The UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station
The University of Florida established the Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS) in 2015 to work on natural resource needs in the Nature Coast of Florida. Shoreline erosion is among the greatest issues threatening shorelines globally, and the accelerating rate is linked to sea level rise. Researchers and extension agents at NCBS worked with Cedar Key community members to build four living shorelines of different types that you will see on the tour today. These living shorelines are important demonstration areas that can serve as models for shoreline projects in other parts of Florida and the USA.If NCBS is open during your visit, check out the discovery room. This small exhibit area showcases native species and information about local natural resources. Then, continue on to the next stop on the tour, the reef ball project on NCBS's shoreline.
Seawall Enhancement at NCBS
The NCBS is built on a parcel that was developed in the 1950s, well before society understood the negative impacts of seawalls. For decades, shoreline armoring with seawalls or rock piles was the default option. Still today, many shorelines are armored with seawalls. But softer alternatives such as living shorelines are gaining momentum, especially since living shorelines are generally cheaper, prettier, and have many ecological benefits. But, what can be done with all of the existing seawalls? We have options to make seawalls more environmentally functional. Goals for the seawall redemption project at NCBS were to improve habitat, reduce nutrient runoff, conserve freshwater, and increase water filtration by oysters around our property.These goals were accomplished by:Using native plants so we can avoid irrigation, pesticides, and fertilizerRemoval of turf grass and replacement with low-maintenance "rock-scapes"Formation an unvegetated buffer at least 10 feet back from the seawall edge Increase complexity in front of seawall by adding limestone rocksEnhance oyster habitat by placing Reef Balls, concrete domes that create settlement areas for oysters
G Street Living Shoreline
The shoreline enhancement project at G Street includes two types of oyster reefs, sand placement, and planting of native vegetation.Oysters: The first type of oyster reef is called a "sill" and functions as a hard edge to break wave energy and protect the softer shoreline behind. The sill is the arcing structure on the outside of the marsh and is made of a material called reef prisms. Reef prisms are constructed out of natural woven fibers that are coated with a cement mixture favored by oysters. These prisms are filled with shell stacked along the shoreline to form the sill.The second oyster reef type is called a "point bar" and functions to trap and hold sand from being exported by long-shore drift. The point bars on G Street are made out of oyster castle blocks. These interlocking blocks are embedded with crushed oyster shell and became rapidly coated with oysters.Sand Placement: The G Street shoreline lost a good deal of sand to erosion over the years, leaving the road and properties more exposed than before. After the reefs were constructed, wave energy (erosive force) was reduced along the shoreline, allowing clean fill sand to be imported, restoring the shoreline to historical elevations. The sand was trucked in from an approved mine near Grandin, FL. As the sand was delivered, it was graded with the assistance of heavy machinery. Planting: Finally, marsh and dune vegetation was planted in several zones along the shoreline. This helps stabilize and hold sands in place. The plants also provide extra protection for the shoreline through the wave dampening effects. However, plants need time to establish and consistent monitoring and replanting is sometimes required in living shorelines work. Over time, the vegetative communities may even begin to trap more sand and cause the land area to increase in elevation.
The Joe Rains Beach Living Shoreline
The Joe Rains Beach living shoreline was a grassroots effort to pair dredging and realignment of the Tyree Canal to the north with habitat restoration. The dredging of the canal provided sand to raise the elevation of the area, making it suitable for a living shoreline. Prior to the shoreline project, the seawall at Joe Rains Beach (a city park) was constantly being undermined by tides and storms, leading to costly repairs. Since the installation of the living shoreline in 2017, no additional repairs to the seawall or the parking area have been necessary. Monitoring of the area shows highly successful establishment of the shoreline vegetation and an increase in use by crabs, fish, shrimp, and birds.Similar to the G Street site, the Joe Rains Living Shoreline uses a sill at the waterward edge of the marsh for added protection and oyster reef enhancement. Sand bags are also found here at Joe Rains, they are another common material in shoreline restoration used to establish different vegetation zones at different elevations. Read more about the Joe Rains Beach project at our website.
Airport Rd. Dune Enhancement
Welcome to Airport Rd., the largest of the living shoreline projects on the tour. This stop showcases the dune enhancement zone and is only about 1/3 of the total project area. In this project area, sands were built up to an elevation suitable for the iconic sea oats you see growing here.Sand dunes, and the vegetation that stabilizes them, are an important facet of coastal resilence, as they can provide a great deal of protection against storm surge and wind. However, dunes that are impacted by major hurrcanes or simliar events usually need to be restored in order to continue to provide protection for the next storm.
Airport Rd. Living Shoreline
Along this section of the Airport Rd. Living Shoreline, several large reefs were constructed offshore out of a material called reef balls. If the tide is low enough, you should be able to see the dome-like structures. Reef balls are concrete domes that act as a hard surface for oysters to attach. As oysters and barnacles settle on them, they will filter water and the physical structure of the reefs help break wave energy.After the reefs were built, additional sand along the shoreline was necessary to replace what had been lost over decades of erosion. The Airport Rd. shoreline was previously lined with riprap rocks and a concrete-covered bank. The team placed sand directly on top of the riprap and concrete on the shoreline to protect these armored structures while enhancing natural shoreline benefits. Finally, as in the other living shoreline projects on the tour, we planted marsh and dune vegetation (with the help of many volunteers) to help stabilize and hold sands in place and trap new sands over time.
