Addressing coastal erosion and protecting shorelines through a better understanding of coastal environments

Boulevard of the Arts Shoreline Assessment

The Boulevard of the Arts Shoreline occupies a small area along Sarasota Bay. Over the years, severe shoreline erosion has led to a loss of public property and threatened private property. The City of Sarasota engaged us to perform multiple assessments for repairs and rehabilitations including shoreline aquatic resources a collapsing seawall, and a failing rip-rap breakwater.

After conducting in-water surveys and inspections of the infrastructure, we focused on natural coastal resiliency and establishing a living shoreline. We replaced the seawall with rip-rap infilled with soils and coastal grasses. Using stones sized to resist wave forces and shaped in an undulating fashion, we reconstructed the breakwater and created a calm water lagoon that promoted seagrass growth. Lastly, we provided a living shoreline design with native coastal plants to line the banks of the lagoon area.

Due to the nature-based design approach used to resolve the shoreline erosion issue, the city received full grant funding of the project through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient Coastlines Program.