What is a living shoreline?A living shoreline is an erosion prevention strategy that relies on native wetland plants. The plants act as a "buffer" against the movement of water. To create a living shoreline, an artificial marsh is planted along the vulnerable coastline. Grasses anchor the soil in place and, in some cases, stones provide a hard barrier to break the incoming waves. Living shorelines mimic the natural wetland conditions that were once ubiquitous along the Chesapeake Bay's waterways. The living shoreline at WerowocomocoThe Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail manages Werowocomoco, a significant American Indian site on the shores of the York River in Gloucester County, Virginia. Rich in archeological resources, the location of Werowocomoco has only recently been reconfirmed. In the four centuries since Werowocomoco’s occupation by Virginia Indians at the beginning of the 1600s, several feet of shoreline have been lost due to sea level rise and erosion. Since much of the town’s activity occurred on the river’s banks, unknown archeological resources were likely lost as a result. Growth of a Living Shoreline
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Last updated: March 25, 2024