Living shorelines that reduce sound-side erosion and provide habitat.
For decades, the typical response to control erosion on North Carolina’s estuarine shorelines has been to build bulkheads or place stone riprap along problem areas. This shoreline hardening and loss of vegetated buffers degrade fish and shellfish habitats and reduce areas that absorb stormwater runoff. The consequences of shoreline hardening become more severe as sea levels rise. Additionally, the spread of an invasive wetland plant species, Phragmites australis (common reed), could disrupt the ecology of our fringing shoreline wetlands as it outcompetes natural marsh vegetation.
Living shorelines, a series of techniques that reduce the impact of waves through the use of more natural approaches such as restoring salt marsh and oysters, offer an effective and environmentally friendly solution to shoreline erosion. However, outdated laws and rules, lack of consumer demand and too few specialized contractors have prevented living shorelines from being widely used. We’re changing that.
Our 2020 Goals:
With increases in erosion rates expected from rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storms, shoreline protection is important now, more than ever. The last few decades have shown that hardened structures like bulkheads don’t work and can even make erosion worse. Living shorelines offer a highly effective and eco-friendly solution. By reinforcing our shorelines with natural buffers like salt marsh and oyster reefs, we are able to reduce sound-side erosion while preserving the natural beauty and productivity of our estuaries. In 2020 we commit to making living shorelines the go-to approach for managing sound-side erosion. We are also installing several large-scale and lot –level living shorelines creating critical marsh and showcasing the value of living shorelines.
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:
