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Choctawhatchee Bay Living Shorelines
Introduction to Living Shorelines
Living shorelines are natural or nature-based solutions designed to protect coastal areas from erosion while supporting habitat and water quality for flora (plants) and fauna (animal). Unlike traditional hard structures such as seawalls or riprap, living shorelines use native vegetation, oyster reefs, coir logs, and other natural materials to stabilize the shoreline.
Living shorelines work with natural coastal processes by absorbing wave energy, trapping sediments, and providing essential habitat for fish, crabs, and birds. Beyond erosion control, living shorelines enhance ecosystem services such as nutrient filtration, carbon storage, and ecological health.
Here you can learn more about living shorelines, local living shoreline projects in Choctawhatchee Bay, and more. It is UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension Sea Grant program’s goal to share how living shorelines offer a resilient, sustainable alternative that balances shoreline protection with ecological function. Explore this webpage to gain insights into how living shorelines offer a proactive approach to coastal management in Okaloosa County, protecting both property and the natural systems that sustain it.
Check our Sea Grant and Extension Services upcoming events on our event calendar.
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Living Shoreline Projects
Veterans Park Shoreline Restoration
About the Area
This project protects the shorelines of two adjoining County parks – the Ross Marler Park and Veterans Park. Ross Marler Park provides a unique gateway to Choctawhatchee Bay and supports a variety of activities including a two boat ramps, a fishing platform, an educational playground, green space, and several pavilions with grills. Veterans Park is a 17.5-acre nature preserve that is home to a 1,700 feet of ADA-accessible paved sidewalks and boardwalks. This path leads visitors through a one-of-a-kind memorial – the Women Veterans Monuments – that pays tribute to women throughout history who have served our county. Throughout the park, visitors will have an opportunity to view an honor wall and several life-sized bronze statutes honoring women who have served in the U.S. military. In addition to this, visitors will likely see a variety of birds species, including great blue herons, pelican, osprey, and many more, that use this park as a rookery.
Click on the name to learn more about Marler Park or Women Veterans Monuments at Veterans’ Park.
About the Project
Over the years, vessel wake, storms and other natural processes have led to ongoing coastal erosion that continues to result in shoreline loss in the project area. This is evidenced by stumps and roots of pine trees being fully-submerged and exposed roots of pine trees along the shoreline. In addition to this, sidewalks that once provided a path down to the beach are now being washed in the water.
The shoreline restoration project includes the construction of 2,090 linear feet of breakwaters, 1,900 square feet of boardwalk, one acre of newly created saltmarsh, and 0.6 acres of saltmarsh enhancement. Construction began in March 2025 and is expected to be completed by late October.
The project features sixteen breakwaters, each built on a foundation of marine mattresses—engineered structures made from uniaxial geogrid filled with stone. These mattresses are designed to withstand harsh marine conditions and provide stable support for the breakwaters.
To accommodate varying site conditions, different construction methods were used: a shallow-draft barge was employed to build the west-side breakwaters near Marler Park, while front-end loaders were used for the east-side breakwaters. In total, approximately 5,000 tons of stone were used in constructing the breakwaters.
In the saltmarsh areas, native vegetation such as smooth cordgrass, black needlerush, and marsh-hay cordgrass was planted. These species are known for their dense, interlocking root systems, which help stabilize the shoreline and prevent erosion.
Funding for this project was provided in part by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the RESTORE Council, Okaloosa County, and Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the RESTORE Council, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources, or the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.
Aerial drone imagery during the construction of the western portion of the project area.
Shoreline Progress - Videos
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CONTACT US
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm,
- The Extension Building located at 3098 Airport Road in Crestview.
- Phone: 850-689-5850.
You can also email us at countyextinfo@myokaloosa.com
