Cape Lookout Dune Restoration Project

Cape Lookout State Park, located in coastal Oregon, experienced extreme erosion and storm damage to its beach and infrastructure. Instead of a less aesthetic, more expensive, seawall or revetment, managers opted to build a cobble berm backed by an artificial dune to increase coastal protection and enhance the natural shoreline community. This option cost $125,000 compared to the $500,000 estimated cost of the conventional gray infrastructure solution. The cobble berm and artificial dune added native vegetation to the shoreline, enhancing biodiversity. The project has experienced some erosion and storm impacts since construction; however, maintenance costs remain less than the gray infrastructure alternative.