Living Shorelines Science & Research Initiatives | Partnership for the DE Estuary

Science & Research

Living Shorelines

Freshwater Mussels Wetlands Living Shorelines Shell Recycling Program Resilience

What is PDE’s History with Living Shorelines?

The Delaware Estuary Living Shoreline Initiative (DELSI) was created in 2008 with PDE and Rutgers University to address the increased loss of tidal salt marshes in the Delaware Estuary using a combination of native wetland plants, natural structures, and intertidal shellfish to trap sediment and absorb waves. This unique living shoreline tactic provides an economical approach for communities in the Delaware Estuary to combat the erosion of tidal marshes, which provide valuable services including water filtration, storm buffering, and a variety habitat needs for many local and transitory species.

What is a living shoreline?

Living shorelines are engineered structures installed to control shoreline erosion while also meeting a variety of ecological goals. Through the thoughtful and innovative placement of materials, living shorelines can maintain the connectivity between land and water habitats while intercepting wave energy, reducing sediment and salt marsh loss, and providing habitat for a variety of fish, birds, mammals, and shellfish. Retaining connectivity and supporting ecological function are key qualities that differentiate living shorelines from other shoreline protection techniques such as bulkheads and sea walls.

Living Shoreline Links

In addition to the information, reports, maps and photos here on PDE webpages, we work closely with many other partner organizations and agencies on diverse scientific, educational, and policy initiatives related to living shoreline tactics. Here you can find links to various resources regarding living shoreline work with our partners, as well as work being done across the country.

State of Delaware

PDE and DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control) serve as co-chairs for the state Living Shoreline Committee, and this group of educators, scientists and managers have jointly developed many additional products that are available from the DNREC website.

Delaware Center for the Inland Bays

Delaware Center for the Inland Bays – Living Shoreline information

Partnership for the DE Estuary

Science & Research