A Shoreline Re-imagined

Green Shores for Homes project receives 2020 ASLA Award

“A carefully crafted pebble beach now generates biodiversity” and helps to improve the physical processes within a living shoreline. Photo by Andrew Buchanan.

Back in 2015, Stewardship Centre for BC worked in partnership with the City of Seattle, Washington Sea Grant, San Juan Country and Islands Trust to develop the Green Shores for Homes (GSH) credits and ratings guide with funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. As part of GSH development, this project was one of the first pilot projects that helped test out and fine-tune the Green Shores for Homes program for Washington State and British Columbia.

“This project’s ecological improvements to physical processes, shoreline habitat, and to water quality led to its adoption as a pilot project for the EPA’s regional Green Shores for Homes program.”

In 2020, this Green Shores for Homes project received an Honour Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.

A failing bulkhead and lawn that existed on site prior to restoration were removed and replaced with undulating landform features, a complex of size-specific pebbles (providing salmon spawning sites) and native vegetation (supporting local insects and wildlife). Besides, “large woody debris anchored to the substrate provided additional protection and allowed materials and sediment to gather, creating conditions for life.”

Click here to continue reading about the restoration processes on this site and browse through photos depicting new habitat, design and space created for people to enjoy the re-built living shoreline.