Living shoreline

A living shoreline is a protected, stabilized coastal edge made of natural materials such as plants, sand, or rock. Unlike a concrete seawall or other hard structure, which impedes the growth of plants and animals, living shorelines grow over time.

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New Brunswick Environmental Network

Living shorelines
and their benefits

Many shorelines, many on residential properties, have their native plants, grasses and trees replaced with wooden bulkheads and/or rock walls. This artificial barrier destroys the natural habitat of birds and aquatic life, and erosion can still occur or be transferred to the neighbouring land. The shore way to a healthy future for our beloved coast might be easier than you think!

The Facts

Living shorelines improve water quality by settling sediments and filtering pollution.

Living shorelines provide shade to keep water temperatures cool, helping to increase oxygen levels for fish and other aquatic species.

Living shorelines are often less costly than wooden bulkheads and rock walls.

An ‘’ideal’’ living shoreline contains a succession of natural filters that normally would be found in undisturbed ecosystems. These filters include riparian buffers above the tide line, made up of native trees and shrubs, including a mix of shrubs at high tide elevation, tidal wetlands, including grasses, rushes, and sedges at mid-tide elevation, and marsh grasses and common three-square at low tide, as well as underwater grasses in shallow water.

The benefits

Living shorelines possess the ability to absorb wave energy, thereby reducing shoreline erosion.

Trees, shrubs and grasses naturally filter pollutants from rainwater runoff, resulting in improved water quality.

Birds, turtles and aquatic life enjoy an expanded natural habitat.

Waterfront properties of all types enjoy a boost in waterside “curb appeal.”

Hard infrastructure solutions such as rock armouring/rip-rap and seawall can be destroyed by storms and damage the surrounding beach.

Resources and useful contacts:

Helping Nature Heal

Helping Nature Heal is a landscaping company that specializes in ecological restoration and living shorelines projects. They are leading experts, responsible for many of the living shorelines of New Brunswick.

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ACAP Saint John

ACAP Saint John is a community-based, non profit organization operating in the Saint John. They have expertise in climate change adaptation, habitat restoration, watercourse restoration, wetland enhancement and more. Contact them for questions about the coastline in the Saint John area.

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Shediac Bay Association

The Shediac Bay Watershed Association is a non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and enhance the Shediac Bay Watershed. They work in environmental and ecological monitoring and restoration, stormwater management and more. Contact them for questions about the coastline in the Shediac area.

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GDDPC

The Pays de Cocagne Sustainable Development Group (GDDPC) is a non-profit organization that works in sustainable development and environmental stewardship. Contact them for questions about the coastline in the Cocagne Bay and River Watershed area.

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Vision H2O

Vision H2O is a watershed group working to maintain a healthy ecosystem and to conserve healthy water. Contact them for questions about the coastline in the Village of Cap-Pelé and the Beaubassin-est rural community.

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Valorēs

Valores is an institute of applied research that leads the Projet Adaptation Péninsule Acadienne. They have expertise in adaptation to coastal erosion and flooding for the Acadien Peninsula. Contact them for questions about the coastline in the Acadian Peninsula.

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Bassins versants de la Baie des Chaleurs

The Chaleur Bay Watershed Group (CBWG) is a non-profit environmental conservation organization that works to improve and preserve the natural ecosystem of the Chaleur Bay rivers. Contact them for questions about the coastline in the Chaleur region.

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By the sea – a guide to the coastal zone of Atlantic Canada

This comprehensive guide is about 11 ecosystems within the coastal zone of Atlantic Canada and their importance to our economy (fisheries, aquaculture, tourism) and wellbeing. Consult it to learn more about the coastal zone and identify your properties’ coastal ecosystem without the quiz.

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Green Shores Guide

This Green Shores for Home guide allows you to protect your property with a living shoreline approach on your own. The exhaustive guide offers a standardized approach that is being used and taught in Nova Scotia and British Columbia.

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