Waterfront development, often for retirement or summer homes, is an ever more common sight along the creeks and rivers of Virginia’s coastal zone. Waterfront property is expensive, so one of the first “improvements” new property-owners typically consider is stabilizing their shoreline in order to prevent erosion and protect their investment.

Although a number of options are available for managing shoreline erosion, many landowners choose to harden their shoreline with either a riprap revetment (rock) or a wood or vinyl bulkhead, also known as "seawalls". Building these structures along the shoreline may require removing vegetation in order to gain access for construction activities. Depending on the height and condition of the shoreline bank, some property owners also grade their property next to the shoreline to reduce the slope to the water and prevent bank erosion.

Unfortunately, some shoreline stabilization practices can have detrimental effects on coastal resources:

• Impacts to important habitats and to water quality can occur because of the loss of trees and shrubs, wetlands, beaches, banks, and underwater grass beds.  Some of these losses occur immediately because of shoreline structure construction, access to shoreline areas for machinery, or grading. Others are more gradual and may result from scouring and sediment resuspension from reflected wave energy or the inability of fringe marshes and beaches to migrate landward as sea level rises. Shoreline stabilization can also affect the gradual movement of sediment along the shore and cause increased erosion on nearby properties.
• Removal of shoreline vegetation can cause shallow water temperatures to rise. This can adversely affect fish. Loss of trees and shrubs also reduces food and cover for birds and other wildlife.

What is the Virginia CZM Program doing to address this issue?

The Virginia Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program completed an assessment of coastal resources in 2006 as well as a planning initiative to direct efforts for the next five years through a number of specific strategies, funded under Section 309 of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act.  Visit the Coastal Needs Assessment and Strategies web page for more.

Shoreline Management Strategy

One of the strategies targets shoreline management.  The Shoreline Management Strategy focuses on promoting living shorelines (see side bar). 

Over the five year period this strategy is scheduled to provide $750,000 for various initiatives and will produce the following outcomes.  The status, as of December, 2009, is shown in parenthesis for each action.

• A "Living Shoreline Summit" with peer reviewed proceedings, to advance the use of this management technique (held December, 2006)

• Revised "Wetlands Guidelines" to be used by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, local wetlands boards and others to guide decisions about shoreline and tidal wetlands management (Drafted by VIMS and submitted to VMRC for consideration)

• Improved data on shoreline conditions to support more informed shoreline management decisions (9 local shoreline inventories and 8 local shoreline evolution reports completed or underway and $150,000 scheduled for FY 10)

• Research to document the habitat value and viability of living shorelines and to improve their design (two research projects on “Better Sill Design” completed by VIMS)

• Guidance for local governments to use in shoreline management planning (Brochure and Powerpoint completed)

• Outreach materials for land use decision-makers, landowners and contractors on living shoreline advantages and design principles (landowner brochure completed, upgraded website for three user-groups under development)

• A training program for contractors and local government staff on living shoreline practices (under development)

• A report on improving management of Virginia's dune and beach resources, including proposed revisions to the Coastal Primary Sand Dunes and Beaches Act (completed)

• Anticipated changes to the Coastal Primary Sand Dunes and Beaches Act by the Virginia General Assembly (Adopted 2008 – expanded Act from 9 localities to the entire coastal zone)

• Revisions to the Coastal Primary Sand Dunes and Beaches Guidelines. (Drafted by VIMS and submitted to VMRC for consideration)

• A comparative analysis of two methodologies for developing local shoreline management plans. (pending)