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SHORELINE RESTORATION
In 2006, Virginia flagged the Rapidan River for failing swimming standards. 18 years later, DEQ removed it from the impaired list after BMPs restored water qualityRapidan River water quality in Virginia has finally turned a corner after nearly two decades of concern. A section once flagged for failing...
In 2010, Minnesota's Hay Lake was targeted for a 46-lb annual phosphorus reduction after nutrient pollution caused impairment. 12 years later, farm practices helped secure delistingIn 2022, Hay Lake triumphantly exited the impaired waters list, a commendable feat driven by rigorous nutrient reduction initiatives launch...
In 2006, Illinois listed 10.69 miles of Cahokia Creek as impaired. 14 years later, Heartlands Conservancy's BMPs improved the stream, leading to delisting in 2020Cahokia Creek in Illinois was impaired due to severe streambank erosion and lack of vegetation. Heartlands Conservancy used grant funding t...
In 2012, Maryland's Greensboro launched 2 projects to curb stormwater flooding. 9 years later, its firehouse gained permeable pavers and step pools, helping reduce pollutants reaching the riverGreensboro, Maryland, has successfully implemented modern stormwater control practices, improving water quality. These projects, funded by ...
How a student turned waste glass into an ‘oyster home’ and won Rs 1.2 lakh awardA Florida high school student, Delaney Peterson, has explored an unusual way to support oyster reef restoration, by turning discarded glass...
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 2012, Alaska counted 58 pigeon guillemots on Naked Island as mink threatened nests. 11 years later following restoration, their numbers had jumped nearly 400%, reaching 288 birds in 2023Pigeon guillemot numbers on Alaska's Naked Island Group have significantly increased. This recovery followed a multiyear effort to remove i...
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...
In 2004, community partners began tackling Kent Park Lake's nutrient and sediment pollution. 20 years later, the lake met water quality standards and was removed from Iowa's impaired-waters list in 2024Kent Park Lake restoration took 20 years to deliver a result Iowa officials could finally recognize. The lake once struggled with nutrient ...
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...
In Texas, oyster-shell waste became reef “shell bags”; along Galveston Bay, the new shell reefs supported living oysters and helped stabilize shorelinesThe Galveston Bay Foundation has initiated a commendable recycling program to repurpose oyster shells from local restaurants for vital reef...
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...
The Savannah River swapped bare marsh edge for oyster reefs in 2023; wave energy fell by up to 40%, giving Georgia coasts a tougher storm shieldScientists built oyster reefs in Georgia's Savannah River to reduce wave energy. These reefs lessened wave impact on the shoreline by as mu...
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 2024, New Jersey regulators halted a floating solar project on the 2,000-acre Wanaque Reservoir. 2 years later, a 10-MW state incentive revived plans for what could become America's largest floating solar farmWanaque Reservoir floating solar is back in development, with New Jersey supporting a new 10 MW project on a major drinking-water reservoir...
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 1964, Jane Sewall bought the abandoned Maine island she had dreamed of since childhood; 22 years later, she gave it away to keep it wild foreverJane Sewall's childhood dream came true when she purchased Witch Island near South Bristol, Maine. In a generous move, she donated it in tw...
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...
In 2006, engineers reused 250,000 cubic yards of dredged sand to restore Elders Point East in Jamaica Bay. 10 years later, the approach had restored 40 acres of wetlands and helped reverse marsh-island erosionA New York Harbor dredging project became an opportunity to restore Jamaica Bay’s declining marsh islands. Beginning in 2006, the U.S. Army...