Living Shorelines Principles and Practices

Living Shorelines Principles and Practices , updated 12/3/15, 12:35 PM

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Living Shorelines Principles and Practices written by Kevin M. Smith, Associate Director Maryland Department of Natural Resources Chesapeake & Coastal Services. Acknowledgements •  Marguerite Whilden (Terrapin Institute) •  Albert McCullough (Sustainable Science) •  Scott Hardaway & Karen During (VIMS) •  Keith Underwood (Underwood & Associates) •  Jana Davis (Chesapeake Bay Trust) •  Colleagues at MD DNR •  Erik Michelsen (South River Federation) •  Billy Moulden (Severn River Association) •  Tracy Skrabel (Carolina Coastal Federation). 

About Terrapin Institute

The Terrapin Institute began in 1998 as a consortium of concerned citizens, scientists, resource managers, and educators dedicated to the understanding, persistence, and recovery of Diamondback Terrapins and other turtles through effective management, thorough research, and public outreach. We work to protect an abundance of adult turtle populations, preserve nesting and forage habitat, and improve recruitment. In return the terrapin has become the perfect metaphor for natural resource stewardship and public engagement; the face of estuarine restoration, and a gateway to the many wonders of our rich tidewater heritage.

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Living Shorelines
Principles and Practices



















The Chesapeake Bay

•  Largest estuary in the U.S.

•  Covers approx. 28,740 acres

•  Drains a watershed of 64,000 sq. mi.
•  Average depth of 21 feet
•  Width ranges from 3.4 to 35 miles
•  7,000 Miles of Tidal Shoreline in Md.
Baltimore
Washington,
D.C.
A
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Chesapeake & Coastal Watershed Service
Chesapeake Bay:
•Formed 35 Million Years ago as a result of a
meteorite impact near Cape Charles, Va.
•Periodically exposed and flooded in response
to cycles of global glaciation and flucuations in
sea level
•The most recent glaciation (Wisconsin) began
retreating approx 18,000 years ago.
•This resulted in a rise in sea level of almost 295
feet drowning river valleys and forming the
current bay.
•Archaelolgists estimate that native Americans
first arrived in the Bay region nearly 12,000
years ago as the ice sheets began to retreat.
Physiographic Regions of Maryland
Captain John Smith
Governor of New England
Historical Shoreline Recession 1845 - 1978
COASTAL ATLAS FOR MARYLAND
Sediment Contributions to the
Chesapeake Bay
Sediment Contributions to the
Chesapeake Bay
Relation between fastland (above tide) erosion and nearshore (below tide) erosion.
Regardless of the Sediment Sources (Riverine vs. Estuarine)

Our Shorelines Continue to Erode
Sharps Island
One of the
Chesapeake
Bay’s
Disappearing
Islands
Smith Island, Maryland
Ewell
Rhodes Pt.
Tylerton
•  11 km2 (1/2 land ½ water)
•  Population Approx 350
•  Has lost 13 km2 Due to Erosion in the Last 150 years
HAVE EROSION RATES INCREASED?

ARE ISLANDS DISAPPEARING FASTER?

WHAT IS HAPPENING?


There are a
Lot of Things
Happening
That Are
Affecting the
Rate of
Shoreline
Erosion
Boating
Shoreline
Development
Loss of Submerged Aquatic Grasses (SAVs)
Gibson Island
Dobbins Island
Oyster Bottom Survey Completed in the Early 1900’s


Chester River Area
Oyster Reef in Virginia
Kent
Island
Sea Level Rise
There are over 600 miles of
Hardened Shorelines in Maryland
Diamondback Terrapin
Populations in Maryland

Horseshoe Crab Populations
in Maryland
In Some Populated Areas Up To 75% of the Shorelines Are Hardened


































Hey guys! There’s a
Living Shoreline right
over here.
A concept that applies natural
principals to shoreline
stabilization in order to
enhance habitat and maintain
dynamic shoreline process.
One Definition…
A Brief History of Living Shorelines In Maryland
1972: Edgar Garbish Completes 1st Living Shoreline Project at
Hambleton Island. Goes on to Start Environmental Concern, Inc.
1985: Maryland Begins Providing 50/50 Grants to Homeowners for
“Non-Structural Shore Erosion Control” Projects.
1994: State Restricts Building New Bulkheads.
2002: Severn River Association Holds First Workshop for Shoreline
Property Owners
2007: Va. Institute of Marine Sciences holds First “Living Shoreline
Summit”.
2008: Maryland Legislature Passes Living Shoreline Protection Act.
2013: Maryland to Host 2nd “Living Shoreline Summit”.
It’s All About Process
Processes
Effects of Shore Erosion Control Structures on Sediment Processes
Winchester Pond
2007
2008
2012
Shoreline
Structure
Constructed
It’s All About Habitat
Shallow Water Habitat
Beach Habitat
Dune Habitat
Marsh Habitat
Intertidal Habitat
There is Not Just ONE Way to Skin This Cat
Living Shoreline Practices
Two of The Many Handbooks and Technical
Guides for Shore Erosion Control
http://www.mde.maryland.gov/programs/water/wetlandsandwaterways/documents/www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/wetlandswaterways/
shoreerosion.pdf
http://web.vims.edu/GreyLit/VIMS/sramsoe356.pdf

















Keep the beach.
It’s a shore
thing!!!
Acknowledgements
•  Marguerite Whilden (Terrapin Institute)
•  Albert McCullough (Sustainable Science)
���  Scott Hardaway & Karen During (VIMS)
•  Keith Underwood (Underwood & Associates)
•  Jana Davis (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
•  Colleagues at MD DNR
•  Erik Michelsen (South River Federation)
•  Billy Moulden (Severn River Association)
•  Tracy Skrabel (Carolina Coastal Federation)
Kevin M. Smith, Associate Director
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Chesapeake & Coastal Services
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410-260-8797
kmsmith@dnr.state.md.us