Basics of Natural Shoreline Erosion Control
Prevention:
Preventing erosion is the easiest and least expensive approach to maintaining a healthy shoreline.
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What to do instead of seawalls when shorelines are eroding?
Soft-Armoring or Bio-engineering
There are situations where eroding shorelines will need some help to become stabilized. But a seawall is not the only option! Techniques called "soft-armoring or "bio-engineering" can solve shoreline erosion in a way that supports the lake ecosystem and protects lakefront property. Bio-engineering is not an exact science. Bio-engineered shoreline erosion control is usually applied as a system of applications that provide upland stabilization, bank toe stabilization and bank toe protection. All of these methods require the reintroduction of deep-rooted native plants to create a system that mimics naturally stable shorelines. |
Photo: Jane Herbert
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How do I know if bio-engineering will work for my site?
Although not every site is suitable for bio-engineering most are! Solutions range from very simple and inexpensive to complex and more costly. The more challenging the site the more complex the solution is going to be. A site must be properly assessed by a knowledgeable professional to determine the solution. Many factors such as site conditions, space availability, where buildings are located, lake levels (natural or lake level controlled), lake shape, water depth and the erosive energy at the site including boat wave energy should be included in the assessment.
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