The Influence of Wave Energy on Shoreline Type and Vegetation
About the Project
Wave climate is a major driver for many coastal processes, such as erosion, sediment transport, and hydrodynamics. For this reason, it is important for wave climate to be considered in the process of site selection, design, and implementation of coastal conservation and restoration projects.
A major goal of many coastal conservation and restoration projects is to establish and/or maintain shoreline vegetation. Wave climate is also an important factor for property managers when deciding between living shoreline methods or traditional armoring methods (e.g., bulkheads).
Knowing which species to plant and whether or not protection structures are needed based off site-specific wave climates will help in developing an economically and ecologically efficient restoration plan. Previous studies have attempted to incorporate site-specific wave climate measurements in their analysis of relationships between wave energy, shoreline type and vegetation. However their conclusions are limited due to a restricted focus.
This project will build upon previous studies by using site-specific (i.e., local) wave energy measurements to evaluate the responses of several shoreline plant species to variations in wave climate. Completion of this work will improve the planning of coastal conservation and restoration projects and, ultimately, the outcomes and efficiency of projects.
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Matt Virden, Extension Associate
