Project Databases
This section provides a link to an overview of living shoreline databases across the U.S. — click here to download the spreadsheet. This section also includes a brief summary of individual databases. Click on the titles below to access each database. To submit a new database, please use the form on this page.
Living Shorelines Demonstration Sites
The William & Mary Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) provides a list of locations and project descriptions for a number of living shoreline projects in Virginia. The site also contains more general information on the characteristics and benefits of living shorelines.
The Nature Conservancy's Restoration Database
Contains a map that currently has 209 restoration sites that have been submitted to the database. The sites can be accessed either by pressing on a location or by scrolling through the project list. Each location includes a summary, photos and details such as techniques used, data collected, habitats, species and project objectives. There is also an option to filter your search.
SAGE Database
SAGE partners at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and the College of William & Mary collected project records from a variety of sources, including the NOAA Restoration Atlas, COPRI Living Shorelines Database, state and local agencies, and other organizations. This database contains information on coastal resilience projects across the nation, including living shorelines, habitat restoration, and floodplain management.
The San Francisco Bay Living Shorelines: Nearshore Linkages Project
The State of California Coastal Conservancy outlines their San Francisco Bay Living Shorelines Nearshore Linkages Project. The document defines the basics of living shorelines, specific details and elements of this project, and the implementation process.
North Carolina Living Shorelines Database
A database of current living shorelines in North Carolina that were built by the North Carolina Coastal Federation and its many partners. This working database provides coordinates, funders and partners, full descriptions and dated photos accompanying many of the sites.
NOAA Restoration Atlas
NOAA's Restoration Atlas is an interactive way to search for NOAA restoration projects across the United States. The Atlas includes over 2,000 projects that range from wetlands and salt marsh projects to oyster reefs and coral reef projects. Use the Atlas to search by habitat type, location or congressional district, and many other topics. Or, choose the drop down menus and sort through a more comprehensive list.
NOAA National Estuaries Restoration Inventory
The National Estuaries Restoration Inventory (NERI) website aims to provide the public with information on estuary habitat restoration projects to improve restoration methods, to assist with restoration planning efforts, and to count acres of habitat restored. The inventory includes nearly 3,000 estuarine restoration projects across the United States and a few neighboring islands. Within the database, restoration projects are searchable by region, habitat type, restoration technique or partners.
Maryland Living Shorelines
Maryland Department of Natural Resources provides a summary of living shorelines, several examples within the state, and other information on how to protect Maryland's coasts and waterways. Use the Coastal Atlas Tool to visually analyze and explore data for coastal and ocean planning activities.
A Tour of Living Shorelines in Delaware
The Delaware Living Shorelines Committee provides information and photos of five living shoreline sites within the state. The site also provides links to individual living shoreline pages and collaborating partners for these projects.
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Inc.
The Delaware Estuary Living Shoreline Initiative (DELSI) was created to address the problem of disappearing tidal marshes in the estuary. In 2008, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) and Rutgers University collaborated to create what they call the "DELSI Tactic". Read and watch videos about their methods for natural shoreline stabilization and erosion mitigation.
Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (COPRI)
A database of current living shorelines around the United States, created by the Institute for the American Society of Civil Engineers. The information is provided in six key categories: information on the pre-project conditions, coastal and environmental considerations, design parameters, structural and non-structural elements, project performance and reference materials.
Registration is required to access the living shorelines information. One interesting concept with this database is that it is searchable by primary wetland species, such as spartina alterniflora or smooth cordgrass.