Searched for
NATURAL SHORELINE RESTORATION
In 2000, NOAA planted 500 square meters of cordgrass and added oyster shell on Pivers Island; the living shoreline later weathered Hurricanes Irene and FlorenceIn North Carolina, a living shoreline project has proven effective in combating significant erosion, relying on natural materials like mars...
This coastal region in Costa Rica lost its mangrove forests. Now 12,000 seedlings and restored water channels are bringing them backCosta Rica's Golfo Dulce is witnessing a remarkable turnaround as residents rejuvenate mangrove forests that had previously been devastated...
This city in Florida lost nearly 80% of its Oyster reefs; now a restoration project is rebuilding what disappeared. Here's howNaples Bay is taking an innovative step by restoring its oyster reefs, which will enhance natural shoreline defenses. These vital reefs pla...
In 2015, Cullinan Ranch crews breached levees, bringing tidal flows back to 1,200 acres. 11 years later, migratory birds and fish now use the restored Napa River habitat in CaliforniaTidal marshes are valuable coastal wetlands that support wildlife, protect shorelines, filter polluted water and provide other ecosystem se...
In 2010, federal wildlife trustees secured $2.65 million for San Francisco Bay tidal marsh restoration. 5 years later, tidal waters returned to 1,250 acres at Cullinan RanchSan Francisco Bay tidal marshes are being restored for a reason that reaches far beyond wildlife. These wetlands filter polluted water and ...
In 2014, East Bay Regional Park District began restoring Dotson Family Marsh, creating channels that reconnected it to the San Francisco Bay. 6 years later, tidal wetlands had returnedHistory of Dotson Family Marsh helps explain why its recovery matters. The broader 150-acre property was acquired by the East Bay Regional ...
In 2004, Minnesota's East Boot Lake was listed for nutrients with a 27-pound phosphorus target. 18 years later, targeted projects improved water quality and led to delisting in 2022East Boot Lake in Minnesota was removed from an impaired waters list after eighteen years. Targeted watershed and in-lake management strate...
In 2004, Iowa listed Kent Park Lake as impaired after nutrient and sediment runoff harmed clarity. 20 years later, monitoring showed it met algae and turbidity standardsKent Park Lake in Johnson County, Iowa, experienced water-quality problems linked to nutrient and sediment delivery, resulting in its place...
California lost 60% of its coastal dunes since 1850; now a 30-acre restoration project in Santa Monica is fighting sea-level riseSanta Monica Beach Dunes Restoration Project is designed to restore a portion of this historic ecosystem. The Santa Monica Bay National Est...
Louisiana used 13 million pounds of discarded oyster shells to build 8,000 feet of living shoreline; studies found oyster reefs can reduce wave heights under some conditionsIn Louisiana, discarded oyster shells are being creatively transformed into living shorelines to combat coastal erosion and rising sea leve...
In 2021, Alabama started turning discarded Christmas trees into sand dunes: How old festive trees are now helping protect Gulf Coast beachesChristmas trees that were once the focal point of holiday celebrations are now playing a vital role in rebuilding sand dunes along Alabama'...
In 2025, Miami sank 22 concrete cars beneath the Atlantic; what looks like an underwater traffic jam is actually a giant artificial reef for 2,200 coralsBeneath the waves off Miami Beach, a striking collection of 22 concrete cars lies submerged, serving as artificial reefs that support coral...
In the 1980s, the richest closed-canopy mangroves covered 77,643 sq km globally. 43 years later, they had grown to 88,772 sq km, helping turn decades of mangrove loss into a net global gainMangroves are far more than trees growing along tropical and subtropical shorelines. They form complex coastal ecosystems that provide habi...
In 2014, California buried an abandoned airfield under 5.8 million cubic yards of harbor mud, then opened 998 acres to the tidesOnce serving as a military airfield, a site in Marin County, California, has evolved into a vibrant wetland. Engineers meticulously utilize...
Since 2016, the Netherlands has used 37.2 million tonnes of lakebed sediment to build seven wildlife islands covering 1,300 hectaresIn the Markermeer region of the Netherlands, innovative artificial islands have been crafted using dredged materials from the lakebed. The ...
In 2008, Spain began filling 300-metre-deep coal mine with 547 billion litres of water; four years later, the site looked nothing like it once didA vast open-pit coal mine in As Pontes, Spain, has been transformed into a large artificial lake. Engineers filled the enormous excavation ...
Florida dumped 500,000 tonnes of oyster and clam shells into the sea — what happened next surprised scientistsFlorida successfully recycled over 500,000 tonnes of oyster and clam shells for reef restoration. These shells provided essential foundatio...
In 1990, U.S. conservationists repurposed thousands of discarded Christmas trees to slow coastal erosion. Thirty-six years later, the unusual experiment produced thriving wetlands, healthier wildlife habitats, and stronger natural defenses against stormsHow Recycled Christmas Trees Are Saving Louisiana’s Coastline: Louisiana has lost over 2,000 square miles of coastline since the 1930s. But...
Meet South Florida teenager Theo Quenee who turned his rooftop into a mangrove nursery after Hurricane IrmaHurricane Irma's devastation prompted Theo Quenee to rescue hundreds of mangrove seedlings. He transformed his home's roof into a nursery, ...
30 million oysters are being dumped into US's Chesapeake Bay in a race to save America's largest estuaryMillions of baby oysters are being planted in the Chesapeake Bay. Scientists hope this effort will revive one of America's most important w...