Selling New Jersey Landowners on Living Shorelines as the Superior Method for Coastline Protection

Abstract

Living Shorelines (LS) refer to the combined use of man-made and natural materials to build a resilient and ecologically vibrant shore. LS are an emerging alternative to hardened shorelines (HS), which employ engineered structures to reinforce eroding shorelines. LS better protect coastlines against erosion and flooding, which are of increasing concern due to climate change and rising sea levels. New Jersey (NJ) is a leader in LS policy, but lack of knowledge regarding these structures hinders further LS implementation. Progress has been made to reduce regulatory hurdles for LS projects. However, decision-making power rests with many private property owners (PO) who default to familiar approaches, like HS. Therefore, we advise the NJ state legislature to encourage LS development by appropriating funds to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection or other relevant agencies to conduct an awareness campaign in key coastal communities. Additionally, PO can be incentivized to convert from HS to LS by restructuring the existing NJ Shoreline Protection Fund. This proactive intervention will provide environmental benefits, in addition to protecting the coastline of NJ.