Living Shoreline Practices

Living Shorelines are erosion control methods that use natural features to stabilize soil and reduce the energy of waves running up on the shore. These techniques are most effective where wave action and boat wakes are not severe and there is plenty of sunlight.

The Teaching Marsh has three examples of living shoreline practices. Non-structural living shorelines rely on wide, gentle slopes and planted vegetation to reduce wave energy and erosion. Structural living shoreline practices include strategically placed materials to support living habitats where they would not persist alone.

Riparian Buffer

a planted upland area next to tidal marsh with salt-tolerant native trees and perennials

Intercepts and filters stormwater runoff from adjacent road
Reduces energy of tidal floodwaters during extreme high tides and coastal storms
Provides habitat and food sources for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife
Low-maintenance garden with dynamic plant arrangement, self-seeding, selective weeding and no reasons to use pesticides or fertilizers

Planted Salt Marsh

a planted wetland area with native salt marsh plants

Wide, gradual slope provides space for planting low & high marsh zones
Natural recruitment of additional marsh plants over time
Essentially self-maintaining with occasional trash removal

Marsh with Stone Sill

a low-profile structure used to support a planted tidal marsh next to deep boat channel

Low height allows for high tides to regularly overtop structure while boat wake energy is also reduced
Spaces between stones makes structure pervious for tidal waters to flow in and out of marsh
Crabs, fish and other marsh residents are thriving in this created marsh habitat