Because coastal barrier islands are dynamic and change frequently over time , it is essential to encourage the synergistic development of infrastructure which benefits both resilient natural habitats and human communities alike . Gray infrastructure provides immediate relief for stormwater management and erosion control , especially in areas where these conditions are an immediate concern and require sturdy fortification . However , these types of solutions have their downsides when they are applied upon larger spatial scales .
A major component of gray infrastructure is the ongoing maintenance and repairs that needs to occur . They are often static structures that cannot adapt to changes to the natural environment without some form of human intervention to help them remain functional . Green and hybrid gray-green infrastructure incorporates components of the nearby natural habitat which are better able to adapt to changing conditions . Furthermore , solutions which incorporate green infrastructure require less intense maintenance and human intervention overtime compared to gray infrastructure .
Green infrastructure can range from restoring marsh and oyster reef habitats to rain gardens and vegetated shoreline buffers . These practices support natural habitat function which can also provide benifits to communities . For instance , marsh habitat and vegetated shoreline buffers attenuate wave action from nearby waterways , reducing impacts to erosion . Additionally , buffering the marsh edge against wave energy and increasing its resiliency and stability by encouraging sediment to accrete behind them . Rain gardens capture stormwater from nearby impervious surfaces and reduce the volume of stormwater runoff . Effectively , green infrastructure provides a solution that provides a multitude of functions which benefit both human and wildlife communities . Over time , these will also allow nearby habitats to adapt better to future conditions caused by sea level rise , changing climatic conditions , and impacts caused by human activities .
Table 7 : General description of various living shoreline practices
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NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS MANUAL FOR KIAWAH ISLAND