Though living shorelines are site-specific, they have been successfully established along the Texas coast in a multitude of bay systems and scenarios – small projects, large projects, high-energy, low-energy, retrofit, natural shoreline, etc. Use the Texas Living Shoreline Site Suitability Tool to determine if a shoreline is suitable for your property >>

The Texas General Land Office has identified four broad categories of living shorelines commonly used along the Texas coast, which include Soft Stabilization (Marsh Grass Plantings), Hybrid Stabilization (Breakwaters, Submerged Oyster Shell Beds, Reef Balls, Articulated Blocks or Mats, and Riprap), Retrofit: Soft Stabilization, and Retrofit: Hybrid Stabilization.

Each type is associated with a specific set of conditions and implementation options designed to reduce erosion, protect the shoreline, and prevent land loss. Learn more >>

Before getting into the details, the first step is determining if the property in question is a good candidate for a living shoreline. An easy way to do this is to use the Living Shoreline Site Suitability Model. This tool can be utilized to predict where a living shoreline may be suitable and to identify the best living shoreline methods to use given the unique conditions at a specific section of coastline. Learn more >>

Yes. The Texas General Land Office’s Permit Service Centers can provide you with helpful information related to living shorelines, answer questions, and assist with the application process for obtaining permits for your living shoreline project. Contact the Permit Service Center >>

Yes. Living shorelines can help protect upland property by buffering the shoreline during storm events and normal erosive processes. Plants retain sediment through the stabilizing influence of plant roots and breakwater structures decrease the force of storm-driven waves hitting the shoreline. While bulkheads sustain wave energy at the shoreline, living shorelines begin to break up the waves before they reach the land. See two living shoreline examples that sustained a direct pass by Hurricane Harvey >>

Getting a proper understanding of the site before starting construction should prevent the need to go back and add hardened structures later. A site assessment will help you determine if a soft (plant-only) or hybrid living shoreline is best suited for your site during the planning phase. Consulting with a professional is highly recommended. As a first step, use the Living Shoreline Site Suitability Model to find out if there is a potential best living shoreline type for the area in question.

When hardened shoreline structures break or crack, costly repairs become necessary. In a successful living shoreline project, plantings will continue to grow and propagate year after year. While maintenance and monitoring are necessary, lower long-term costs are an achievable goal for living shoreline implementations. Visit the Maintenance and Monitoring section of this website for more information >>

Initial costs for living shoreline projects vary greatly depending on the characteristics of the site, materials chosen, and the amount of work needed. See the Cost Considerations section of this website for more information >>

Yes, although the amount and type of maintenance work to be done depends on the type of living shoreline and the amount of planting growth and propagation achieved. Some living shorelines, especially soft types, may only require periodic monitoring. Others may require more intensive measures to ensure long-term success. See the Cost Considerations in the Resources section, as well as case studies from the Coastal Bend Bay and Estuary Program, the Galveston Bay Foundation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Yes! To see a comprehensive list of permitted Living Shoreline projects in Texas, visit the Case Studies section of this website see the Lone Star Living Shoreline Project Explorer Map and Featured Living Shorelines Map Tour.

Almost all living shoreline projects will require some permits, but the necessary permits vary depending on the location and situation of the site. See the permitting section of this website, and be sure to check out the General Land Office’s Permit Service Center website.

Funding may be available from state, federal, and nongovernmental organizations. See the Funding Opportunities page in the Resources section of this website for some potential funding assistance sources