Cost and Effectiveness of Living Shorelines of Select New Jersey Living Shoreline Projects
This study evaluates the costs and effectiveness of five recently constructed living shoreline projects in New Jersey. Project costs, long‑term expenditures, shoreline stability, and wave attenuation are compared with nearby conventional gray infrastructure, revealing lower overall costs for living shorelines and effective erosion and wave reduction at several sites.
Subject Tags
- Nature-based solutions
- Coastal
- Climate resilience
Summary
This report assesses the costs and effectiveness of five living shoreline projects constructed in New Jersey and compares them to nearby conventional gray shoreline stabilization alternatives. The projects represent a range of sizes, complexities, and costs and include both marsh edge stabilization and wave‑attenuating designs. Cost data were compiled from organizations involved in project funding, design, construction, and maintenance, and analyzed across multiple categories, including construction, design and permitting, monitoring, maintenance, and adaptive management.
The analysis found that total costs for living shoreline projects generally ranged lower than conventional alternatives, with construction costs typically lower but non‑construction costs higher due to permitting, monitoring, and adaptive management. Long‑term cost modeling showed that living shoreline costs are more evenly distributed over time, while conventional shoreline costs are concentrated around initial construction and replacement.
Project effectiveness was evaluated using shoreline change analysis and wave attenuation measurements. Three of the five living shoreline projects were found to clearly stabilize shorelines, and all projects with wave‑dissipating structures effectively reduced wave energy. The findings highlight the potential of living shorelines as cost‑competitive, effective nature‑based solutions for shoreline stabilization in New Jersey.