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Shoreline Stabilization Options in Maine

The “O.U.R. S.H.O.R.E” Program is being developed to provide guidance and training for using nature-based design practices to protect against shoreline erosion. This program serves homeowners, contractors, resource managers, and community leaders, providing them with how-to information and showcases different project examples from throughout the state to successfully use nature-based designs. OUR SHORE is also an emerging network of engineers, earthwork contractors, designers, and municipal officials interested in learning and sharing these techniques in Maine.

Through "O.U.R. S.H.O.R.E," people can:

Assess sources of erosion
Identify design recommendations while preserving and restoring natural functions to shorelines
Navigate regulatory process to streamline installation of erosion control measures

The OUR SHORE Guide to Nature-Based Shoreline Stabilization Options in Maine (PDF) – DRAFT IN DEVELOPMENT includes basic guidance on shoreline function, erosion processes in different environments, and the importance of vegetation in stabilizing soils. The OUR SHORE approach relies on targeting the contributing sources of erosion and instability to select and combine erosion control practices that will address these causes using the least intervention necessary while using natural, biodegradable or living materials. The guidance provides techniques and considerations to include habitat and shoreline functions into the design of any project, even when riprap is used, so the outcome over time is a naturalized and more resilient shoreline. A short list of common materials, and how to descriptions and pictures of common design practices are included.

What does OUR SHORE stand for?

Goals and Objectives

Observe and blend project with unaltered shorelines near the site
Use native, natural, living, and biodegradable materials
Reach conditions that function as a naturalized shoreline over time

Access Instability

Source and severity of erosion
Height and slope risk
Overland water and land use
Re-vegetation or reconnection shoreline buffer opportunities

Erosion Control Practices

Evaluate and Enhance erosion control practices based on site specific needs

Why OUR SHORE?

Coastal and inland waterfront erosion in Maine is a growing concern due to storms, flooding, and rising sea levels. Nature-based designs may offer an effective, long-term plan for safeguarding both private and public property. These designs provide strength, improve the beauty of waterfront properties, and bring a range of benefits to the community and to the health of the environment. They are effective because they work with nature, incorporating a blend of plants that root into the environment, helping to stabilize soils and provide sediment exchange and accumulation between the upland and wetland. As plant communities mature, these designs gain strength, offering greater resilience over time.

Nationwide, nature-based designs are becoming embraced as an effective practice to address waterfront and riverfront erosion and have a proven track record in Maine, especially along rivers, streams, and lakes. The application of Living Shorelines for managing erosion is expanding to include estuaries and ocean coasts in Maine where the challenges presented by wave energy, tidal fluctuations, and winter ice can be severe.

Additional Resources

(Section In Development)

The Assessment Checklist for Erosion (PDF) offers a streamlined process checklist for site evaluation and selection of Nature-Based design practices.
Case Studies - Example case studies showing design solutions for different landscapes

Training