Living shorelines: A key line of defence
This publication makes the case for living shorelines which provide a proven and cost-effective alternative to structural approaches. They do so by using a range of natural stabilisation techniques commonly involving the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand, and other materials. These nature-based solutions prevent erosion while maintaining the land-and-water connection important to protecting land from wave energy.
Analyses of costs related to structural versus natural methods have found that living shoreline projects are often the less expensive and more durable option. For example, research in North Carolina determined that living shorelines outperformed bulkheads during Hurricane Irene in 2011. One key difference noted in the study is that structures can weaken and fail and must be replaced at full cost while living shorelines become stronger over time.
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