Many owners of shoreline property have guarded against erosion by installing riprap revetments or bulkheads, hard shoreline armor that has little habitat value for Bay organisms and does not serve as a biological filter for nutrient-laden runoff. Recently an alternative method for protecting shorelines from erosion has begun to be used: the living shoreline. Living Shorelines use natural habitat elements, such as marsh vegetation, sometimes in concert with hard structures such as low-profile sills, to protect shorelines.
Information about living shorelines:
- Financial assistance for design and installation of living shorelines
- Sources of living shoreline materials
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Information on Bay Friendly Landscaping, including the CBF Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Shoreline Resource List.
- Living Shorelines at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum: Information on shore erosion control through living shorelines and other approaches, including virtual tour of living shorelines at the park.
- Living Shorelines Policy and Restoration in North Carolina
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Shore erosion control,technical and financial assistance.
- Maryland Department of the Environment: Permit application for the alteration of any floodplain, waterway, tidal or non-tidal wetland in Maryland.
- Severn Riverkeeper Living Shoreline Project: Site shows good community involvement for a living shoreline project.
- VIMS Center for Coastal Resource Management: Resources including GIS data for Virginia and Maryland, wetland and shoreline management resources and a shoreline management glossary.
- Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program
Examples of Living Shoreline projects
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| St. John's: before with bulkhead |
St. John's: after a living shoreline |
St. John's College, Anne Arundel County
At St. John's College, 700 feet of bulkhead were removed and replaced with a living shoreline consisting of a subtidal riprap sill, followed inshore by an along-shore line of biologs, then culminating in the creation of a shallow marsh. Prior to construction, the shallowest areas for fish, crabs, shrimp, and other Bay organisms were over tewo feet deep. Now, organisms have a wide range of depths to choose from, including very shallow areas used by many species as nursery habitat. To find this site, take the Rowe Boulevard exit from Route 50 to downtown Annapolis. The site will be visible on your left as you cross the College Creek bridge.
 Chesapeake Bay Education Center, Horsehead Wetlands, Queen Anne's County
At this site, a system of offshore oyster reefs made of other artificial materials was used to dampen wave energy before reaching the shoreline. Shoreward of these reefs, several marshy peninsulas were created, partially connected to the mainland to create low-energy coves. These coves were designed to enable growth of seagrasses, promote use of these seagrasses as nurseries by juvenile fishes and crabs, and facilitate nesting of terrapins. To find this site, take exit 43B off Route 50 and follow the signs to the Chesapeake Bay Education Center. For more information, contact the Center at 410.827.6694.
Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, Anne Arundel County
Rather than completely removing the bulkhead at Arlington Echo, a riprap sill, sediments, coir fiber logs and marsh plants were placed offshore of the retaining wall. This method of building the living shoreline seaward of an existing hard armor structure is cheaper than removing the entire section of armor, and is possible under certain conditions. This site is located in Millersville off Route 178. For more details, visit www.arlingtonecho.net/restoration-projects/shoreline-restoration.html or contact the Center at 410.222.3822.
 London Town Public House and Garden, Anne Arundel County
A stone sill constructed to protect a newly created fringe marsh habitat that is protecting a high bank shoreline from further erosion. The project is located in a moderate energy environment and is an example of how living shorelines can be built in more open water areas with greater fetch. The project is located in Edgewater by taking Route 2 South from Annapolis. For more information, contact the Center at 410.222.1919.
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