We collaborated on the construction of a hybrid living shoreline to stabilize a highly eroded waterfront. Eco-engineered concrete mattresses were deployed alongside marsh restoration, delivering shoreline protection, biodiversity enhancement, ecosystem restoration, and coastal community benefits.
Seaview at Shark River Island, an active boating and waterfront community in Neptune, New Jersey, faced severe shoreline erosion caused by constant wave action and boat wakes from a nearby navigation channel. These conditions intensified after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, while a degraded bulkhead contributed to marsh loss and increased flood risk for nearby homes and infrastructure. (Image: Aeral view of marine mattresses being installed by local contractor’s staff, 2018)
This hybrid living shoreline combined shoreline resilience, marsh restoration, and community value through eco-engineered Marine Mattresses and marsh sill planting. The solution stabilized a highly eroded section of the island, supported permitting under NJDEP and USACE general permits, improved biodiversity compared to traditional controls, and created a scalable model for flood-resilient coastal communities. (Image: Marine growth layer observed during biological monitoring)
This project was recognized in the Engineering With Nature Atlas, Volume 3, as a leading example of a hybrid living shoreline, and highlighting the benefits Nature-Based solutions offer. This project also received the New Jersey Alliance for Action Distinguished Engineering Award.
