Shorelines
Table of Contents
Introcution
Shorelines can include waterway, lakeside, pondside, bay and ocean shorelines. These are particularly important biologically speaking as a good representation of edge effect (a location where multiple biomes interact, providing opportunities for feeding, mating, and other activities that may be less likely in other locations).
Shorelines are also important as they take the brunt of extreme weather events.
A healthy, intact shoreline can protect homes, communities, and farmland from serious flooding, but man-made structures, livestock grazing, and removal of plants can result in accelerated erosion, putting people and their prosperities at massive risk of harm or loss.
Major Threats
Livestock Including wetland and forest removal for grazing, manure run off, emissions (causing acid rain + climate change), and erosion.
Erosion & Siltation
Sea Level Rise
Increased Erosion
Overtopping this salinates soil and aquifers which in turn kills off plants who's roots otherwise stabilize soil.
Restoration Techniques
Soft Engineering
"Regarding the civil engineering of shorelines, soft engineering is a shoreline management practice that uses sustainable ecological principles to restore shoreline stabilization and protect riparian habitats. Soft Shoreline Engineering (SSE) uses the strategic placement of organic materials such as vegetation, stones, sand, debris, and other structural materials to reduce erosion, enhance shoreline aesthetic, soften the land-water interface, and lower costs of ecological restoration.[1]
To differentiate Soft Shoreline Engineering from Hard Shoreline Engineering, Hard Shoreline Engineering tends to use steel sheet piling or concrete breakwalls to prevent danger and fortify shorelines. Generally, Hard Shoreline Engineering is used for navigational or industrial purposes. To contrast, Soft Shoreline Engineering emphasizes the application of ecological principles rather than compromising the engineered integrity of the shoreline.[2] The opposite alternative is hard engineering."- Wikipedia: Soft Engineering
‘Living Shorelines’ Use Oyster Shells and Marsh Grass to Reverse Coastal Erosion
This 10:02 minute video explains how "living shorelines" are better at protecting urban and natural shorelines from erosion than sea walls. They are also cheaper than man-made erosion control. Studies have found that oyster-shell reefs attract more biodiversity both above and below the waterline. Research even shows these natural alternative stand up better to major storm events (the video shows before and after photos of how properties with both kinds of protection fared after a hurricane).
There are some examples given of man-made wave blocking designs that work better than solid seawalls, which have also helped rebuild coastlines.
Natural Shoreline Restoration
"This video demonstrates natural shoreline landscaping and erosion control (sometimes called lakescaping). Lakescaping reduces pollutant runoff, deters geese and restores near shore fish and wildlife habitat. Techniques such as soil bioengineering and lakescaping can restore your shoreline to a more natural state while enhancing wildlife habitat and preventing erosion and runoff."
Stabilizing Streambanks Naturally
5:31 minute video about stabilizing streambanks with natural materials to help rebuild them naturally, vs. heavier duty interventions which can cause more degradation over time.
Riparian Borders
Riparian borders prevent erosion, protect waterways from pesticides and other types of run off. They help keep waterways cooler, which minimizes deaths caused by large temperature swings. They also provide habitat for all kinds of animals, including places to feed, reproduce, or simply to travel through in our increasingly divided landscapes.
Spiling
"Spiling is a traditional technique used in temperate regions of the world for the prevention of erosion to river and stream banks.
Willow spiling is currently used in the United Kingdom; live willow rods are woven between live willow uprights and the area behind is filled with soil for the willow to root into.[1]
Kipling's poem The Land mentions it: "They spiled along the water-course with trunks of willow-trees, And planks of elms behind 'em and immortal oaken knees."[2]
The species of willow used are riparian (associated with rivers); the posts, 10 centimetres (4 in) in diameter, are usually Salix alba or S. fragilis, and S. viminalis varieties are used for the interwoven rods. The living willow posts are driven into the bank, to a depth of 30 centimetres (1 ft) or more, at 60-centimetre (2 ft) intervals and the thinner rods are woven in between, the rods are best woven at an angle slightly above horizontal to ensure good survival rates. A row of stones, gabions or wooden planks held by posts can be added to the bottom of each "spile" to prevent undercutting when the willow is establishing itself. All works should be done during the dormant period, winter in temperate zones. A layer of seeded coir matting can be pegged onto the soil on top of the spiles to prevent the soil being washed out during flood events. This method is an example of soft engineering, techniques which tend to be less expensive and more sustainable than others. [3]" - Wikipedia: Spiling
Guides & Resources
General/International
Example of a Living Shore Plan (PDF) map plus cross section of shoreline planting and artificial reef, also includes species list suitable for Westchester County in New York State.
