First, consider whether the erosion has negative impacts or associated risks to you or your surroundings if left un-managed. Erosion is a natural occurrence, in some instances, may not need to be addressed through artificial protect measures. For example,
erosion that causes the undercutting of river/shoreline banks (if not creating a risk to public safety) can be left untouched since these areas are a great form of habitat within the riparian zone.
First and foremost, the best way to protect against shoreline erosion is to maintain a healthy buffer of natural vegetation with a variety of plants, trees, and shrubs with hardy root systems. Where enhanced protection measures are necessary, there are many methods for protecting your shoreline to minimize erosion. Bioengineering, a method of construction for erosion and sediment control that uses live plants alone or a combination of live plants and other construction materials,
should be considered as it produces a living system that preserves the natural function and resilience of the nearshore areas.
A shoreline that experiences higher levels of impact due to wave action, ice force, or flow may require more ‘heavy duty’ protection. The placement of rip-rap material (clean angular stone or rock rubble) on top of geotextile filter fabric along a sloped shoreline is a supported
option and is effective in dissipating wave action. It also prevents soil particles from washing out while allowing land-based runoff to naturally percolate back into the waterbody. Rip-rap can often be
combined with bioengineering methods by planting native shrubs and plants among the rip-rap material to preserve needed plant materials for a healthy ecosystem. In some cases rip-rap material may not sufficiently protect a shoreline, therefore it is encouraged to consult with a coastal engineer to come up with a best solution for a given problem and location.
Subject to existing characteristics and topography of a shoreline, new vertical or tiered shoreline walls may only be considered where other methods of shoreline stabilization such as bioengineering or rip-rap have been considered and found to be
inappropriate due to site conditions.