Virginia Marine Resource Bulletin
Volume 43, Number 1, Winter 2011
View the living shoreline slideshow.
When shoreline erosion strikes, coastal property owners are left with two options: Watch as the force of future waves and storms drags more and more of the shoreline away, or do something about it.
Onna and Lew Grimm, owners of the Deltaville Yachting Center (DYC) on Broad Creek, just off the Rappahannock River, decided to stabilize their shore with a living shoreline. The ground between the marina’s C and D docks has disappeared at an alarming rate since the 1980s. This little piece of land facing almost perpendicular to the creek channel has taking a beating from hurricanes, n’oreasters, and everyday wave energy, the shore had eroded more than 3 feet since the 1980s and continued to retreat each year.
Environmental stewardship is very important to the Grimms. Their marina is one of Virginia’s 65 Clean Marinas, and because it plays host to a variety of wildlife, Onna wanted to create a living shoreline that could provide some habitat for the otters and heron that already visit. So the Grimms contacted Hammer Time Marine, Inc., which drew up plans and helped obtain a permit for the job. Because of costs and the uncertain economy, the Grimms put the project on hold until Friends of the Rappahannock offered financial support through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and provided human power to get the project started.
Take a look at this slideshow to see how DYC, Hammer Time, and Friends of the Rappahannock got the job done. Want to see more? Check out this video:
[tubepress video=”gI1nnVLWf7k”]