Delaware Living Shorelines Committee: About Living Shorelines Includes a variety of infrographics and photos.
Delaware Living Shorelines Committee: Where to Start "Interested in having a living shoreline installed on your property, but not sure where to start?"
Planting Considerations for Living Shorelines
"This video (18:36) covers important considerations for planting shoreline vegetation in Florida. This video is made for marine contractors and other shoreline restoration practitioners in Florida, but anyone interested in living shorelines would benefit from watching it."
Europe
UK
Scotland
SMEEF Restoration Toolkit "Whether you are starting your first coastal or marine restoration or enhancement project, or have been working on an established programme, this toolkit aims to guide you through the maze of supporting information available.
Each section covers the key facts and there are links to the latest advice. The Toolkit also enables you to create a bespoke action list for your group.
Please note this toolkit is a live document and will be updated regularly. If you believe there may be something missing or incorrect, please email us..."
North America
Canada
Alberta
Indicators for Assessing Environmental Performance of Watersheds in Southern Alberta (PDF) This gives general guidance, but doesn't focus much on specific species.
USA
Delaware Living Shoreline Providers - Materials "The Delaware Living Shorelines Committee neither endorses nor accepts responsibility for the materials provided by any company on this list, which is not necessarily comprehensive; No recommendation or guarantee of competence or experience is implied. We suggest that prospective clients ask for credentials before contracting for professional services. See Provider- Services for a list of companies that offer living shoreline services." List currently lists companies in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
NEMESIS "Welcome to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's National Estuarine and Marine Exotic Species Information System (NEMESIS). Here you will find information on marine and estuarine invertebrates and algae introduced to the United States."
NOAA: Understanding Living Shorelines "Living shorelines connect the land and water to stabilize shorelines, reduce erosion, and provide valuable habitat that enhances coastal resilience." Includes infographics and links to more resources.
Texas
Guide to Living Shorelines in Texas (pdf) This document offers useful maps, a list of suggested species for shoreline stabilization and restoration, methods, etc.
Virginia
Center for Coastal Resources Management: Living Shorelines "Living shorelines are nature-based approaches for shoreline protection. These stabilization techniques not only protect shorelines and infrastructure, they also conserve, create or restore natural shoreline habitats and ecosystem services. The Virginia General Assembly now has a policy that living shoreline techniques are the preferred stabilization methods for tidal shorelines." This page provides links to further resources.
Oceana
Australia
NSW
Salinity Indicator Plants (PDF) "This booklet is based on information provided in Spotting Salinity Using Indicator Plants, which was produced by the NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Hunter Region in 1998, with assistance from the Hunter Catchment Management Trust and NSW Agriculture. Information contained in the plant description section and pictures of some species have been taken with permission directly from the 1998 publication."
Queensland
The Flora Wetland Indicator Species List (WISL) "has been compiled to support the determination of whether a site is a wetland. The Wetland Indicator Species (WIS) in WISL have adapted to living in wetlands and are dependent on them.
The presence of a WIS at a site does not, in itself, confirm the site to be a wetland, but is one line of evidence towards determining the wetland status of a site."
Useful Species to Consider
North America
Sweetgrass "is a clump-forming perennial grass that is native to the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The leaves of this grass are used by the Gullah community, descendants of enslaved Africans in the South Carolina coastal area, as the base material for their coiled basketry." The grass helps improve soil stabilization, but is under threat by urbanization.
USA
Florida
Florida Living Shorelines: Plants by region and tidal zone Scroll down to find your ecological region, then click the tabs to see "Low Marsh", "Mid Marsh", and "High Marsh" plant species suggestions.
Programs & Projects
North America
USA
Delaware
Delaware Living Shoreline: Examples "Here's just a small sampling of the living shorelines we've helped install over the years. Check out this Tour of Living Shorelines for more."
Texas
Texas Living Shorelines Program "Helping coastal communities protect their shoreline property and the environment using natural solutions"
Virginia
Carl Hershner Teaching Marsh "Discover coastal wetlands and their valuable ecosystem services at this outdoor classroom."
