Living Shoreline

Skidaway Island State Park identified an erosional area along the bank of a tidal creek adjacent to the Sandpiper walking trail that was in need of stabilization. Rather than stabilizing the bank using traditional hardened methods like a bulkhead or rip rap, the Park decided to stabilize the shoreline using a “living shoreline” technique. Living Shorelines are a novel engineering approach that provide an alternative to conventional armored shorelines constructed to protect lands lying adjacent to estuarine waters from erosion. Living Shorelines use bioengineering in combination with native vegetation plantings to stabilize or enhance wetland habitats. 

Living shorelines implement sustain¬able resources such as oyster shells and native vegetation to create a robust intertidal habitat which improves bio¬diversity and water quality. They also create upland and marine habitat connectivity and provide a habitat friendly alternative to conventional erosion control shoreline hardening methods.