Why Construct a Living Shoreline?
Your shoreline provides many benefits to landowners and those around you, including the animals that live nearby. The natural condition of your shoreline and/or the method used to protect your shoreline has a large influence on:
- The amount of erosion that occurs along your shoreline affecting the amount of property that is lost.
- The amount of sediment, nutrients, and other contaminants that may enter the waterway.
- The amount and severity of damage and upland property loss that may occur from storms.
- The visual and aesthetic appearance along your property.
- The available habitat to provide shelter and food for animals along the shoreline or in the waterway.
A Living Shoreline is the best method to ensure that your shoreline is in a stable condition that can reduce erosion, reduce pollutants and nutrients from entering the waterway, reduce storm damage, and support and attract wildlife to a more natural habitat, while looking good at the same time!
Follow the links below to see if a Living Shoreline is suitable for your property and what information is required to improve and protect your shoreline.
Resources:
MDE Maryland Shoreline Stabilization Mapper (MSSM): MDE and Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) partnered together to create a mapper that recommends a shoreline practice (living shoreline, structural stabilization, or undetermined) taking into consideration site characteristics such as, existing shoreline practices, fetch, presence of marsh, beach, submerged aquatic vegetation, bank height, nearshore depth, and proximity to permanent structures.
MDE Living Shoreline Projects Assessment Mapper: MDE has created a mapper that displays examples of living shoreline sites around the state. Users can click on an example site and view information about the project, including photos, size of project, area of marsh created, design type, and rate of success.
Pre-Application Meetings: MDE believes that a Pre-Application meeting is an excellent opportunity to find out what information is necessary to submit a complete application. Meet with a tidal reviewer, who is familiar with your area and knowledgeable about the regulatory process, prior to submitting an application to help identify informational requirements and potential pitfalls in the application review process. MDE will also be able to provide you with an estimate of the processing time and costs, including application, processing, and impact fees, if required.
Living Shoreline Funding & Incentives: MDE has compiled links for State, Federal, and County funding and/or incentives available for property owners in Maryland who may be interested in installing living shorelines.
Tidal Wetland Permits, Licenses and Certifications: Application documents required for tidal wetland activities (including but not limited to shoreline erosion control projects, piers and associated structures, dredging, filling, and alteration)
Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program Fee Schedule: The fee schedule has been updated as of July 1, 2025. Find the fee amount for your application. Living shoreline projects are fee exempt!
Instructions and Examples for Drawings of Tidal Projects: Instructional guide designed to assist in applying for permits or licenses for Federal and State agencies for work in tidal waters and/or tidal wetlands within the State of Maryland. Includes checklists and sample plans that outline the minimum required information for a proposed project.
Contacts for Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program: Find the tidal, nontidal, and other Wetlands and Waterways Protection Program staff members contact information. Find the reviewer for your county and region to contact directly.
Wildlife and Living Shorelines:
Living Shorelines make your property a good neighbor for many kinds of wildlife. Birds, frogs, turtles, invertebrates and other species need shorelines where they can have access to the water, mudflat, beach areas, uplands, and vegetated wetlands used for feeding, breeding, and shelter and resting areas during migration.
See what might visit or live on your living shoreline! Follow these links for downloadable postcards and posters of the wildlife neighbors you may see or hear on or near your shoreline or public shorelines.
MDE Assessments:
Other Information:
