Spatial decision support for nature-based shoreline stabilization options in subtropical estuarine environments

Abstract

In response to shoreline erosion and potentially more severe storm damage due to climate change and sea level rise, armouring of shorelines using traditional hard structures is likely to increase. An emerging alternative to seawalls and other hard structures is to create ‘living shorelines’ where natural habitats are incorporated into a resilient shoreline stabilization design. Research has shown that functional, multiuse living shorelines provide options for reducing erosion rates and sustaining shoreline stability while supporting intertidal and nearshore habitat. Drawing upon the scientific literature, shoreline management best practices, and the results from an expert opinion survey, we propose a spatial decision framework for multiclass suitability analysis of generic shoreline stabilization options with a focus on the unique challenges and opportunities of South Florida. The results have been incorporated into a web application that can facilitate decision-making in support of nature-based stabilization infrastructure.

Keywords:

• nature-based shoreline stabilization options
• coastal erosion
• exposure index
• suitability analysis
• living shorelines
• decision-tree analysis

Acknowledgments

We thank the coastalresilience.org team and Shoreline Resilience Working Group of the South Florida Regional Climate Compact for access to data files and expert assessment. We would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The Nature Conservancy [grant number AWD000839].