Stratford Point Living Shoreline: Restoring Coastal Habitats to Maintain Resiliency and Function

Project Description

Project Partners including Sacred Heart University, UCONN, and CIRCA are working on a living shoreline project at Stratford Point, Fairfield County, Connecticut. The Living Shoreline consists of an artificial reef, smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) marsh, high marsh, coastal dune and upland woody/grassland mosaics. In total, the project will provide an additional 750 feet of coastal erosion control, 4.5 acres of intertidal habitat, 1.5 acres of coastal dune habitat and 25 acres of woodland/meadow mix. Subsequent monitoring will provide additional understanding regarding the potential effectiveness of living shorelines as a means to increase coastal resilience and will inform future designs/guidelines for Connecticut and coastal communities in New England.