Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia
"The extent to which living shorelines can mimic the resiliency of natural marshes and oyster reefs will depend on their setting, design, and the type of human maintenance provided. Truly resilient projects will require engineers and ecologists to work together to describe the dynamics of shoreline processes under sea level rise and translate this understanding into living shoreline design."
— Mitchell, Molly, and Bilkovic, Donna M. “Embracing dynamic design for climate-resilient living shorelines” (2019). Journal of Applied Ecology.
Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia
Wetlands Watch is thrilled to announce the launch of our exciting new resource, "Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia." This comprehensive guide is tailored specifically for shoreline professionals seeking sustainable and adaptive solutions to combat the challenges posed by rising sea levels and coastal hazards.
Background: Virginia’s Challenges
Coastal Virginia is experiencing the highest rate of relative sea level rise on the East Coast, leading to significant shoreline transformations.
Property owners are experiencing
Land Loss & Saltwater Intrusion
Eroding Banks & Drowning Wetlands
Frequent Flooding Events
The Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Plan forecasts a potential loss of 89% of existing tidal wetlands and 51% of nontidal wetlands by 2080, if wetland migration does not occur. As a low-water state, Virginia mandates that waterfront property owners maintain their land up to the mean low water line, while the state retains ownership of the submerged areas.
Legislative Action
In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly amended the Virginia Wetlands Act to mitigate shoreline erosion and wetlands loss. This amendment mandates the use of living shorelines as the default erosion control method, aligning with updated standards and guidelines to protect shorelines from sea level rise and coastal hazards.
Key highlights of the legislation:
“The Commission shall permit only living shoreline approaches to shoreline management unless the best available science shows that such approaches are not suitable. If the best available science shows that a living shoreline approach is not suitable, the Commission shall require the applicant to incorporate, to the maximum extent possible, elements of living shoreline approaches into permitted projects.” (Code of VA § 28.2-1301)
“The Commission shall preserve and prevent the despoliation and destruction of wetlands while accommodating necessary economic development in a manner consistent with wetlands preservation and any standards set by the Commonwealth in addition to those identified in § 28.2-1308 to ensure protection of shorelines and sensitive coastal habitats from sea level rise and coastal hazards.” (Code of VA § 28.2-104.1)
Purpose of the Guide
The 2021 Wetlands Act Guidelines establish important data requirements for shoreline projects but lack specific examples of adaptive living shoreline designs. This gap makes it difficult for design and construction professionals to implement effective solutions that address the dynamic challenges posed by sea level rise and climate change.
"Designing Living Shorelines for Sea Level Rise in Virginia" directly addresses the challenges faced by shoreline professionals by offering detailed adaptive design examples and practical strategies. By providing technical guidance and real-world case studies, the guide empowers experts to create living shorelines that are effective at protecting Virginia’s critical shoreline ecosystems.
Photo Credit: Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
Designed for ecologists, engineers, landscape architects, and other stakeholders, the guide
includes over two dozen case studies of permitted and installed shoreline projects that showcase adaptive strategies,
provides criteria for designing adaptive living shorelines across diverse site conditions and presents practical case studies that demonstrate effective implementation,
compiles best practices from the expertise of engineers, ecologists, and shoreline practitioners, ensuring that users have access to the most effective design approaches, and
explains legislative amendments and updated guidelines in ordinary language.
This comprehensive approach ensures that all relevant aspects are covered, making the guide an invaluable resource for those involved in shoreline management and conservation.
For Our Partners
Please use these one-pagers to distribute to the appropriate audiences:
We are grateful to our collaborators and partners for their vital expertise and support in developing this guide. Special thanks to the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program at the Department of Environmental Quality and NOAA for funding this important project. Their combined efforts have been essential in creating a resource that will help protect and conserve Virginia’s critical shoreline ecosystems.