Living Shoreline

As engineers continue to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of hard armor structures along coastal and inland shorelines, systems utilizing natural bank stabilization techniques, referred to as “living shorelines”, are increasingly being used for shoreline protection. This approach uses plants, sand, organic matter (such as oyster shells) and limited use of rock to provide shoreline protection and maintain valuable habitat.

Living shoreline projects utilize a variety of structural and organic materials, such as wetland plants, submerged aquatic vegetation, oyster reefs, coir fiber logs, sand fill, and stone. The benefits of living shorelines include:

• Stabilization of the shoreline.

• Protection of surrounding riparian and intertidal environment.

• Improvement of water quality via filtration of upland run-off.

• Creation of habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species.

Products from JLSC have been used for sill construction, offshore breakwaters, as well as, toe protection for living shoreline projects.  From foundation support, to scour protection, to wave dissipation, JLSC systems and have been combined with native plant design, oyster filled mattresses and other unique natural materials to create a natural, long-term system that provides superior shore protection along with the environmental benefits associated with living shorelines.

Triton® Marine Mattresses can even be designed to be rock and shell filled into the individual compartments keeping the stone & shell at the specified density within each compartment. The rock and shell filled Mattresses will conform to the contour of the sea bed, providing an ideal environment for the protection and growth of the oyster spat. Once filled, the mattresses are lowered into place by either a boom lift or crane even in deep water or high current areas.