The Wanchese Marine Industrial Park serves as a hub of fishing, seafood processing, boat building, eating and site seeing activity for the village of Wanchese. The Park borders the Roanoake and Pamlico Sounds. Along this perimeter, it boasts nearly a half mile of fringing coastal wetlands. This marsh helps to buffer and protect the industrial park and serves as important coastal habitat. It is also susceptible to erosion from storms, sea level rise and boat wakes.

The federation partnered with the industrial park to protect 500 feet of shoreline through their living shoreline restoration projects.

Five Techniques on Display

There are a range of techniques that can be considered for a living shoreline project, including protecting salt marsh and restoring oysters. To protect the shoreline and demonstrate the variety of options that are available to shoreline property owners, a series of five, 100 foot sills, were installed by the federation, volunteers and local marine contractor. The sills on display include an oyster dome sill, oyster bag sill, low-profile wooden sill, granite sill and oyster castle sill. These five sill types are commonly used in living shoreline projects in North Carolina and across the country.

  • Rock Sill Construction
  • Wooden Sill Construction
  • Oyster Reef and Reef Ball Sill

Combating Erosion while Creating Habitat and Education Opportunities

By completing this demonstration of five techniques, the federation will create a place for soundfront property owners to visit where they can see a variety of living shoreline techniques on display. The 500-foot Living Shorelines Demonstration will aim to combat erosion, improve water quality, and provide an outdoor living laboratory for visitors.

Completing this demonstration project complements other work the federation is doing to advance the use of living shorelines in North Carolina. Read more about our policy work, cost-share program for shoreline property owners, student and professional education opportunities or volunteer with us to install a living shoreline project near you!

Funding for this work was provided in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s community based restoration program, the Honda Marine Science Foundation, Camp Younts Foundation, as well as generous volunteer and membership support.