Living Shoreline Implementation

	Wetland habitat creation using the Living Shoreline stabilization approach. Photo: Alison Ward-Maksym, NOAA Restoration Center

Several steps are involved in planning and implementing the Living Shoreline stabilization approach. These steps include a site analysis, approval of relevant permits and adherence to relevant regulations and statutes, site preparation, installation of construction materials, and post-construction monitoring and maintenance activities.

A. Planning and Implementation Steps

Steps involved in Living Shoreline implementation:

1. Site analysis determines whether Living Shoreline stabilization is appropriate for use in a particular area, and includes an evaluation of the bank erosion rate, bank elevation, bathymetry, fetch, wave energy, prevailing wind and wave direction, vegetation presence, and soil type. Design of restoration activities is done after the site analysis.

2. Permit approval and legal compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and permits for proposed restoration activities must be done prior to Living Shoreline project implementation. For further information, visit the Statutes, Regulations, and Permits section and the Contacts section of this website for assistance.

3. Site preparation begins after appropriate permits are obtained from regulatory agencies. The site is cleared of debris and unstable trees, and failing seawalls and bulkheads can be removed or naturalized. Steep banks can be regraded to provide an elevation gradient for wave dissipation; however, if cultural resources are at risk or are buried at the site, a small amount of clean fill material can be deposited to create a slope seaward of the existing bank cut. Any runoff issues should also be identified and addressed prior to material installation.

4. Installation of soft/nonstructural and hybrid materials. Typical Living Shoreline treatments include planting riparian, marsh, and submerged aquatic vegetation; installing organic materials such as bio-logs, organic fiber mats, and sediment-filled geotextile material tubes; and constructing oyster reefs or “living breakwaters” that dissipate wave energy before it reaches the shore.

5. Post-construction monitoring and maintenance includes scientific monitoring of restored habitat to gather information on the success or failure of the Living Shoreline for the purpose of improving the construction and implementation of future projects. Maintenance activities include debris removal, replanting vegetation, depositing spat-on-shell for oyster reef growth, installing goose exclusion fences (if necessary), adding additional sand fill, and ensuring that the organic and structural materials remain in place and continue to stabilize the shoreline.

B. Habitat Zones and Living Shoreline Treatments

The following diagram provides an example of the types of Living Shoreline treatments implemented in coastal environments. Living Shorelines utilize a suite of stabilization and habitat restoration techniques that span several habitat zones (e.g., upland buffer, bankface, coastal wetlands and beach strand, and subtidal waters) and use a variety of materials, detailed below.

Diagram: Burke Environmental Associates, LLC.

1. Upland Buffer / Bankface Zones

Sand Fill, Clean Dredge Material, and Shoreline Regrading Sand fill and clean dredge material is typically used at Living Shoreline sites to create a gentle bank slope that dissipates wave energy and provides substrate on which to plant seagrasses and marsh and riparian vegetation. Sites without a bulkhead can be regraded, filled, and replanted with native vegetation. Bulkheads can be removed and the shoreline then regraded, filled, and replanted. Another option is to leave the structure in place, add sand fill in front of the bulkhead, and then regrade and replant the shoreline and embankment with native vegetation.
Pre-construction site with bulkhead and minimal aquatic habitat. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center	Bulkhead removal, shoreline regrading, and filling process. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center	Completed site: post- bulkhead removal, shore regrading, and replanting. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center

Upland riparian vegetation with natural fiber log and marsh grass vegetation. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center Wetland grass planting at a Living Shorelines site. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center Mangrove vegetation in tropical environments. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Upland Riparian Buffer Creation
Native deciduous trees, shrubs, and grasses stabilize the riparian zone above high tide by providing a root mass that minimizes bank erosion while filtering sediment and nutrients from upland runoff and providing wildlife habitat for terrestrial species. Common riparian vegetation used at each site differs depending on the species native to that area, but typically includes a combination of native woody trees, shrubs, and grasses, including bayberry (Myrica pensylanica), wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus).

2. Coastal Wetlands and Beach Strand Zone

Coastal Wetlands Vegetation Planting
Marsh grasses dissipate wave energy, filter sediment and nutrients from upland runoff, and improve wildlife habitat for terrestrial and aquatic species. Native grasses are planted in the water and at the mean high tide mark in the intertidal zone in low- to medium-energy environments. Marsh grasses may be more successful if they are planted in the spring in areas where there is evidence of existing marsh, where there is less than 3 miles of open water, and where the prevailing winds will not cause destruction of the newly planted grasses. Typical marsh vegetation used in the intertidal zone of the Atlantic coast include marsh hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos), groundsel tree (Baccharis halmifolia), high tide bush (Iva frutescens), salt marsh hay (Spartina patens), stout bulrush (Scirpus robustus), common three-square (Scirpus pungens), and smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora).

Mangrove Restoration
Mangroves are woody plant communities that play an important role in stabilizing the shoreline. Through their extensive root system, mangroves trap sediment and nutrients and dissipate wave energy. Mangroves are found in estuarine tropical and subtropical environments and could significantly decrease coastal erosion if used at Living Shoreline sites. These plant communities typically grow in the Caribbean, southern Florida, and portions of south Louisiana, and include red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), and white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa). The black mangrove appears to be more suited for use at Living Shoreline sites throughout Florida because it can withstand colder temperatures. This species also develops a subsurface root system faster than the red and white varieties, thereby stabilizing the shoreline quicker than other mangrove species.

