used with riparian vegetation or marsh grasses to improve stability.
• Rock footers, small rocks, are used to support bio-logs and keep them in place on steep slopes.
• Rubble and recycled concrete can form breakwaters offshore to weaken waves. Adding oyster spat to these structures improves water quality and creates habitat.
• Oyster shell reefs help reduce erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat. Only clean, sun-dried shells should be used.
• Reef balls, hollow concrete balls, can be used to create artificial reefs. They help build oyster reefs and reduce poaching.
• Seagrass beds protect shorelines, improve water quality, and provide habitat for aquatic life.
• Wave Attenuation Devices (WADs) reduce wave energy before it reaches the shore. They also create habitat for marine life and help rebuild the shore naturally.

Selected projects

• VIMS Teaching Marsh, Gloucester Point, Virginia
• Jamestown 4-H Camp in James River, James City County, Virginia
• The Hermitage Museum and Gardens, Norfolk, Virginia
• Hull Springs Farm at Longwood University, Westmoreland County, Virginia
• Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, Calvert County, Maryland
• South River Federation, Maryland
• St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland
• Magothy Beach Road, Pasadena, Maryland
• San Francisco Bay
• Piscataway Park on the Potomac River, Maryland
• Delaware
• Havre de Grace, Maryland