Are you a waterfront property owner in the Gulf Shores, Alabama, area? If so, you may be concerned about erosion along your shoreline. While you have undoubtedly heard about and seen bulkheads used to prevent erosion, you may not have considered a living shoreline before.
A living shoreline is a natural alternative to a bulkhead or other kind of shoreline hardening. While both prevent shoreline erosion, living shorelines have many benefits that bulkheads do not.
First, the installation of a bulkhead requires destruction of important intertidal habitat. Intertidal habitat serves as a nursery for many of the fish and seafood species that we enjoy on the coast, thereby improving both fishing and eating in our communities. The marsh grasses used in living shoreline designs grow in the intertidal zone prevent erosion with their dense root systems and absorb wave energy with their long stems and leaves. They can also build the land over time by trapping sediment and prevent trash and debris from entering the waterway by stopping it before it gets there.
Second, bulkheads have a limited lifespan. Even a perfectly installed bulkhead will eventually need to be replaced. Before that, property owners will often experience land sinking behind the bulkhead and holes developing. This occurs because instead of absorbing waves like marsh grasses do, bulkheads deflect the waves and cause erosion in front of the structure (and on neighboring structures). Because a properly designed living shoreline can absorb the wave energy, it will experience less erosion and will not hurt neighboring properties. Also, a living shoreline can adapt to changing conditions and self-maintain indefinitely.
Third, bulkheads are susceptible to damage during strong storms. Waves and debris can crash into the vertical bulkhead causing major damage in a short amount of time. Living shorelines, on the other hand, are highly resilient to storms. Storm surge often goes above the marsh grass and the grass can bend and easily survive the storm. Any debris that is pushed into a living shoreline can simply be removed after the storm passes. Even if it takes a while and the plants are damaged by the debris, they will likely bounce back once it is removed.
Living shorelines need customized design
Living shorelines can be more complicated than bulkheads to design though. Where bulkheads are a one-size-fits-all option, living shorelines have to be customized to each property to ensure that they function effectively. That is where the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and Mississippi State University Living Shorelines Program comes in.
We're offering free services
Our team provides FREE living shoreline services to private property owners including site assessments, living shoreline design and permitting. On Thursday, May 30, we invite property owners to stop by the Gulf Shores Activity Center (260 Clubhouse Drive) between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. for our Living Shorelines Open House. They can meet with a member of our team to discuss living shoreline options for their property.
A conversation with a living shorelines team member will include discussing any issues and wishes you have for your shoreline, questions about what you have observed over time, information about what a living shoreline may look like at your property, and the opportunity to arrange a site visit from our team. So, stop by on May 30 to learn more!
If you are not able to visit us on that day or if your waterfront property is not in or near Gulf Shores, our team is still available to help. We are always happy to talk with property owners. You can contact us by emailing me or by visiting our website.
Meet the author
Sara Martin
Wetland Specialist, Mississippi State University
Sara Martin is a wetland specialist and extension associate with the Program for Local Adaptation to Changing Environments and the Mississippi State University (MSU) Coastal Research and Extension... Read more
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