WHAT ARE LIVING SHORELINES?
Living Shorelines are shoreline management options that provide erosion control benefits, while also enhancing the natural shoreline habitat. Living Shorelines often allow for natural coastal processes to remain through the strategic placement of plants, stone, sand fill and other structural and organic materials. The concept was developed and embraced by many in Maryland and is now utilized and demonstrated in other States like North Carolina and Virginia. Support for the Living Shoreline concept has grown over the last few years. A number of activities to promote and encourage implementation of these restoration practices have occurred such as: 1) Construction of demonstration projects; 2) Field assessments and characterization to determine location suitability; 3) Education and outreach including, but not limited, to marine contractor training; and, 4) Grant and funding support for project construction.
