Erosion Control Tips to Protect Your Waterfront Property

January 23, 2020

A small blue house is sitting on top of a wooden dock in the middle of the ocean.

If you own a waterfront property, you are probably well aware of the danger the shoreline washing away into the water. While losing some of the soil is a concern, an even bigger problem is what happens to the ground your house sits on. As the shoreline recedes, it pulls at the ground, disrupting the foundation of your home, which could cause the walls to fall down.

Whether your property currently has any erosion control in place or not, you need to be aware of the signs of erosion so you can have the problem solved before there is any damage to your home. Here are a few options to prevent further erosion and protect your property and home.

Natural Protection

When you want to maintain a natural look to the property, try planting trees and other vegetation that will use their deep roots to help hold the soil in place. Since trees may take a long time establishing deep roots, plant annual grasses that grow well in your climate and location that also have deep roots. You can do some research to find out which plants will do what you need while waiting for the trees.

Blankets, Nets, and Mesh

If you have no time for any deep-rooted vegetation to grow, or no time to maintain the vegetation once it has grown, you can use erosion blankets, nets, or mesh. You can even find these items in a biodegradable form so they will not cause any problems with the environment over time or if they should get pulled away from the shore.

Blankets, nets, and mesh work best on bare areas where no vegetation can grow up through them. However, plants and vegetation should be behind them to help with erosion control further back. The blankets, nets, or mesh need to be pulled taut to keep the soil in place and then staked down in place. It is often best to have these items professionally installed to ensure they work to their maximum efficiency.

Rip Rap

Rocks placed strategically over a sloped shoreline to prevent erosion is called rip rap. The rocks create a barrier while maintaining a natural look to the property. While rip rap can be effective for a while, it is usually considered a temporary solution. However, you can make it more permanent by placing the rip rap over blankets, mesh or nets.

It is important to use the right size rocks and have them fit together in a way to prevent water and waves from getting between them to pull at the soil. If you want a truly effective rip rap wall, hire professionals to build it.

Seawall or Bulkhead

When you want the most protection against soil erosion for your property, you should choose to have a seawall or bulkhead installed. While this is not going to preserve the natural look of the property, it will totally keep the soil from being pulled out into the water. You can always plant trees and other vegetation behind the structure as long as the roots will not interfere with it.

A seawall or bulkhead needs to be properly built and installed to provide protection. This may require deep excavation for adequate drainage and then using the right materials to backfill the holes once everything is in place. Hiring a professional is the best option.

When you need to stop soil erosion on your waterfront property, contact Edgewater Marine Construction, Inc. We will inspect your property and evaluate the best way to maintain your shoreline. Whether you need a seawall installed or currently have one that needs to be repaired, we will work to make sure your property remains stable so your home will remain safe.

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