South River Shoreline Management Plan Synopsis

Authors

C. Scott Hardaway Jr.

Document Type

Report

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

4-2007

Abstract

This Shoreline Management Plan (Plan) has been developed with funding from the Keith Campbell Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in response to the Anne Arundel County’s desire to create a comprehensive shoreline management plan for the South River coast (Figure 1).

The study area includes shorelines along the South River from Chesapeake Bay west and north to just above the Route 2 Bridge. The total shoreline assessed for the study is about 82 miles. This study makes recommendations that address shoreline erosion on an as-needed basis. The impacts of “doing nothing” to the shoreline are assessed as are various structural and nonstructural alternatives. Recommendations include shoreline protection strategies that are relatively non-intrusive to natural surroundings yet effective within the context of long-term shoreline erosion control. The strategies may combine stone structures such as sills, revetments, and/or breakwaters along with sand nourishment to create a stable substrate for establishing wetland vegetation.

The South River has two basic shoreline settings: 1) those coasts along the main stem of the South River, and 2) the shorelines that occur up the sub-tributary creeks of the South River. A variety of shore types occur along the South River coast including high banks and low banks, marsh fringes and low sandy terraces. An abundance of shore protection structures, mostly bulkheads, presently exist along the reach. The purpose of this Plan is to provide alternatives to shore hardening that will provide shore protection as well as increased habitat value particularly wetlands.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21220/V58M6B

Keywords

Shoreline Management, Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Funding

This Shoreline Management Plan (Plan) has been developed with funding from the Keith Campbell Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Recommended Citation

Hardaway, C. (2007) South River Shoreline Management Plan Synopsis. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. https://doi.org/10.21220/V58M6B