Environmental Benefits of a Living Shoreline Across Several Dimensions

We have prepared this alternatives analysis document to assess the environmental benefits that may result from the use of installation of a fully integrated stable living shoreline. The product, which is used as a shoreline stabilization measure (Exhibit 1), has been successfully deployed to prevent soil erosion in such settings. The purpose of this assessment is to determine how its use in a hypothetical application compares with other alternatives with respect to efficacy and derived primary and secondary environmental benefits. For the purposes of this analysis, we have compared a fully integrated stable living shoreline installation with a steel bulkhead/concrete deck alternative (Exhibit 2) as well as a “do nothing” alternative. To assess the efficacy of a fully integrated stable living shoreline, we have developed a hypothetical stabilization application. For comparison, we have assumed the stabilization of a creek or canal bank, approximately 6 feet in height. We have assumed a do-nothing alternative, which assumes no construction or other stabilization effort, but would result in bank erosion and/or failure.