Habitat Restoration
The Shark River Cleanup Coalition supports habitat restoration projects in the Shark River Estuary.
Living Shorelines
South Riverside Drive in Shark River Hills
A living shoreline is a nature-based method of land stabilization that protects the shoreline from erosion while also preserving, enhancing, or creating habitat, and maintaining connectivity between the land and water. Additional benefits of include improved water quality, better flood mitigation, improved aesthetics, and increased opportunities for recreation.
There are many different living shoreline techniques, yet they all generally employ natural or biodegradable materials such as stones, sand, oyster shells, or coconut fiber (coir) logs. These materials are typically used in conjunction with planting of native species in order to stabilize the shoreline, foster habitat, and improve the aesthetics of an area. Living shorelines are an attractive alternative to traditional “hard” structures such as seawalls or bulkheads, which destroy habitat and sever the connection between the coast and water.
Neptune Township is constructing a 2,050-foot-long living shoreline along South Riverside Drive. Living shorelines are nature-based solutions that provide land stabilization and protect shorelines from erosion while also creating or enhancing living space for other organisms.
Overall, this project will help protect the surrounding community from storms and waves, reduce flooding impacts, and create marsh and beach habitat for wildlife.
Construction work is being carried out by Neptune Township and Albert Marine, Inc. Avakian Engineering is managing the construction, while the American Littoral Society is providing ecological oversight to ensure minimal disruption of existing habitat during the project.