Living Shorelines That Reduce Soundside Erosion and Provide Coastal Habitat
With increases in shoreline erosion rates expected from rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storms, shoreline protection is now more important than ever. The last few decades have shown that hardened structures like bulkheads are not as effective as living shorelines, and they significantly reduce valuable habitat. Living shorelines offer a more resilient and eco-friendly solution. By reinforcing our shorelines with natural buffers using salt marsh and oyster reefs, we are able to reduce soundside erosion while preserving the natural beauty and productivity of our estuaries. In 2021, we committed to making living shorelines the go-to approach for managing soundside erosion. We will install several large and small-scale living shorelines that continue to showcase the incredible value of living shorelines.
Interested in building a living shoreline on your property? Please send an email to livingshorelines@nccoast.org to receive more information.
Key Actions for 2021
- Complete a 1,250-foot living shoreline at Carteret Community College.
- Plant marsh grass to complete the construction of a 1,700-foot living shoreline at Atlantic’s White Point and a 2,600-foot shoreline at Oriental’s Whittaker Pointe.
- Construct a 460-foot living shoreline in the town of Pine Knoll Shores, a 225-foot living shoreline at Morris Landing Clean Water Preserve in Onslow County and four living shoreline demonstration projects in Topsail Beach.
- Design 4,850 feet of living shorelines at Cherry Point, along NC Hwy 24 in Cedar Point and Swansboro, at a future Carteret County boat ramp and the Coastal Federation’s Center for Coastal Restoration and Protection in Ocean.
- Initiate five acres of oyster, living shoreline and salt marsh restoration and 13 acres of tidal marsh restoration at Carolina Beach State Park.
- Build over 3,000 feet of living shorelines on private properties.
- Educate marine contractors, engineers, consultants and regulators through technical trainings to encourage the use of living shorelines.
- Advocate for the protection of oyster shell bag living shorelines that grow harvestable oysters.
Learn how living shorelines outperform bulkheads during storms and cost less to repair.
Click here to read about how living shorelines work and the many benefits of natural shoreline stabilization.
The North Carolina Coastal Federation has developed a working map of sites along the North Carolina coast where living shorelines have been built. This map features descriptions, photos, funding agencies and more. Click on the various sites below and check back for new additions.
Living Shorelines Academy is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is a product of collaboration between Restore America’s Estuaries and the North Carolina Coastal Federation — and their many partners.
The goals of the Living Shorelines Academy are to:
- Increase the abundance of coastal wetlands
- Advance the policy, science and practice of living shorelines
- Enhance collaboration among governmental and private stakeholders
The academy provides many tools:
