Building a Resilient Future: Why North Carolina Businesses Should Embrace Living Shorelines
North Carolina has over 300 miles of ocean coastline, plus over 12,000 miles of shoreline bordering bays, creeks, and sounds. These areas support a $3.4 billion tourism industry, vibrant fisheries, and thriving coastal communities. However, in recent years this critical asset has become increasingly vulnerable to erosion due to rising sea levels, stronger storms, and increased boat traffic. For businesses operating in coastal areas, protecting property and ensuring long-term sustainability is paramount. This is where living shorelines emerge as a powerful, economically savvy solution.
What are Living Shorelines?
Unlike traditional hardened structures like bulkheads and seawalls, living shorelines are erosion control methods that use natural elements like native marsh grasses, oyster reefs, and other organic materials, sometimes combined with strategic use of rock or wood, to stabilize shorelines. While the sturdy concrete and pilings of a bulkhead or seawall may at first glance seem to be the most robust solution for erosion control, these hard structures can actually exacerbate the problem. This practical consideration is just one of many reasons why a living shoreline may be the better call.
Erosion and Flooding Control
Studies by NOAA and the Army Corps of Engineers confirm that living shorelines do a better job at controlling erosion and flooding. They reduce wave energy by as much as 60%, acting like sponges to absorb and dissipate the force of the incoming water. In contrast, the hard barriers of bulkheads and seawalls reflect the force back toward the water, leading to undercutting and weakening of the structure.
Cost Savings
It may be less expensive to install a living shoreline than a bulkhead, and living shorelines are definitely less expensive to maintain. While the annual maintenance cost of a living shoreline can be up to $100 per linear foot, the ongoing maintenance expense of a bulkhead can exceed $500 per linear foot. According to data from the North Carolina Coastal Federation, living shorelines typically cost 15-30% less over their lifecycle.
The disparity is even more stark where hurricanes are concerned. Data collected after Hurricanes Irene and Arthur show that property owners with bulkheads reported double the price to repair hurricane damage to their property, and four times the cost for annual shoreline maintenance than property owners with living shorelines.
Long-Term Protection
Unlike rigid bulkheads, living shorelines become more stable and effective over time as vegetation and oyster reefs grow, making them a long-term solution for changing coastal conditions. This adaptability ensures sustained benefits, from carbon sequestration to biodiversity, all of which align with global sustainability trends that influence investor and consumer preferences.
Support for Key Industries
North Carolina’s commercial and recreational fishing industries depend on healthy estuarine habitats. Living shorelines, particularly those incorporating marsh grasses and oyster reefs, act as natural filters that effectively remove excess nitrogen and other pollutants from stormwater runoff, leading to cleaner water. Living shorelines also foster biodiversity, providing nurseries for economically valuable species such as blue crabs, oysters, and flounder.
The net result is a direct benefit for businesses reliant on healthy aquatic ecosystems, such as fishing charters, watersports operations, and seafood suppliers.
Regulatory and Community Goodwill
As North Carolina’s Coastal Area Management Act encourages sustainable shoreline practices, the Division of Coastal Management has streamlined the approval process for qualifying living shoreline projects, offering a faster permitting path than traditional hard structures. In addition, programs such as the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s funding initiatives offer grants and technical support, reducing financial barriers.
Conclusion
In summary, as North Carolina continues to grapple with coastal challenges, living shorelines offer a smart, sustainable, and economically sound path forward. For business owners in coastal communities, exploring the feasibility of a living shoreline is not just an environmental choice; it's a strategic business decision that can lead to greater resilience, reduced costs, and a more vibrant future.
RESOURCES:
North Carolina Coastal Federation
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality