Stable foot paths or constructed walkways work well to achieve this goal. There are many factors that determine if plantings alone will be successful in stabilizing a bank. In addition, these factors will also determine what combination of vegetation and rip-rap should be applied to any given shoreline. This distance, and the dominant direction from which it blows, is important in designing a project. If fetch is greater than 5 miles, it is unlikely vegetation alone will successfully halt erosion.
Vegetation alone is most successful where the fetch is less than half a mile.
The numbers of boats and how close they travel to a shoreline will help to determine the choice of a solution for a given site. Fluctuating water levels such as those that occur on tidal shorelines may make it difficult to get vegetation established or keep natural banks stabilized. When regrading, allow the fluctuating water levels to help create a stable slope during construction. Also, observe the range of rise and fall of the waters when planning the planting scheme for your site. Choose vegetation that can adjust to fluctuating water levels.