Our living shoreline implementation offers an exceptional and enduring solution for coastal resiliency and natural restoration.
Welcome! We are a woman-owned small business, certified in the assessment and restoration of private and public shorelines, including wetlands, rivers, and forests in the Great Lakes region. We provide a green-infrastructure technique, called a living shoreline, which is a protected, stabilized coastal edge made of natural materials like plants, sand, and rock. Traditional structures such as seawalls, rip rap, bulkheads, etc. worsen erosion over time. Research shows that living shorelines are more resilient and cost-effective than hard armoring, as the buffer between land and water is strengthened with each growing season.
What causes erosion?
Erosion is a natural process that happens for a number of reasons, mainly due to the displacement of soil particles by physical forces such as wind, water (waves), ice, gravity, humans, and animals. It's mainly accelerated by human recreation and the removal of vegetation, and most severely occurs during periods of high water and/or high winds.
Ecological Benefits of a Living Shoreline
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absorption of wave energy
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improves water quality
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enhancement of fisheries feeding and breeding habitat
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increased biodiversity (on land and in the water: butterflies, bees, fish, turtles, and snakes)
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riparian restoration of native plants, especially essential pollinators
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stores carbon
Signs of Trouble:
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large areas of exposed soil
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noticeable recession of the shoreline
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leaning or downed trees with exposed roots
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cloudy water near the shoreline
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degraded channels in the earth where overland run-off water drains
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less than 75 feet between the shoreline and your building
Bio-engineering Considerations for Stormwater Management
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slows and filters pollutants through the installed plant buffer
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rain gardens absorb run-off water and reduce flooding
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includes plant management and/or replacement, weed control, and/or invasive plant removal
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remedial fill or grading of the shoreline
BMPs (best management practice)
for stormwater run-off
Steps to get Started
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site analysis
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permitting
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site design
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customer approval
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site preparation
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project installation
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maintenance and monitoring
More Benefits of Living Shorelines
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increased property value
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enhanced community or family enjoyment
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improved access to waterfront through recreational activities (fishing, kayaking, bird and butterfly watching)
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advance local watershed and conservation goals
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can be used to satisfy zoning and permitting requirements for waterfront and development projects
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adaptive tool for preparation of sea-level rise
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opportunities for environmental outreach, education, and training