Year: 2023
Relevance
Erosion is a common issue for most shoreline property owners and resource managers. To combat erosion, property owners often harden their shorelines with bulkheads or seawalls. While these methods are somewhat effective at reducing erosion, they also are associated with continual maintenance and a loss of intertidal habitat. This intertidal habitat is extremely important for producing the ecosystem functions and services necessary to maintain a healthy coastal ecosystem.
Response
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium's Living Shorelines Program seeks out and evaluates alternatives to hardened shorelines, such as living shorelines, for environmental and economic benefits. This program gathers information to produce outreach materials for environmental managers, contractors, property owners and others about the pros and cons of different methodologies. The program provided presentations, trainings, site visits and technical assistance related to living shorelines.
Results
Between 2018 and 2023 extension specialists informed decision-making on protection, restoration or enhancement of more than 37.1 linear miles of shoreline in Mississippi and Alabama. Their efforts led to protecting about 2,610 acres with an annual ecosystem service value approaching $113.44 million (based on ecosystem service values from Costanza et al. 2014).
Recap
Between 2018 and 2023, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium's living shorelines education and extension efforts led to the protection of 2,610 acres of marine habitat that included more than 37.1 miles of shoreline and has an annual ecosystem service value approaching $113.44 million. (2018-2023)