San Francisco Bay Living Shorelines Project

The San Francisco Bay Living Shorelines Project is implementing oyster reef and eelgrass bed restoration at two locations to demonstrate the ability of living shorelines to protect coastal infrastructure and communities while enhancing biodiversity. The oyster reefs and eelgrass beds successfully reduce wave energy, minimizing erosion and decreasing flood risks for the coastline. These restored ecosystems are accreting sediment, allowing them to keep pace with sea-level rise and provide enhanced coastal protection. The project installed oyster shell-bag mounds and eelgrass plantings 150-250 meters offshore, and included extensive monitoring. Restoration enhanced biodiversity and led to initial settlement of over 3 million oysters.