Bioengineered Shore Protection

In an effort to arrest shore erosion at many coastal locations and to provide protection to marinas and harbors, it may be necessary to construct structures in high wave energy zones. Current practice involves utilization of structures constructed using large armor stones, concrete and steel walls, and a variety of other “hard” engineering techniques. Quite often, these structures do not add to the aesthetic and recreational attributes of a site and may impact significantly on the local environment. Integration of bioengineered components into the design of breakwaters and shore protection systems can be utilized, in certain cases, to enhance the project by providing better biological habitat and ancillary water quality improvement. Thus the goal of a project changes to include not only the stabilization of the eroding area or the provision of “quiet” waters, but to increase the quantity and quality of habitat available to fish and waterfowl communities, while providing an effective...