What are “Living Shorelines”?

"Living Shorelines" refer to natural or nature-based features designed to protect the shoreline. These approaches utilize native vegetation, natural materials, and various ecological processes to stabilize the coastline, reduce erosion, and enhance habitat for local wildlife.

Living shorelines provide a sustainable alternative to hard engineering solutions, such as seawalls and bulkheads, which often lead to increased erosion and habitat loss. By using plants and natural features, living shorelines not only protect against the impacts of waves and storms but also support biodiversity and improve water quality. They contribute to the resilience of coastal ecosystems, making them an effective and environmentally friendly solution for shoreline management.

The other options represent different concepts: artificial beaches focus on tourism, concrete structures emphasize hard engineering, and areas for aquatic recreation do not address shoreline protection specifically.