Shoreline Protection and Erosion Control

Coastal erosion is the wearing away of land and the removal of beach or dune sediments by wave action, tidal currents, drainage or high winds. Waves, generated by storms, wind, or fast moving motor craft, cause coastal erosion and dramatic losses of coastal sediment and rocks.

Why Is Shoreline Stabilization Important?

There are many reasons why it’s important to have a stable shoreline:

Economic Reasons: Not only is visiting local beach areas a popular pastime, but many people build homes along the shore. The shores and beaches are also economically important, providing income from fishing, boating, tourism, and more.

Protecting Natural Resources: Shore protection is also important for preserving the natural resources along the shores of lakefront and oceanfront property. Shorelines are their own ecosystem, and protecting them is critical for preserving the health and diversity of the area’s fish and wildlife.

Better Water Quality: The shoreline area also naturally cleans stormwater runoff before the water enters the lake or ocean. With lakefront shore protection, the water quality improves. In turn, this keeps wildlife, fish and ultimately people healthier.

Preventing Shoreline Erosion: Finally, a healthy shoreline offers protection against beach erosion. Unfortunately, erosion problems can happen anywhere. Shoreline erosion is a natural process, but it can be harmful to structures, wildlife, and people. Erosion along beach areas also interferes with beach nourishment.

Although erosion is usually gradual, a strong storm, unusual precipitation or excessive runoff can make the process rapid. Loss of trees also affects the rate of erosion. When erosion happens too quickly, action is needed.

Shoreline Stabilization Methods

Multiple shoreline stabilization methods are available to help protect our beautiful coasts. There needs to be a delicate balance between offering protection and keeping local wildlife and vegetation safe.

Some of the methods include brush layering, live staking, using erosion control bags and revegetation.

Hard Stabilization vs. Soft Stabilization

Starting a shore stabilization project means choosing between hard/constructed stabilization, soft/non-constructed stabilization or a combination of the two. Soft stabilization tends to be the preferred method, as it usually better aligns with the natural condition of the environment.

Examples of hard/constructed stabilization options include items like retaining walls and revetments, while soft/non-constructed stabilization includes using sand and/or plants or synthetic materials.

Coastal planning helps mitigate the unwanted effects of rapid erosion. River, stream, lake, and ocean front protection may include a rock wall, planting native plants, and repairing the slope of the beach areas. The use of soft armoring techniques includes placing vegetative mats, wads of roots, and felled logs in the areas of excessive erosion.

One of the fastest ways to reduce shoreline erosion is through the use of gabion walls / shoreline defense walls or AquaRockBags.

Gabion walls installed along the coastline offer efficient resistance to erosion, loss of coastal soil and a safeguard to properties in danger of slipping into the sea. AquaRockBags provide a unique solution to gabion applications in the marine environment by providing a flexible rope net gabion bag that is easier and faster to install while providing more natural contouring and scour resistance due to their shape.

We offer a variety of gabion materials for these coastal applications in Galvanized & PVC Coated Steel, Type 316L Marine Grade Stainless Steel and Co-Polymer Geo-Grid as well as our AquaRockBags. For soft armor applications we have vegetated soil bags as well as coastal protection units designed utilizing the principals of biomimicry.

How to Plan a Shoreline Erosion Control Project

Individuals working on a shoreline erosion control project need to consider multiple factors when devising a plan. Several questions, such as the three below, require careful answers before moving forward:

• What caused the erosion?

• How will each possible stabilization method affect the local wildlife and water in the short and long term?

• How will each feasible stabilization method impact the residents and tourists in the short and long term?

A shoreline erosion control project is by no means an easy one. However, Gabion Supply can help simplify the process. Contact us today with any concerns and questions, and let’s start forming a plan to protect the coasts in your area.