Natural Fiber Log (Bio-log) Installation
Natural fiber logs made of biodegradable coir (coconut) fiber and netting are commonly used to stabilize slopes and minimize bank erosion. Bio-logs blend into the natural environment and effectively trap and retain sediment, retain moisture for plant growth, and provide bank stability while new vegetation takes root and increases in density. Natural fiber logs are placed at the foot of bank slopes or in the water, molded to fit the bank line, and then anchored in place by wooden stakes or a rock footer. Bio-logs can be planted with marsh grasses to promote the establishment of vegetation along the shoreline, thus providing additional bank stabilization through growth of fibrous root systems.

Natural fiber logs, pre-installation. Photo credit: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center

Natural fiber logs, post-installation. Photo credit: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center

Natural fiber matting.Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center Natural fiber log held in place by a rock footer. Photo: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Natural Fiber Matting Installation
Natural fiber matting is made of coir fiber, wood, straw, jute, or a combination of organic, biodegradable materials. Organic matting used at Living Shoreline sites is laid over eroding steep slopes or coastal areas to minimize the loss of sediment from the land and trap wave-transported sediment. Organic matting can be planted with marsh grasses or riparian vegetation to enhance shore stabilization, which collectively facilitates nutrient and sediment removal from the ecosystem.

Rock Footer Placement
A rock footer is a small amount of rock or boulder material used to anchor and support bio-logs and stabilize the restored shoreline. The rock footer supports the structural integrity of the bio-log and prevents it from sloughing off into deeper waters of the bank slope.

Low-Crested Segmented Rock Sill Stabilization
Low-crested segmented rock sills are freestanding rock structures placed in the water parallel to shore to dissipate wave energy, thereby protecting actively eroding marshes and shorelines. Sills generally stand no more than 6 to 12 inches above mean high water, which allow boat and wind-induced waves to pass over the sill structure and provide an opportunity for natural processes to occur shoreward of the sill. Sills used at Living Shoreline sites are segmented to provide wildlife such as fish, crabs, and wading birds access to both the water and the shoreline habitat. Low-crested segmented rock sills typically are used to protect newly planted marsh grasses from wave action in medium-energy environments, thereby providing wetlands benefits in the long run.

Post-construction segmented rock sill. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center

Low-crested segmented rock sill with marsh grasses. Photo: Alison Ward-Maksym, NOAA Restoration Center

Offshore segmented living breakwaters. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center

Oyster reef material taken from a Living Shoreline breakwater constructed from rubble and recycled concrete. Photo credit: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center

Living Breakwater Construction
Living breakwaters are structures placed parallel to the shore in medium- to high-energy open-water environments for the purpose of dissipating wave energy while providing habitat and erosion control benefits to an ecosystem. These breakwaters are constructed of marl limestone, granite, or rock that is seeded with oyster spat. Living breakwaters often create quiescent areas between the breakwaters and the shoreline, which can be replanted with SAV and marsh grasses to create intertidal and marsh habitat for aquatic organisms.

Rubble and Recycled Concrete Breakwater Construction
Rubble and recycled concrete can be used at Living Shoreline sites as material for offshore breakwaters to reduce wave energy. To provide maximum benefit to the ecosystem, these rubble and concrete breakwaters should be seeded with oyster spat to provide water quality and habitat benefits while reducing wave energy.

Sediment-Filled Geotextile Material Tube Installation
Sediment-filled geotextile material tubes are placed parallel to shore to dissipate waves in high-energy environments. These sediment-filled tubes measure approximately 12 feet in diameter, create new avenues for dredge material disposal, and produce a hard substrate with vertical relief on which the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) can construct reefs.

Sediment-filled geotextile tube in background. Photo credit: Alison Ward-Maksym, NOAA Restoration Center

Filter fabric beneath rock footer. Photo credit: Alison Ward-Maksym, NOAA Restoration Center

Filter Fabric Placement
Filter fabric is a porous layer of geotextile material placed beneath rock sills and breakwaters to prevent sand movement into or through the rock or concrete structure at hybrid Living Shoreline sites.

3. Subtidal Water Zone

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation. Photo credit: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Planting
Seagrass beds dampen wave energy, stabilize nearshore sediments, improve water quality via nutrient uptake, and provide food and shelter for marine organisms. When used in conjunction with other Living Shoreline components such as marsh grasses, a natural shoreline buffer is created that reduces coastal erosion and stabilizes sediments via root growth. Establishing seagrass beds is typically more successful at Living Shoreline sites in which grasses were historically present. Seagrass species used in typical SAV restoration projects include wild celery (Vallisneria americana), redhead grass (Potamogeton perfoliatus), and eelgrass (Zostera marina).

Oyster Reef Enhancement or Creation
Native reef-building oysters, such as the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. Oyster reefs can be enhanced or created at Living Shoreline sites as natural shoreline protective structures to dissipate wave energy, decrease coastal erosion, increase habitat for fish species, improve water quality, and provide protection for newly planted marsh grasses and SAV. For more information on oyster reefs, visit the Oyster Reef Habitat section of this website.

Oyster reef in the Rappahannock River, Virginia. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center.

Oyster reef in the Rappahannock River, Virginia. Photo: Rich Takacs, NOAA Restoration Center

Oyster / mussel ball. Photo: Steve Giordano, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

Oyster/Mussel Ball Installation
Small concrete oyster balls can be used at Living Shoreline sites to decrease wave energy while enhancing fish and oyster habitat. These hollow concrete structures with holes provide substrate on which oysters colonize and form small living reefs, thus providing habitat and food for fish and other aquatic species. Wave dissipation by these structures decreases coastal erosion and provides a reduced-energy area in which newly planted vegetation can grow.