1. Examples of living shorelines
Restoring our Natural Shoreline: Living Shorelines in London Towne
Flora and Fauna of Living Shorelines
The London Towne Property Owners Association has been working tirelessly to protect our community’s three miles of shoreline from erosion using “living shoreline” techniques.
Living shorelines use natural habitat elements to protect shorelines from erosion, rather than traditional “armor” such as bulkhead or riprap revetment. Natural habitats are better for our fishes, birds, crabs, and other wildlife and filter more pollution from our waters than hard shoreline armor.
This site is one of many living shorelines constructed by the community throughout London Towne on both Glebe and Almshouse Creeks. These shoreline projects are thriving models of shoreline restoration practices that are encouraging change in other communities.
smooth cordgrass
salt marsh hay
high tide bush
molting adult blue crabs
grass shrimp
mummichog
marsh mallow
marsh hibiscus
green heron
great blue heron
juvenile blue crabs
spot
black-eyed susan
great egret
Examples of living shorelines
in our community
Rock sill
Zone A:
Low marsh: smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
Zone B:
High marsh: salt marsh hay (Spartina patens)
Zone C:
Upland plant buffer (various species)
Beach 1, built in 2007
Beach 2, built in 1980s
Beach 3, built in 2007
Beach 4, built in 2003
LTPOA would like to thank the following for assistance with our living shoreline projects: the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the NOAA-Restoration Center, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Keith Campbell Foundation, Unity Gardens, and the South River Federation