2. Problem: Erosion, Sediment, Nutrient 260 acres MD tidal shoreline lost to erosion annually = 4.7M cubic yards of sediment = SAV habitat compromised by degraded water quality
Not just shorelines, but streams and creeks also. All slope stabilization and retaining walls in Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Bulkheads and hard structures increase nearshore erosion- Over 300 miles of MD shoreline hardened 1978 – 1997Sediment in the Chesapeake Bay and Management Issues: Tidal Erosion ProcessesTidal Sediment Control Task Force of the Sediment Workgroup of the Chesapeake Bay Program Nutrient SubcommitteeMay 2005
System designed for:Geographic scalabilityLow capital cost to produceLower carbon footprint (less concrete; less transportation)Larger planting pocket
Recipient of Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Funding with endorsement of Md. Dept Natural Resources
These walls get engineered in similar manner to any other retaining wall and/or slope stabilization system.
Erosion wasn’t an issue here, but property integrity and building foundation was.In addressing structural issues – habitat created, nutrient uptake increased.
Plant selection in waterfront condition may be dictated by local authorities. In this picture, Md Dept Natural Resources and Critical Areas Commission specified native, non-invasive wetland plant varieties and asked that no weeding occur so that nature would restore this slope on its own.Erosion completely eliminated. Living/soft shoreline created. Habitat created. Nutrient uptake ?
Approximately 5M sf of retaining wall installed annually in metro Baltimore/Washington markets.How much along shorelines?
In commercial settings, sedum varieties are often selected because they do well in compromised soil conditions and require little maintenance from year to year. Similar reasoning behind the preference for sedum for living roofs. The larger leafed or draping sedum varieties are more likely to cover the modules. Pictured here is Sedum kamtschaticum.
This DOT slope was hydroseeding with native, non-invasives chosen for low maintenance and “no mow” characteristics.