Document Type
Report
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
4-2012
Abstract
Armoring shorelines to prevent erosion, improve access, and accommodate individual landscaping interests can result in fragmentation or loss of habitats, reduction in capacity to moderate pollutant loads delivered to coastal waters, reduction in nekton and macrobenthic integrity (Bilkovic et al. 2005, King et al. 2005, Seitz et al. 2006, Bilkovic et al. 2006, Bilkovic & Roggero 2008), increases in invasive species, such as Phragmites australis (Chambers et al. 1999, King et al. 2007), and disturbance of sediment budgets sustaining adjacent properties. As an alternative to traditional armoring of shorelines, shoreline protection techniques incorporating natural elements from the system are increasingly promoted as not only less harmful to the system, but also beneficial due to their ability to provide or enhance coastal ecosystem services. Yet, there has been limited scientific investigation of ecological benefits and impacts associated with the implementation of natural shoreline protection designs (Burke et al. 2005, Davis et al. 2006).
Description
Final Report to Chesapeake Bay Trust, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center, and the Maryland Department of the Environment.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25773/dhe7-jb59
Keywords
Shorelines--conservation; shore protection; beach erosion; coastal zone management
Funding
Grant #10670
Recommended Citation
Bilkovic, D., & Mitchell, M. (2012) Ecological and erosion protection functions of Chesapeake Bay living shorelines : Comprehensive Monitoring of Ecological and Erosion Protection Functions of Chesapeake Bay Living Shorelines (CMLS), Phase II. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. https://doi.org/10.25773/dhe7-jb59
