Living Shorelines

ATLANTIC COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS

Coastlines are dynamic ecosystems that transform naturally through the processes of erosion, sediment transport and deposition. Erosion describes sediment movement caused by the forces of water and wind. It’s a natural and necessary process that maintains ecosystems like beaches, salt marshes and estuaries, but also changes your coastal landscape. This is particularly challenging as much of our buildings, roads, infrastructure and economic activities are near coastal environments.

On the Atlantic shores, we face particular challenges due to climate change and sea level rise. Canada is expected to warm at nearly twice the global rate and significant storms events are happening with greater frequency and intensity. Sea level in Atlantic Canada expected to rise higher than the global average this century. Due to land subsidence (the sinking of the coastline due to the last glaciation), the relative sea level change is expected to be higher in the Atlantic region, anywhere between 60 to 100 cm is predicted. Our shorelines are particularly vulnerable to erosion.

Living Shorelines are a soft engineering approach for stabilizing shorelines, which helps slow down the effects of erosion on waterfront properties and creates resilient shorelines that can better withstand waves and storms without endangering the coastal ecosystem.

The approaches are diverse, but they all seek to mimic natural processes which help a coastline reach a more stable state. Many coastal property owners are concerned about property loss or damage due to erosion.

A living shoreline uses nature’s own materials, advanced principles of science and ecosystem restoration expertise to restore vegetation and stabilize coastal slopes. Once established, a living shoreline will mitigate erosion, provide natural habitats, self-strengthen and endure.

Before, during and after a Living Shoreline installation.

Living Shorelines are a soft management approach that uses living plants and biomass to protect coastlines from erosive environmental forces. This approach also improves the health of our coastlines by helping to stabilize coastal ecosystems and creating habitat for native species.

Living Shoreline methods work to manage erosion on their own and can also be used in combination with rock walls and other engineered structures.

Grasses planted between rocks to stabilize shoreline.

NOVA SCOTIA SHORELINES

As president of Helping Nature Heal (HNH), Rosmarie has developed and practiced various Living Shoreline techniques specifically adapted for Nova Scotia’s climate and soils and the challenges associated with coastal erosion in the North Atlantic Ocean. For nearly two decades, Rosmarie and her team at HNH have installed and managed many Living Shorelines on the Northumberland Strait and the South Shore of Nova Scotia with much success.

MITIGATION PRACTICES

HNH works exclusively above the high water mark using native species and locally sourced biomass (hay, logs and brush) to help stabilize these delicate ecosystems. Working above the high water mark allows for management of land based erosive forces that contribute to coastal erosion such as overland flow, in addition to stabilizing soil exposed to wind and wave action.

GET STARTED

Step 1: Environmental Site Assessment

We will visit your site to collect data such as measurements, slope, native species present and degree of erosional activity

Step 2: Living Shoreline Report and Design

Within 2- 3 weeks, you will receive a detailed report outlining concerns, recommendations and a Living Shoreline design

Step 3: Living Shoreline Installation

Once details are finalized, our skilled team will install your Living Shoreline. The timeframe to get started depends on our schedule.

Step 4: Living Shoreline Stewardship

This includes regular shoreline maintenance and post-storm restoration.

ATLANTIC COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS