An Analysis of Material Use in Living Shorelines

Abstract

Coastal areas are increasingly affected by anthropogenic climate change through aspects such as flooding and storm surge. Historically, hard structural enforcements like seawalls and bulkheads have been utilized to mitigate these hazards, however, these additions are associated with adverse effects, including increased wave energy, erosion to adjacent properties, and maintenance costs. As an alternative to hard structures, nature-based solutions, such as living shorelines, are now being utilized due to their combined coastal protection and biodiversity benefits. Recent literature has highlighted the knowledge gaps surrounding living shoreline design and material use. Here, we utilize a literature review and field experiment to understand material use in living shorelines and how structural heterogeneity can influence species abundance. The literature review results reveal geographic and temporal trends in the materials utilized. Field results show that increasing the surface heterogeneity of artificial structures resulted in increased oyster abundance. These results are crucial for understanding the most appropriate and efficient designs and materials to further living shoreline implementation.