LIVING SHORELINES SUMMARY
Living shorelines , also referred to as nature-based , green shorelines , or soft shorelines , is a broad term that refers to diverse shoreline stabilization techniques along estuarine coasts , bays , sheltered coastlines , and tributaries ( NOAA 2015 ). The term is applied to a wide variety of stabilization techniques all with a footprint of native material . Living shorelines are often made up of hybrid solutions incorporating vegetation or other living , natural “ soft ” elements ( e . g ., marsh grass or oyster shell ) in combination with some type of “ harder ” shoreline structure ( e . g ., rock sills ) for added stability . Combining techniques provides an efficient , natural solution to concerns involving coastal estuarine marsh health due to sea level rise and increasing development . Living shorelines are placed to maintain continuity and stability at the marsh-water interface and reduce erosion , while providing habitat value and enhancing coastal resilience ( NOAA , 2015 ).
LIVING SHORELINES SUMMARY
The below image is a continuum provided by NOAA Fisheries that depicts an array of living shoreline techniques , coupled with their best suited site attributes . The project techniques are displayed along a green ( natural materials only ) to green-gray ( hybrid ) to gray ( all built materials ) scale . The preferred living shoreline techniques are represented in the green side of this continuum .
Figure 29 : NOAA ’ s “ Coastal Shoreline Continuum and Typical Living Shorelines Treatments ” ( NOAA 2020 ).
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