Tidal marsh at the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware has been degraded by impounded freshwater drowning out marsh plants, as well as salt water intrusion from storm events. To reduce impounded water and restore functioning salt marshes, 30 miles of channels were dredged across 4,000 acres of tidal marsh.  

The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Southwest Florida Regional Planning Commission partnered to assess historic and current range of salt marshes in the region, as well as dentify their vulnerability to changing climate conditions. This helps local governments identify priority conservation areas to preserve salt marshes.  

The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP) conducted a risk determination and vulnerability assessment for the San Juan Bay estuary. They also engaged the communities that live and work around the bay through workshops and on-site discussions. The estuary program is now implementing measures to improve the resiliency of coastal wetlands and coral reefs. 

In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused extensive damage to Puerto Rico’s already threatened dune system. After data collection and analysis steps, the team at Vida Marine chose high priority sites to implement restoration projects. These methods include vegetation plantings, new boardwalks to redirect foot traffic, public signage, and sand-trapping devices.  

The city of Kinston, North Carolina experienced devastating flood losses in the 1990s. After a string of three hurricanes flooded or damaged over 75% of homes in Lenoir county, Kinston took action to improve flood resiliency. The city purchased flood-prone properties and relocated neighborhoods to higher ground. This restored natural floodplain functions. 

This project is testing the effectiveness of dune restoration as a tactic for combatting sea-level rise and erosion in Southern California. Sand dunes were constructed from locally dredged material and planted with native vegetation. It is projected that this project will successfully protect the shoreline from flooding with no additional sand maintenance until 2050.  

An engineer-ecologist team designed a living shoreline tailored to conditions on New England coastlines. After site analysis, the team used coir products (“marsh pillows”) in their living shoreline design. This winter storm-resistant approach slowed the erosion of a 30-foot bank, increased vegetation cover, and protected coastal properties. 

Just south of Atlanta’s busy Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Clayton County seems like an obvious place for metropolitan growth. But more homes and businesses mean a higher demand on the county’s limited water supplies. Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) chose to construct treatment wetlands to increase water supply.

Following a 100-year rain storm in 1999, city officials of Two Harbors, Minnesota were concerned by the devastating flood damages to infrastructure, properties, roads, and water ways. They designed stormwater management plan emphasizing green infrastructure development. All togather, the city built three flood control basins, two streambank stabilization projects, and a rain garden.

To restore a degraded but historically, culturally, and ecologically important watershed on O‘ahu’s Eastern Coast, The Nature Conservancy collaborated with local partners aiming to restore 405 acres of wetlands and promote traditional Hawaiian agricultural practices. The project involves removing invasive red mangroves, replanting native plants, and restoring natural stream flow.