Why use Green Shores?
Green Shores uses nature-based shoreline solutions to protect shoreline property and provide benefits for people, wildlife, and the environment. A Green Shores approach is more cost-effective and resilient to climate change and sea-level rise than hard armouring solutions. Conventional hard armouring such as bulkheads and seawalls disrupt natural shoreline functions, which can worsen erosion and degrade the shoreline.
Read on to learn about the many benefits associated with Green Shores:
Physical processes
Green Shores restores physical processes that promote the natural movement of water and sediment needed to maintain healthy shorelines. Green Shores also protects shorelines from erosion and flooding through soft shore protection, which includes re-sloping, beach nourishment, introducing large woody materials, and planting riparian or intertidal vegetation.
Source: Lake Washington Green Shores for Homes project
Habitat and biodiversity
Green Shores provides more suitable habitat for aquatic and terrestrial insects, plants, birds, fish, and other wildlife, increasing the overall biodiversity of the shoreline. Green Shores incorporates native vegetation that is better adapted to shoreline conditions and does not require irrigation or chemical fertilizers. This vegetation provides food and shelter for native fish and other wildlife, while also preventing erosion.
Source: East Shore Lake Washington Residence, Green Shores for Homes project
Cost-effective
Green Shores and other nature-based, soft shoreline solutions can be 35-70% cheaper to install and maintain than hard alternatives (bulkheads, seawalls) (Green Shores 2020: Impact, Value and Lessons Learned, ESSA). Additionally, Green Shores projects achieve high returns on investment and provide important environmental and societal benefits. For example, analysis suggests that each $1 invested in Green Shores for Shoreline Development (GSSD) program delivery generated $7.10 in social benefit in British Columbia, which is a 1:7 cost-benefit ratio (ESSA).
Source: Piper’s Lagoon, Green Shores for Homes project
Free of contaminants and pollutants
Green Shores prevents and reduces pollutants entering the aquatic environment, resulting in better water quality. Hard armoured structures may introduce toxic compounds and pollutants (such as creosote-treated bulkheads or dock pilings) into aquatic environments. Replacing hard armouring with soft shore approaches such as gravel, logs and vegetation helps to filter water and reduce pollutants entering aquatic environments. Green Shores also improves water quality by reducing run-off from upland through the use of less impervious surfaces.
Source: Jericho Beach Park, Green Shores for Shoreline Development project. Photos by Nick Page, Raincoast Applied Ecology.
Salmon
Green Shores provides spawning habitat for salmon and natural cover for juvenile salmonids using a network of branches, trunks, stems, and roots. Additionally, overhanging vegetation provides important organic input to the aquatic environments that juvenile salmonids feed on. On the other hand, bulkheads, seawalls, and other hard armour approaches do not support fish habitat and instead disrupt food chains and migration paths, contributing to ‘coastal squeeze’ - the serious loss of intertidal habitat.
Natural and Beautiful
Green Shores enhances the natural beauty of shorelines by using native vegetation that thrives in local conditions, providing wildlife viewing opportunities, and providing access to waterfront shorelines and activities.
Source: Hard armour - Riverbend Park - pre-Green Shores for Shoreline Development project. Green Shores design – Jericho Beach Park, Green Shores for Shoreline Development.
Water Quality
Green Shores improves local water quality by reducing stormwater runoff. The native shoreline vegetation encouraged by Green Shores uses an associated network of branches, trunks, stems, and roots to filter upland run-off and enhance infiltration and retention of rainwater.
Source: Green Shores photo by Kelly Loch from Gartley Beach, Comox Valley Regional District in British Columbia.
Consider a nature-based Green Shores approach for your shoreline. Visit our Green Shores Webpage to learn more!