Coastal Protection Using Soft Structures

Coastal Protection Using Soft Structures

What is Soft Shoreline Stabilization?

It is the stabilization of the shoreline using environmentally friendly techniques used to protect property and uses from shoreline erosion. The main objective of soft shoreline stabilization is to achieve a balance between the need for protection against erosion while maintaining and enhancing shoreline functions.

Contrary to shorelines that are completely hardened with structures (described earlier), soft stabilization methods seek to incorporate key features into the design that either maintain or enhance functions of the shoreline, or those that allow natural processes to continue. But, natural processes, such as the movement of sand along a beach or barrier island or sediment moving along cliff coasts, headlands, etc., can vary widely between sites, making soft stabilization methods quite variant as well. Soft stabilization methods are highly dependent on local environments, and processes governing sediment pathways in each system. As such, additional planning for these methods may be required because of differences in coastal geomorphology, physical processes governing sediment transport, and because local ordinances vary across state boundaries.

As our understanding of the effects of hard stabilization methods increases, many traditional coastal engineering practices are slowly being phased out, especially where soft stabilization methods can replace or restore the ecological function, establish energy continuity, and offer sufficient protection. But, soft shoreline stabilization is a complex topic. Many federal and state agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center, have been working for many years to implement programs to facilitate such protection practices with a fair amount of success. However, we still have a lot to learn before we can completely abandon hard structures. This is especially true if relocating communities that are at immediate risk is not possible (recall concepts in coastal vulnerability, exposure, and rising seas, from previous modules).