Center for Coastal Resources Management: Shoreline Evaluation Programs "Site visits and recommendations for shorefront property owners are provided by Master Gardener volunteers. Center staff support these programs with technical advice and training sessions."
Prefabricated Products
Items and companies listed in this section are just examples of what we were able to find or that were recommended/mentioned by existing living shoreline or rewilding projects. We are not specifically advocating for them from personal experience. The descriptions and claims are from the companies themselves.
The Use of Non-Plastic Materials for Oyster Reef and Shoreline Restoration: Understanding What Is Needed and Where the Field Is Headed (PDF) "Oyster and shoreline restoration is occurring around the globe to recover lost ecosystem services. In the state of Florida, USA, dozens of estuarine habitat restoration projects are underway. These projects have traditionally relied on both natural and man-made materials, including plastics. As the impacts of plastics on marine ecosystems are better understood, practitioners are increasingly focused on plastic-free restoration..."
North America
USA
North Carolina
Natrx Custom Modules "for a habitat-specific resilience solution. A highly flexible, project-specific, coastal resilience solution that’s safer and faster to install than traditional methods, promotes habitat-growth and ecological benefits, and gets stronger over time."
Organizations
International
WILDCOAST "is an international team that conserves coastal and marine ecosystems and addresses climate change through natural solutions."
Europe
OSPAR "is the mechanism by which 15 Governments & the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.
OSPAR started in 1972 with the Oslo Convention against dumping and was broadened to cover land-based sources of marine pollution and the offshore industry by the Paris Convention of 1974. These two conventions were unified, up-dated and extended by the 1992 OSPAR Convention. The new annex on biodiversity and ecosystems was adopted in 1998 to cover non-polluting human activities that can adversely affect the sea.
The fifteen Governments are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
OSPAR is so named because of the original Oslo and Paris Conventions ("OS" for Oslo and "PAR" for Paris)."
North America
USA
NEMESIS "Welcome to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's National Estuarine and Marine Exotic Species Information System (NEMESIS). Here you will find information on marine and estuarine invertebrates and algae introduced to the United States."
Connecticut
Connecticut River Conservancy "is a strong voice for the Connecticut River watershed, from source to sea. We collaborate with partners across four states to protect and advocate for your rivers, and educate and engage communities. We bring people together to prevent pollution, improve habitat, and promote enjoyment of the river and its tributary streams. Healthy rivers support healthy economies."
Delaware
Florida
Florida Living Shorelines "The purpose of the Florida Living Shorelines website is to make it easier for coastal property owners, public and private, to take a softer, more environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective approach to shoreline stabilization wherever needed and appropriate.
We want to show you how to use plants and other natural materials to help protect eroding shorelines from wave and storm damage in the bays and estuaries of coastal Florida. The techniques described on this site, referred to as living shoreline treatments, can be used in relatively low wave energy areas instead of traditional coastal armoring systems such as seawalls and bulkheads. They can also help enhance natural habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife – creating living, thriving shorelines instead of barriers to life!
We invite you to explore this site, and hope the information provided helps make it easy to take the softer approach."Restore Our Shores: Living Shorelines "For decades, the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has been severely threatened by rapid development, habitat destruction, over-harvesting and pollution. The northern half of the Lagoon has only a few outlets to the sea, so it does not flush very rapidly which means that stormwater runoff, wastewater treatment discharges, septic systems and excess fertilizer applications have flooded the IRL with harmful nutrients and sediments.
The nutrients feed massive algal blooms, and together with the suspended particles, block the sun from reaching the seagrass. As a result, the seagrass dies, oxygen levels fall and fish suffocate. The rotting fish produce more available nutrients which leads to more blooms.
Living shorelines provide a multitude of benefits to reduce the effects of these threats."
Michigan
Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership "Protecting Michigan lakes through conservation and restoration of natural shorelines."
Training & Certification Opportunities
North America
USA
Delaware
Delaware Living Shorelines Committee: Trainings and Workshops "This in-depth virtual training is for those interested in beginning to understand the process and components of living shoreline design."
Florida
Florida's Living Shorelines Training Program for Marine Contractors "[work to] increase the number of marine contractors who can assess dynamic eroding shorelines and provide solutions featuring living shorelines where feasible, to make living shorelines a more accessible option to the public for shoreline stabilization." Scroll down to see a list of locations and times.
