SAVING OUR
SHORELINES
Canada, with its abundance of water and surrounded by oceans on the East, North and West, has much to offer by way of its beaches, lakes and rivers. Waterfront property is in high demand in scenic locations, but can be threatened by erosion caused by water, waves, ice, and wind.
Low lying sandy beaches and dune systems are especially at risk of erosion from storm activity. Such shorelines exist throughout Canada, and in particular throughout the North and Atlantic Canada. Much of the Atlantic coastline is characterized by easily erodible sedimentary rock, composed mostly of sandstones and claystones.
Ongoing coastal erosion can be measured by the steady loss of farm fences and the retreat of soft sediment bluffs. In some areas of western PEI, erosion rates have exceeded 50 cm per year. Erosion tends to remove segments of the coastline during individual storm events, rather than gradually. Loss of land along the coast restricts building, and use and enjoyment of the shoreline.
Ironically the erosion process is exactly what creates our beautiful sandy beaches. If all shorelines were protected against erosion, the coastline would become starved for sediments, changing their appearance significantly.
Alternatives to consider when facing erosion include moving property, stabilizing the shoreline or letting nature take its course.
Shoreline protection methods vary from building retaining walls to placement of riprap material to placement of gabion baskets.
CSI provides new erosion control technology as a shoreline protection system. The integrated system is a properly designed and engineered to naturally compliment any shoreline property. The CSI system consists of birth vertical and horizontal metal beams welded together before the hemlock wood is installed and spaced into the bay format. Specifically sized aggregate is then added to engineer a rigid coastal protection system that will endure the coastal ice, rising tides and storm surges threatening vulnerable shorelines.
Built to be aesthetically pleasing, these systems can incorporate boardwalks, extended lawns and walking trails. The system serves to protect the valuable land and assets owned by many as can be seen on our projects.
