Protecting Farms from Saltwater

Innovative landscape design tools can help farmers mitigate the problems caused by sea level rise and saltwater intrusion.

Adrian Robins, a master’s student in landscape architecture at the University of Virginia, is working with farmers on Virginia’s Eastern Shore using landscape design to help mitigate the problems caused by sea level rise. His research helps farmers assess threats affecting the region including saltwater intrusion, phragmites encroachment, and irrigation pond-salination.

“It’s a community that is at the forefront of these issues related to sea level rise — they are very aware of the changes that are happening on their landscape,” Robins said. “My Virginia Sea Grant Project is working with these people, designing nature-based solutions for their farmlands in which they are able to implement these things themselves.”

Landscape architects are using adaptive management practices — engaging with the processes happening around them and taking into account the changing environments farmers are seeing on their lands. Part of Robins’ work is finding out what changes farmers will be willing to implement and how to frame the issues in a way that will be accepted by the community.

“I see a lot of potential for future designers and future scientists,” Robins said.

Photos and video by Lathan Goumas | Virginia Sea Grant
Published August 6, 2025.

“It’s a community that is at the forefront of these issues related to sea level rise — they are very aware of the changes that are happening on their landscape,” Robins said.