Michigan
Michigan Certified Natural Shoreline Professional (CNSP) Training "The Certified Natural Shoreline Professional (CNSP) training was created to provide contractors and landscape professionals with the information and skills they need to design and implement lake healthy erosion control using natural materials and bio-engineering practices to protect Michigan's inland lakes."
Virginia
Carl Hershner Teaching Marsh "Discover coastal wetlands and their valuable ecosystem services at this outdoor classroom."
Tidal Wetlands Workshops "Annual workshops are held for the tidal shoreline management community in Virginia. These events cover a variety of scientific, policy and management topics. They also provide networking opportunities for local and state agency staff, Wetlands Boards, non-governmental organizations, private consultants and contractors, citizen scientists and other participants."
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) "plays an important role in marine-science education for a wide variety of audiences and age levels."
Maps
North America
USA
Living Shorelines "NOAA funded projects since 1998 through the Community-Based Restoration Program" Multiple interactive maps of different regions including the Gulf States, Great Lakes, etc. When viewing the West Coast map, zoom out to see Washington State and American Samoa. Click items on the map or images to read more about each project.
Stormwater Management and Restoration Tracking (SMART) Tool (Interactive) Tool tracks storm water management practices in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed which spans, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
Connecticut
Living Shoreline Projects of Long Island Sound Interactive map. Click the duck icons to see photos and read about the projects
Delaware
The Delaware Estuary Living Shoreline Initiative "Presented by Partnership of the Delaware Estuary" Full of photos, interactive before/after photos, map of PDE installations, and more.
Florida
CBA Living Shoreline Sites (Interactive map with photos) "CBA's living shoreline initiative consists of naturalized shoreline restoration sites ranging from softer protection techniques, such as the planting of shoreline grasses, to robust shoreline protection through constructed oyster reef breakwaters. These restoration techniques provide critical feeding, nursery, and refuge habitat for estuarine species. The oyster reefs also provide a hard surface for oysters to settle on and grow, improving water quality and oyster populations in the Choctawhatchee Bay."
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Marine & Estuarine Habitats Map Interactive
Texas
Guide to Living Shorelines in Texas (pdf) contains maps of:
the Galveston Bay area
the Texas coastline, demonstrating where the most living shorelines have been installed and who owns them (NGOs, HOAs, government, etc.)
Permitting offices and their zones along the coastline
Living Shorelines: Case Studies & Maps interactive maps of the Texas shoreline.
Virginia
Living Shorelines: Beaches and Dunes "In higher-energy settings, projects that enhance, create, and protect beaches and dunes can provide long-term protection to the shoreline.
Natural features can be used for shoreline protection while improving water quality and habitat value for coastal resilience.
Explore case studies that highlight the use of these natural and nature-based features to adapt to climate impacts."Living Shorelines: Marshes and Oysters "In lower energy settings, living shorelines can provide long-term protection, restoration, and enhancement of vegetated shoreline habitats through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand fill and other structural or organic materials.
These natural features can be used for shoreline protection while improving water quality and habitat value for coastal resilience.
Explore case studies that highlight the use of these natural and nature-based features to adapt to climate impacts."
Funding & Grants
Europe
UK
Scotland
SMEEF Restoration Toolkit "Whether you are starting your first coastal or marine restoration or enhancement project, or have been working on an established programme, this toolkit aims to guide you through the maze of supporting information available.
Each section covers the key facts and there are links to the latest advice. The Toolkit also enables you to create a bespoke action list for your group.
Please note this toolkit is a live document and will be updated regularly. If you believe there may be something missing or incorrect, please email us..."
North America
USA
Florida
Florida Sea Grant "is a university-based program that supports research, education and extension to conserve coastal resources for residents and visitors and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida."
Texas
Living Shorelines: Funding Opportunities "Living shoreline projects cost money, and the larger the project, the higher the cost; therefore, additional financial resources to complete the project may be required. The following options are available, even for land outside of the Texas General Land Office’s jurisdiction."
Restore The Texas Coast "Coastal Restoration Funding for Texas from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill" The right side of this page appears to have listings of additional funding sources such as from civil penalties and various organizations.
Permitting
No matter where you are in the world, you may need to worry about permitting. In this section we try to gather info to help make finding the right office and permits more easily.