The Living Shoreline Project
The St. James "Living Shoreline" initiative at Waterway Park represents a collaborative effort in community conservation, engaging citizen scientists alongside the UNCW’s Center for Marine Science (Benthic Ecology Lab). Launched in 2004 and annually supported by the Town of St. James, this program has achieved significant success by utilizing bagged oyster shells and marsh grasses to combat erosion, mitigate damage from boat wakes, and restore habitats for marine organisms, all while enhancing the environment for oysters.
​
A living shoreline is defined as a protected and stabilized coastal boundary constructed from natural materials, including vegetation, sand, or rock. In contrast to traditional concrete seawalls or other rigid structures that hinder the development of flora and fauna, living shorelines evolve over time, offering a dynamic and ecological approach to shoreline erosion and fostering marine biodiversity.
See the story of the 2023 event as reported by WECT Wilmington.
​
Each year, the St. James Conservancy, in collaboration with its partners, contributes to the ongoing shoreline project aimed at enhancing and extending the barrier. This coordinated effort serves as an ecological service, mitigating erosion while simultaneously providing a habitat for marine life, among various other advantages. It's also a program of education. Each oyster has the capacity to filter 30 to 50 gallons of water daily, equivalent to the volume of a bathtub. The most recent workday resulted in the installation of 800 bags of oyster shells and the planting of nearly 2,200 plugs of Spartina alterniflora marsh grasses. Participants engage as citizen scientists, including graduate and undergraduate student leaders from UNC Wilmington, along with the Aquaculture Teacher and students from South Brunswick High School.
For best viewing quality, change playback setting to highest quality
such as 1080p when the YouTube player opens.
