Citation:

Schoell, M., A. Gerber, S. Ayvazian, M. Chintala, D. Grunden, D. Cobb, C. Strobel, AND K. Rocha. Living Shorelines in New England: monitoring marsh stabilization, restoration benefits, and nitrogen removal. New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS) Fall Meeting, Block Island, Rhode Island, October 20 - 22, 2016.

Impact/Purpose:

A living shoreline is a natural approach to shoreline stabilization, which uses biodegradable materials such as coconut fiber coir logs and oyster shell bags that cup the marsh edge in order to reduce wave energy, enhance the robustness of existing marsh, and facilitate the growth of new marsh. This restoration work will provide novel information about the feasibility and success of living shorelines in New England. It will also help better identify the benefits of living shorelines in regards to shoreline stabilization, habitat quality, and nitrogen mitigation.

Description:

Salt marshes provide a unique intertidal habitat between land and sea, making them one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. Their ecosystem services are often undervalued, and are being degraded by multiple stressors such as human development and climate change. To protect eroding shorelines a new approach called a “living shoreline” has been developed. This technique is a natural approach to shoreline stabilization, which uses biodegradable materials such as coconut fiber coir logs and oyster shell bags that cup the marsh edge in order to reduce wave energy, enhance the robustness of existing marsh, and facilitate the growth of new marsh. Though this approach has been successful throughout the Mid-Atlantic and southern parts of the United States, few efforts have been made to assess the feasibility of living shorelines in New England. Between June and August 2016, the largest living shoreline restoration project in New England was installed at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. We have constructed three living shoreline experimental areas, spanning a total of 80 meters. We are currently sampling a range of metrics to better understand changes in water quality, soil, and flora and fauna growth in living shoreline areas and adjacent eroded marsh edges. We are also measuring denitrification potential to investigate whether living shorelines enhance biogeochemical productivity and therefore facilitate nitrogen removal. This restoration work will provide novel information about the feasibility and success of living shorelines in New England. It will also help better identify the benefits of living shorelines in regards to shoreline stabilization, habitat quality, and nitrogen mitigation.

Record Details: