LEWES – The 6th annual Introduction to Living Shorelines Workshop for landscape architects, engineers, and contractors will be held Wednesday and Thursday, March 20-21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, at the DNREC Lewes Field Facility, 901 Pilottown Road, Lewes, DE 19958. The workshop is hosted by DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program and the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, with support from the Delaware Living Shorelines Committee.
The 2019 workshop focuses on the ecology behind living shorelines and implementing projects with specific goals. On day one of the workshop, participants will learn about the plants and animals living in shoreline habitats; shoreline issues and what causes them; and how living shoreline projects can support habitat and provide natural solutions to shoreline issues. Day two of the workshop will focus on site evaluation, designing for particular goals, an introduction to living shoreline materials, and a review of project permitting. Over the course of the two days, participants will also experience hands-on activities such as group projects and field visits.
Stable shorelines protect coastal communities and serve as important habitat for native animals. However, common “hard” methods of shoreline stabilization do not adequately serve both purposes. As a natural solution, living shorelines are engineered using native plant material, shellfish, sand, and some hard structures. Living shorelines prevent erosion, reduce wave energy, trap floating sediment, and filter stormwater runoff from lawns and pavement – all while maintaining natural beach or wetland habitats. For more information about living shorelines, visit www.delawarelivingshorelines.org.
The Introduction to Living Shorelines Workshop is offered free of charge, with lunch provided. Space is limited to 25 participants and attendance on both days is required. To sign up, visit https://deintrolivingshorelines.eventbrite.com. Professionals currently working in Delaware will be given preference. To register or for more information, please email Brittany.Haywood@state.de.us.
Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902
Vol. 49, No. 25